We have asked some experts to give their opinion on the topic.

Anders Levander

Anders Levander Swedish wine writer, owner of Sweden’s most popular online wine journal DinVinguide lives in Italy, agrees with the change and he cites Italian examples to prove that the decision is right. ‘Think of Prosecco – the grape has been renamed, now it’s Glera, and it avoids confusion since now Prosecco always refers to the origin protected sparkling wine made of Glera, while Glera is also used for still wine. Another good example of renaming involves Hungary – as Levander pointed out –, the grape Tocai Friulano had to be changed as a consequence of EU decision (to protect Hungarian wines from Tokaj), and it took less then two years for the world to get used to Friulano wines from North Italian Friuli wine region. Tokay Pinot Gris in Alsace is the same thing: today there’s no problem naming it Pinot Gris without the prefix.”

     Elizabeth Gabay

Elizabeth Gabay MW is a frequent speaker in Hungary and thus she is specialized in Hungarian grape varieties. ‘Well my first reaction was that it was a waste of time changing names – it would just confuse people even more. But on reflection I think the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages. Right now it is always necessary to explain that the variety is neither Italian or related to Riesling. Tasters who do not know this, search for characters which are not there. Plus the name gives no idea of any Hungarian character.’ And as for the name options, she has her own favourite: ‘I am not too keen on Oris, sounds like some made up hybrid, but like both Nemes and Mandola, so why not both: Nemes Mandola – the noble almond – sounds nice and is easy to say for non-Hungarians.’ 

                  Endre Szászi

A local winemaker, Endre Szászi, owner of the organic wine estate in Badacsony wine region, North of Lake Balaton disagrees with the renaming: ‘In my opinion if we want to make the world outside the Carpathian basin know about our flagship grape variety, we shouldn’t start it with introducing a totally new name. The market has accepted more complicated names then Olaszrizling, and besides in foreign languages the word Olasz is not associated with Italy (and neither is ‘nemes’ associated with the word ‘noble’. I think we should place the emphasis on the unique character of the wine, present and introduce the wine to wider audience, but first of all Hungary should put emphasis on wine marketing. And we must not forget about reality: 90% of Olaszrizling wines are sold within Hungary, Hungarian speaking regions. We have had this variety for 180 years, we celebrate it as a ‘hungaricum’. Others would cherish it as treasure with such a long history.’

The post Pros and cons regarding the new name of ‘Olaszrizling’ appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Elizabeth Gabay

Elizabeth Gabay MW and Caroline Gilby MW will also speak at the Villány Invites Europe conference in Villány, south of Hungary. The event on November 18-19 is dedicated to the grape variety Cabernet Franc, which „has found its natural home in Villány”, as it was written by Michael Broadbent British wine writer in Decanter magazine.
While last year Cabernet Franc wines were intruduced from the Loire valley along with the host Villány wines, this year the event will offer wines from all over Europe.
The conference is sold out, but tickets for the following day tasting are still available in limited quantity.

The price is 15 000 HUF (50 euros) and it includes:

– a welcome drink

• 37 Cabernet Francs from 22 Villány wineries are to be sampled (complete list below)
• snacks
• transfer from one location to the other
• tasting book
• a wine glass
• a dropshop

Registration here

It might be hard to find a room in Villány at this weekend, but you give try:

• Gere Crocus Hotel is a comfortable hotel with spa, and in its Mandula restaurant the iconic Gere Attila wines are offered with international and Hungarian cuisine.

• Ermitage is a hotel with relaxed atmosphere, and its restaurant runs a kitchen with home like Hungarian and Swabish dishes.

• Gere Panzió belongs to Gere Tamás and Zsolt winery. There are no warm meals, but there is a nice, spacious courtyard with playground.

If all the rooms are booked in Villány, the neighbouring town of Harkány can be a good choice. Hotel Dráva is 15 minutes drive from Villány – though we suggest you not drive after tasting, take a taxi instead. In Hungary zero tolerance was introduced some years ago, which means that even a glass of wine can make a driver in big trouble in case of police controll.

The list of Villány Cabernet Franc wines to tasted on 19 November:

1 Bock Pince, Cabernet Franc (Fekete-hegy), 2011

2 Bock Pince, Villányi Franc  (Fekete-hegy), 2012

3 Bock Pince, Villányi Franc (Fekete-hegy), 2015

4 Csányi Pincészet, Chateau Teleki Cabernet Franc, 2002

5 Csányi Pincészet, Chateau Teleki Villányi Franc, 2012

6 Csányi Pincészet, Kővilla Válogatás Villányi Franc, 2011

7 Gere Attila Pincészete, Cabernet Franc Selection, 2006

8 Gere Attila Pincészete, Villányi Franc, 2012

9 Gere Attila Pincészete, Villányi Franc, 2013

10 Gere Tamás és Zsolt Pincészete, Cabernet Franc, 2009

11 Gere Tamás és Zsolt Pincészete, Villányi Franc Várerdő-dűlő, 2011

12 Gere Tamás és Zsolt Pincészete, Villányi Franc, 2012

13 Günzer Tamás Pincészete, Bocor Cabernet Franc, 2012

14 Heumann Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2011

15 Heumann Pincészet, Villányi Franc, 2012

16 Hummel Pincészet, Panterra, 2011

17 Hummel Pincészet, Panterra, 2012

18 Janus Borház, Villányi Franc Válogatás, 2012

19 Jekl Pincészet, Cabernet Franc (Fekete-hegy), 2011

20 Kiss Gábor Pincészete, Cabernet Franc, 2013

21 Lelovits Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2012

22 Maczkó Róbert Pincészete, Villányi Franc, 2012

23 Malatinszky Kúria Organikus Szőlőbirtok, Kúria Cabernet Franc, 2003

24 Malatinszky Kúria Organikus Szőlőbirtok, Kúria Cabernet Franc, 2008

25 Malatinszky Kúria Organikus Szőlőbirtok, Kúria Cabernet Franc, 2013

26 Mayer Márton Pincészete, Cabernet Franc, 2009

27 Mokos Családi Pincészet, Villányi Franc, 2011

28 Ősi Gábor Pincészete, Villányi Franc, 2013

29 Polgár Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2011

30 Polgár Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2012

31 Ruppert Borház, Villányi Franc, 2012

32 Sauska Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2012

33 Szemes Pincészet, Villányi Franc, 2013

34 Tiffán Ede és Zsolt Pincészete, Cabernet Franc Grande Selection, 2011

35 Vylyan Pincészet, Cabernet Franc, 2008

36 Vylyan Pincészet, Villányi Franc, 2012

37 Vylyan Pincészet, Mandolás, 2012

The post Franc & Franc – conference sold out but tasting tickets available appeared first on Hungarianwines.