harslevelu Archives - Hungarianwines

New release orange wine from Somló

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:30:54 +0000

Tornai Winery celebrates 80th anniversary

This year is a special one for Tornai, the celebration goes on all year long. It started with the release of the first traditional method sparkling wines of the estate, and in the summer the orange wine made of Hárslevelű has hit the shelves. 100% Hárslevelű, 100% flavours!

Orange wine boom still continues, as Decanter wine writer Gosia Young in her article analysing the results of the 17th Decanter World Wine Award. Hungarian producers are also eager to try themselves making the long macerated, amber colour wine, and adventurous wine connoisseurs greet their efforts.

Tornai Narancsbor 2025 (‘Narancsbor’ means ‘Orange wine’) is made of 100% Hárslevelű grape with prolonged skin maceration. “The dry sip on the palate is reminiscent of figs, but there is no hint of sweetness. A tight sense of acidity and a clean, unique flavour. Notes of oily seeds and herbs, earl grey tea and dried peach alternate. A long, complex and particularly likeable finish, with a slight phenolic character, rounded off by a nutty oil flavour.”
Recommended food pairing: pumpkin cream soup with artisan pumpkin seed oil. (In the west of Hungary, in “Őrség” region, there are several traditional small pumpkin seed oil producers.)
It costs 3600 HUF / 10 EUR on the webshop of the winery.

More about Tornai Winery

Tornai wines are available in several countries, for example in the United Kingdom, imported by Astrum Wine Cellars. If you are interested in importing, contact the export manager.

Our earlier article about the new sparkling wines

New release by Tornai: Sparkling made of Csomorika

Tornai Winery, Somló, Hungary

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Happy birthday, Hungary!

Hungarianwines.eu — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:33:21 +0000

The republic of Hungary is 1026 years old today, since our first king, Szent István (Saint Stephen) was crowned on this day, on the 20th August in 1000. We have a lot of great quality sparkling wines to celebrate, and – even better – several of them are available in magnum format. Béres Brut Magnum 2022 is a traditional method sparkling made of 100% Hárslevelű.
The opening photo was taken at Zazie bistro at the Winelovers Wine Award gala dinner.

Drop of life

Béres Tokaj is an estate with a true Hungarian story, a history every Hungarian can be proud of. The label of each Béres wine has the shape of a drop, not by accident. Béres Drops is pharmaceutical product that helps people live a healthier life not only in Hungary but beyond our borders as well. The inventor, Dr. József Béres Sr. was “a healer of the soil, of plants, of animals, and then of people.” His life was not easy, he had to fight for his invention and for many years he was not allowed to produce it. His son, József Béres is a seasoned wine enthusiast, he founded Béres estate, and then the inventor’s granddaughter, Melinda Regéczy-Béres was in charge with her husband. Now Melinda is head of communication at the pharmaceutical company of the family, and her husband, Dávid Regéczy is the managing director of the estate – and certainly the whole family is still involved.
Read about the life of Dr. József Béres Sr.

So tasty!

“Extremely vibrant, lively, and vibrating, yet full and elegant sparkling wine made from 100% Hárslevelű. Dry, fresh, yet with a very rich palate with hints of apple, pear, peach, citrus, and rhubarb with a strong minerality that lingers in the finish along with grapefruit-like citrusy and tart green apple characteristics.” – this is the description of the sparkling wine by the winery. Well, even if you are not a rhubarb fan, don’t be afraid! This sparkling wine is stunning, juicy, so delicious, that you will surely ask for another glass.
More about Béres Brut Magnum 2022
More about Béres Tokaj

Dr. József Béres Sr., the inventor

Béres Vineyard and Winery with the surrounding vineyards and orchards

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Lazy Sunday tip: just enjoy “decadent sweetness”

Hungarianwines.eu — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:22:44 +0000

Béres Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2017

The great success of this wine from Decanter World Wine Award is still hot: Béres has won one of the 8 Hungarian Platinum awards with 97 points! And now another great acknowledgment has been gained: Béres Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2017 received grand gold and has been selected the Best Foreign Wine at the 30th Catad’Or international wine contest of Chile.

“Gloriously rich”

Decanter review of the wine:
“A splurge of confit citrus unlocks kumquat, saffron and curry leaf aromas in tandem. Gloriously rich and rounded with a feverish acidity piercing the decadent sweetness and parading showstopping freshness towards the irresistibly long finish.”
See full Decanter fact sheet here

Fun fact: the same wine won DWWA Platinum last year as well. It is a wine worth stocking, isn’t it?

How was it made?

“Individually handpicked and selected Hárslevelű and Furmint aszú grapes were soaked in clean, fermenting 100% Furmint base wine overnight. The aim of soaking is to enrich the material to be pressed with the alcohol and carbon dioxide produced during the onset of fermentation. This Aszú was aged for 36 months in Szerednye-type, Zemplén oak barrels, then bottled.” This aszú has a massive 171.1 g/L residual sugar, however, it is brilliantly balanced by the 11.1 g/L acidity.
More about this wine

The laziest – and lavishest – food pairing: enjoy by itself

Noble sweet wines have a serious enemy: the diet. And indeed, it contains a significant amount of calories, especially if you pair it with a dessert. The solution is to REPLACE the dessert by Tokaji Aszú, and enjoy it slowly, because you deserve it.

A food pairing from a British fine dining restaurant

Three years ago, Zsuzsa Toronyi (Wine Communication / Wines of Hungary UK) organised a Tokaji Aszú campaign in England with several food pairing events. This is a pairing from that event:
Béres Aszú & The five gourds
By Urcino Garcia Hernandez head sommelier, Chef’s Table and Twenty Eight, Chester
DISH The five gourds (a dish that combines five different kinds of squash and pumpkin)
WINE Béres, Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2011
‘Squash has a natural sweetness’, explains Hernandez, ‘and it complements the sweetness in the wine. The wine’s residual sugar also works well with the heat of the togarashi spice and that hint of Asian flavours, while the candied pecans, which we scatter in with the seeds, bring out the notes of dried fig, date and sweet almonds in the wine.’
More about Twenty-Eight
More about Béres Vineyards

The best place to enjoy: Wine, Shine… Bénye festival on 13–16 August

Erdőbénye is a picturesque village in Tokaj wine region, this is where Béres Vineyard is located. It is worth visiting any time of the year, but the highlight is the annual cross-cultural festival, this year with 16 locations, including Béres.
More information here

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4 gold from 4 different international wine contest!

Hungarianwines.eu — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:05:08 +0000

It must have been valid…

If you don’t trust a wine competition, it is understandable, but when a wine is proved to be true by 4 international jury, then there is no question left. Patricius Tokaji Aszú 2021 is indeed liquid gold, covered with gold medals.

The 4 international contests:

– Challenge International du Vin, France
– Volcanic Wine Awards, Canada,
– International Wine Challenge, UK
– Decanter World Wine Awards, UK
Plus, it has a gold medal from the 17th Hungarian Academy of Sciences wine contest in Hungary, as we wrote earlier.

“Impeccable depth”

The most recent one is the Decanter World Wine Award, where Patricius Tokaji Aszú 2021 received 95 points and the following review:
“Swaddled in orange marmalade, honeyed pear, apple compote, saffron and caramelised stone fruit lure, offering impeccable depth, concentration and length. Lingering acidity braces and freshens.”
See full Decanter page about the wine

Available in the UK, in the US and many other countries
More information

The best place to taste: picnic at Patricius

Picnic & guided vineyard tour by Patricius

Patricius Winery in Tokaj

The cellar of Patricius

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Sauska Padi restaurant in Wine Enthusiast “Best of” article

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:09:03 +0000

“Padi is a contemporary ode to Hungarian wine and Tokaj culinary tradition”

“At their best, winery restaurants do more than just feed tasting-room guests. They mirror the winery itself: obsessive about place, and determined to say something distinct.” Nils Bernstein’s comprehensive article is easy to use wherever you are in the globe. 57 winery restaurants are listed from 23 countries. Europe is represented by 12 countries, so more than half of the Best Winery Restaurants of the World are from the old continent – according to the article. Hungary is also there, with the magnificent Padi restaurant in Tokaj by Sauska estate!

“Our favorite winery restaurants”

It is important to point out that the recently published article is not a ranking, not a “best of” based on votes or jury opinions, it is simply a collection of great places that Wine Enthusiast team loves. “This list celebrates our favorite winery restaurants around the globe, from casual bites overlooking vineyards to elaborate tasting menus that rank among the world’s best. These aren’t just spots for a meat-and-cheese platter between pours. They are destinations to plan trips around and gain a deeper understanding of the wine regions they call home.“ Congratulations to Sauska, we fully agree with Nils Bernstein and the team!

Why the name ‘Padi”?

Padi is the name of the vineyard where the estate building with the restaurant is located. Try Tribute to Tokaj five-course tasting menu!
More about Padi restaurant

Nils Bernstein about Padi

“Padi is a contemporary ode to Hungarian wine and Tokaj culinary tradition. Try salt-baked celery with Hungarian sturgeon caviar alongside a brisk Furmint, or Mangalitsa pork neck with cottage cheese dumplings and paprika sauce, paired with a surprisingly fresh and complex Pinot Noir. Save time for a cellar tour and a leisurely glass on the terrace.

BEST RESTAURANT DESIGN: Two intersecting lens-shaped discs, each 120 feet across, hover above a panorama of some of Hungary’s most exalted vineyards. Like a watchman’s eyes, the structure evokes the 24/7 guards who protect Hungary’s famed Holy Crown. Architect Péter Bordás of Hungary’s BORD Architectural Studio sought not to integrate the structure with nature but to stand in reverence of it. “What I create should not touch the untouchable,” he says. Built as much to accommodate Padi restaurant and bar as the winery itself, it’s a sublime ode to the great wine, hospitality, and dry humor that epitomize modern Hungary.”
See the whole Wine Enthusiast article here

We celebrated Hungarianwines.eu at Padi!

For seven years we organised Hungarian Gettogether, a wine event dedicated to quality wine writers and of course, to quality wines. 7 is a magic number, thus for the 7th edition we decided to choose Sauska Tokaj with Padi restaurant. It was fabulous, the staff was more than helpful, the food (including staff food) was gorgeous, and our guests loved the breath-taking surroundings.
Browse the photos from the 7th Hungarian Gettogether here

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Wine by the village – new eatery in Tokaj

Hungarianwines.eu — Sun, 10 May 2026 09:11:02 +0000

Galuschka Bistro & Garden

A new restaurant opened in the town of Tokaj in March, which is great news, as Tokaj wine region still isn’t considered an ideal destination for wine tourists when it comes to lodging and dining options. The new spot offers a nice Tokaj wine list, where the wines are grouped by village. A total of 19 wineries from the towns of Mád, Rátka, Tarcal, Erdőbénye, Sárospatak, Tokaj, Bodrogkeresztúr, and Tolcsva are featured on the list.

Since the opening in March, the eatery has received 169 reviews on google with an average of 4.9 points – so far so good. No wonder, the location is ideal: Galuschka is situated in the centre of Tokaj, in a charming garden, in a beautifully restored building from the 19th century. The website features mouth-watering, elaborated plates made of local and seasonal ingredients. “Our dishes feature seasonal and local ingredients, and the plates carry not only taste but also a story. The classics of Hungarian cuisine are reborn in a new approach, making the experience both familiar and exciting.”

6-wine flights are available to taste

The menu lists those traditional dishes as they are called, like potato cream soup, fish soup, smoked rainbow trout. Gergely Somogyi wine expert and owner of Tokaj Today appreciates the wording of the menu as well: “The menu features Hungarian classics, which are even called by their good old original names – a welcome step away from the habit of rechristening familiar dishes as something unrecognisable and the list-of-ingredients type of naming schemes that often plague menu cards in Hungary these days.”
The chef is Bence Várkonyi, with experiences from Michelin-starred and recommended restaurants (though these places are not listed, and with google we only found the restaurant of Andrássy Kúria, where Bence Várkonyi worked as chef before his recent position).
The restaurant offers three wine tastings, which is undoubtedly an idea to welcome. Wine travellers will have the chance to taste 6 wines from different wineries, to get a deeper insight of the region. Besides “Sweet Dreams” and “The Dry Side of Tokaj” the third tasting offers wines of Tokaj Oremus and its parent winery, the iconic Spanish Vega Sicilia. Also, a wide selection of wines is available from these two estates on the wine list, including four vintages of Unico.

Paprika chicken with "galuska" (noodles)

Blue cheese aged with Tokaji Szamorodni and Aszú berries, beetroot variations, and spiced homemade fig ragout

From McDonalds to fine dining

We cannot avoid mentioning the owner, who is Sándor Scheer, the 16th richest person of Hungary (Forbes Hungary, 2025). In 2021 he was “only” the 30th richest one, but within four years his wealth grew 4 times bigger. Obviously, he was close to the previous, Orbán-led government, without that this fabulous growth would not have been possible. He also received 1.1 billion HUF for Galuschka, which is 60% of the whole cost of the establishment. One of the many business ventures belonging to Scheer is the company running all the McDonalds restaurants in Hungary. The 2024 profit was a record one: 8.8 billion HUF – yes, we spent more than ever on hamburgers that year. At least he created something really valuable with Galuschka, and let us hope that the restaurant will survive in real market circumstances as well.
More about Galuschka Bistro & Garden

3 dishes with wine recommendations from the menu

Pan-seared pike perch with asparagus, ramsons and butter sauce
Wine recommendation: Holdvölgy Vision 2021

Holdvölgy ‘meaning ‘Moon Valley’ is a state-of-the-art winery with outstanding, world standard wines. They are an exception in Tokaj naming all their wines with a concept instead of the usual Tokaji Furmint and alike. Vision is a dry blend from three classified, renowned vineyards: Holdvölgy, Nyulászó and Becsek. And why Vision? “Our Vision wine demonstrates that, in our view, a dry Furmint can be produced successfully and remain exciting every year if we blend it—in proportions that vary subtly and thoughtfully according to the characteristics of each vintage—with the pleasantness of Hárslevelű and the spiciness of Kabar.”
Holdvölgy offers award winning wine experience in the cellar labirinth under the ground. A must-do activity in Tokaj!
More about Holdvölgy

Pancake with homemade, spiced apricot jam
Wine recommendation: Zsirai Fordítás 2021

Zsirai Winery is owned by two sisters, Petra and Kata, they do a great job showing the young face of Tokaj along with the inherited traditions. ‘Fordítás’ is a barely known style of Tokaj, nowadays only a handful of winemakers make it. ‘Fordítás’ is made of the second maceration af the aszú berries. It has the structure and character of a 4 ‘puttonyos’ Tokaji Aszú. However, it is lighter than an Aszú. Besides the fruitiness it has firm acidity in perfect balance with the residual sugar. The wine is not available in many places, so it is a special opportunity to taste it.
The cover photo above features a single vineyard Hárslevelű from Középhegy vineyard by Zsirai Winery. Középhegy is a “cru” placed on the map by the Zsirai girls.
Zsirai Winery offers cosy rooms in a charming guests house, plus they have some rooms within the winery building as well!
More about Zsirai Winery

Cheese selection from Zemplén county with fruit chutney, bread chips and roasted nuts
Wine recommendation: Barta Furmint Pezsgő 2020 (traditional method sparkling wine)

The grape for this sparkling comes from the prestigious Öreg Király vineyard (meaning ‘Old King’) and that it is made with the traditional method, of 100% Furmint, with at least 3 years of ageing on the lees. The sparkling has just been selected the best sparkling wine of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Barta Winery offers stunning accommodation as well in a mansion from the 17th century, with lavishly renovated large rooms. Unmissable!
More about Barta Winery

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The Ultimate CEE Wine Fair – 16 June, London

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:41:15 +0000

A. Gere, Kancellár and Sauska will be there

The most vibrant wine thing today – this is the tasting, where participants can indulge themselves in unknown varieties, fruits of remote, historic terroirs, ancient cultures. From Armenia to Poland, CEE Wine fair showcases novelties even for the seasoned British wine trade. Regarding Hungary, A. Gere from Villány, Kancellár from Somló, Gilvesy from Badacsony, Sauska from Tokaj and Villány have already confirmed their participation along with a Szekszárd regional table. Save the date!

“There’s almost nowhere left in the wine world that hasn’t been fully discovered – apart from the heart of Europe. The central and eastern end of Europe, from the Danube to the Black Sea, is home to a long, authentic wine history; a myriad of unique grapes; amazing personal stories and many dynamic winemakers producing great wines in all sorts of styles.
The Ultimate Central & Eastern European Wine Fair aims to give buyers, merchants, distributors and writers the chance to discover why Central & Eastern European wines should be on the radar of anyone seeking the next big wine story.”

Experts about the 1st edition CEE Wine Fair

The wines from the cover photo

Gere Kopar 2021, Villány
More

Kancellár Nagy-Somlói Juhfark 2021, Somló
More

Sauska Furmint 2025, Tokaj
More

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO PARTICIPATE AS AN EXHIBITOR, CONTACT US!

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Tokaj masterclasses at Béres Vineyards at several dates

Hungarianwines.eu — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:34:48 +0000

5 great wines and a superb speaker

Béres Vineyards is situated in the most picturesque village of Tokaj wine region, their wines are impeccable and have their own personality. And now they make wine lovers life easier by offering many concrete dates in the near future. The speaker has witty style of speech paired with very high skills of the English language and deep knowledge of Tokaj history and styles.

Available dates of the masterclass:
March 20., Friday 15.00
March 21. Saturday 11:00
March 26. Thursday 15:00
March 28. Saturday 11:00
April 03. Friday 15:00
April 04. Saturday 15:00
April 08. Wednesday 15:00
April 16. Thursday 15:00
April 18. Saturday 15:00
April 23. Thursday 15:00
April 25. Saturday 15:00
May 01. Friday 15:00
May 02. Saturday 15:00
Booking: call Gergely Somogyi at +3620/218-1848 (alternative dates might be available as well).
Price: 7990 HUF / person (approximately 20 EUR)
Recommended eatery before or after the masterclass: Mondoha, a brand new “bakery bistro” in the village of Erdőbénye.
More about Béres Vineyards

Gergely Somogyi was shortlisted in Jancis Robinson’s wine writers competition with an article about the reconstruction of historic vineyards.

Tokaj vineyards before and after

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Hungarian wineries at ProWein on 15–17 March

Hungarianwines.eu — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:37:21 +0000

Wine Paris is over, we can start preparing for ProWein, the Düsseldorf wine expo, which awaits trade visitors with completely new visuals and several novelties to make business easier. The Hungarian Wine Marketing Agency will present 11 exhibitors.

Location: Hall 3 / C41
Exhibitors: Bock Winery (Villány), Heritage Wines – Cabolo, representing several wineries, among others Vesztergombi Cellar (Szekszárd), Csányi Winery – Teleki Wines (Villány), Kancellár Estate (Somló), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), Sauska (Tokaj / Villány), Eurobor – Tűzkő Estate (Tolna), Grand Tokaj (Tokaj), Maison aux Pois (Tokaj), St Andrea (Eger), Törley Pezsgőpincészet (Sparkling Winery) (Etyek–Buda).

See them on ProWein website here

During the next weeks we will tell our readers more about the exhibiting wineries, come back soon!

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The couple who sell a pallet or two of wine at an exhibition

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:08:05 +0000

Importer of the month: Hundert Weinhaus

Wineries attend exhibitions to network and secure orders, but this is hard work and extremely costly, and sometimes an exhibition yields no results but costs a lot of money. However, this is not the case with the Weinfestival Basel. The Swiss go there to taste and then order, so in addition to fruitful connections, there is also immediate success. Last November was a success for the Villány wineries exhibiting, and István Bicsek and Marietta, the owners of the Hundert Weinhaus wine shop, played a major role in this.
Author: Ágnes Németh

Contact

Hundert Weinhaus
Address: Leuenallee 8A, CH-4702 Oensingen, Switzerland
Email: info@hundertweinhaus.com
Tel: +41 (0)79 555 99 15
https://hundertweinhaus.com/

Wineries in the Hundert Weinhaus portfolio

A Gere Winery (Villány), Árvai Family Winery (Tokaj), Bock Winery (Villány), Bodri Winery (Szekszárd), Erzsébet Cellar (Tokaj), Eszterbauer Winery (Szekszárd), Fritz Cellar (Szekszárd), Gróf Degenfeld Estate (Tokaj), Günzer Winery (Villány), Heumann Winery (Villány), Hétszőlő (Tokaj), Jammertal Wine Estate (Villány), Kikelet Winery (Tokaj), Koch Winery (Hajós–Baja / Villány), Mészáros Winery (Szekszárd), Pajzos (Tokaj), Ruppert Winery (Villány), Teleki Wines (Villány), Thummerer Winery (Eger), Törley Winery (Etyek–Buda), Tornai Winery (Somló), Vylyan Vineyard and Winery (Villány)

Foreword

I have never taken so long to write an article, and I am solely to blame for this. I usually send my questions for the Importer of the Month series by email, which is what I did in the case of Hundert Weinhaus – roughly two years ago. However, Marietta Bicsek, one half of the owner couple, was busy preparing for a pre-Christmas expo and didn’t want to bother with writing, so she called me. I was on vacation at the time, walking around Bordeaux with my children, and unfortunately, by the time I got home, my memory of our pleasant and informative phone conversation had faded. I felt ashamed about this, and that was the end of it. Until last November, when we attended the Franc & Franc conference in Villány together, picked up where we left off, talked a lot, and I got to know two wonderful people in Marietta and István.

After the first Swiss Furmint February

This Sunday, February 1, the first event promoting Furmint took place with the participation of seven Hungarian wine merchants, and of course Marietta and István were there too. “The audience was primarily professional, the masterclass led by Lilla Fülöp was a great experience, and finally, all the merchants living in Switzerland who distribute Hungarian wines were present at the same time with their excellent wines. In the evening, we had dinner at the same table to discuss the events of the day. Jörg Waldthaler, the organizer of the event, did a lot to make this happen, and we are confident that the promotion of Hungarian wines in this form will continue.”

Those fabulous and lavish Swiss events

Even two years ago, during our conversation, Marietta mentioned that Switzerland is known for its expos, or rather fairs, where wine lovers can taste wines and order the quantity they want on the spot, and the exhibitor has to deliver it by Christmas. That’s wonderful, I said, and Marietta reported on the results so far with great joy and satisfaction. But she also added that there had been some hiccups.

“I always emphasize to our winemaker partners that they should only include wines in the exhibition that they actually have in sufficient quantities. You simply can’t tell a Swiss guest that the wine they ordered is now sold out. Unfortunately, this happened at the last event. I called the winemaker, who didn’t really understand why it was such a big deal that a vintage had sold out,” Marietta told us two years ago.

The famous Swiss precision is also characteristic here: once a dear customer falls in love with a certain vintage of a certain wine, it must be delivered later. The Swiss are interested, open-minded, and, last but not least, solvent, so it is worth showing them the top wines. Of course, this requires a professional and, above all, enthusiastic presentation, which István and Marietta provide with great enthusiasm.

High quality red wines are best sellers

Hárslevelű is an important indigenous grape of Hungary

Bikavér, the famous red blend is also successful

If logistics work, everything else will work too

István was born in Switzerland, but one of his parents is Hungarian, and they have many Hungarian relatives whom they visit often. During these family gatherings, István and his family tasted several red wines, and during these years, the quality of Hungarian wines improved dramatically. The political system had changed, and talented winemakers, armed with experience gained in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Tuscany, were producing increasingly remarkable wines. István and his family often took wines home with them to Switzerland, much to the delight of their Swiss friends. No wonder that the idea soon arose: why not open a wine shop and officially import Hungarian wines? István’s main job is related to customs, so they easily overcame the bureaucratic obstacles that would have daunted others.
They brought back what they liked, and since white wines are less commonly tasted, Tokaj Furmints were added to the selection relatively late, as they themselves were later amazed by the greatness of these wines.

If Wines of Hungary doesn’t move, Villány will

In the meantime, they started attending wine fairs, where personal feedback and positive reception from customers further strengthened them. The organizer of the Basel wine fair also encouraged them and suggested that it was time for a larger, more prominent Hungarian presence. The organizer contacted the Hungarian Wine Marketing Agency, but unfortunately without success. They did not give up, however, and tried the Villány wine region. Fortunately, the Villány winemakers saw the opportunity, so last November they offered tastings at a joint stand, with several of them present in person.

At the end of November in Villány, Marietta talked about her recent experiences in Basel, but she also made a worried phone call. When I asked her about it, she told me that once again, one of the wineries had run out of the wine that the guests had ordered. “But I solved the problem,” Marietta announced, “I found the wine at Bortársaság, bought the necessary quantity from them, so the customer will finally get the wine they chose.” It is obviously more expensive and complicated for them, but that’s how the Bicsek couple are: they do their work with perfectionism, thus maintaining their good reputation among their growing circle of customers.

“In addition to the Weinfestival Basel, the Expovina Primavera spring event in Zurich and the Expovina Weinschiffe autumn event are the most important Swiss wine exhibitions, in which we participate every year. These events have always been very successful, with discerning visitors eagerly purchasing premium/super-premium red wines from Villány-Szekszárd and special dry white wines, mostly from Tokaj. (Over time, they have learned that Tokaj is not just about sweet wines and grape varieties).”

Marietta and István Bicsek in Villány, at Vylyan with Boglárka Dóra Kovács (Villány wine marketing)

“We serve even students in the same way”

Nearly a decade and a half of dedicated work has borne fruit. Marietta told us that at a wine fair, of course, not all interested visitors are wealthy wine collectors; there are also students who just want to taste and learn. “There are exhibitors who immediately push the order form in front of the tasting guest, but we never force an order, and even if someone clearly isn’t going to order wine, we still present the wines to them in the same way. We have even had a merchant, who had tasted our wines years ago as a student, greet us thanking us for our openness earlier.”
The webshop is now doing well, and they have even opened a small shop where customers can pick up bottles and ask Marietta and her team for advice in person, as they have a personal relationship with all their partners.
“Visitors are always very interested in Hungarian varieties such as Furmint, Hárslevelű, Kékfrankos, and Kadarka, while Bikavér, as a Hungarian cuvée, is also an important item in the range. In terms of style, light white wines, full-bodied red wines, and dessert wines are popular. Among the wine regions, Villány and Tokaj are the most attractive to our customers.”
They travel to Hungary a lot, always looking for something new. In June, for example, they will definitely be tasting a range of Hungarian wines, as they are participating in the 5th Winelovers Wine Awards and the Winelovers X professional walking tasting that is part of it.

Cserszegi Fűszeres – a flavoursome white grape of Hungary

Irsai Olivér is a nother popular, aromatic white grape

Olaszrizling is the most planted quality white grape in Hungary

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