Fabulous location

Hilltop Neszmély boasts The Most Beautiful Wine Estate title from 2018, and its beauty has only increased since then. The River Danube and Gerecse mountains surround the estate, which has a breathtaking view. A spacious restaurant with a large terrace, a tempting swimming pool and a wine hotel make the estate an ideal event venue, and the harvest is a great opportunity to get first hand experience.

Make your owm must

The program starts at 9 am with welcome drink and snacks, then the actual grape picking begins. Participants can make and taste their own fresh must. The harvest takes place in one of the most stunning vineyards of Hilltop. After the “hard work” a well deserved lunch arrives with dishes like beef stew made with red wine or crispy dessert with grape cream. At lunch it is a must to try Hilltop Irsai Törköly Pálinka – a spirit made of the marc of Irsai Olivér grape. After lunch guests can try different sport activities and certainly an exclusive wine tasting will also be available – on the top of the hill.
Price: 9900 HUF / person, for children under 16: 5990 HUF, for kids under 5 the program is free.
For more details and booking write to hotel@hilltopborhotel.hu (the cost of participation has to be paid no later than 23rd September).

The VinAgora winners

At the 21st VinAgora International Wine Competition Kamocsay Premium Olaszrizilng 2017 won a gold, while Premium Chardonnay 2017 won a silver medal.
The competition took place with a record number of entries and with the presence of excellent judges. 775 wines were tested coming from 15 different wine-producing countries, setting a new record in the history of the competition.
The appearance, aroma, flavor, harmony and intensity of the Kamocsay Premium Olaszrizilng 2017 were highlighted by the judges, and also its purity, golden yellow color, and balsamic, dried fruity aroma were appreciated.
The silver medalist Kamocsay Premium Chardonnay 2017’s pale gold hue, mirror-like purity, white floral, citrusy aromas and the complexity of its balanced acidity were rewarded by the reviewers.
More about Hilltop Neszmély

Europe and Hungary reopen

The European Union created a website where travellers can easily check if there are any travel restrictions due to COVID-19 measures. Planning your trip it is advised to start with this website. Hungary has launched a touristic campaign to help people working in the touristic sector, which includes several discounts, free gifts travellers can enjoy. If you book a room in Hilltop Wine Hotel until 15 July and mention the slogan #visszajövünk (‘we will come back’), you will be granted a wine tasting of three wines. Hilltop is a well known winery in Hungary, but it is also known in the United Kingdom: Ákos Kamocsay chief winemaker was chosen Winemaker of the Year in the UK! The winery has a premium line named after the chief winemaker, and these wines are all created by this talented gentleman personally.

Beef cheek with marrow bone

The restaurant of the winery offers delicious, rich meals mostly from the best recipes of the Hungarian cuisine. Beef cheek with marrow bone is a good example of what you can expect: juicy, spicy, heavenly plates which make you stay longer… The dish is served with toast for the marrow bone and cucumber salad with vinegar and sour cream – again a typical Hungarian salad. The sommelier recommends to pair the ample plate with Kamocsay Premium Merlot. “The showpiece vineyard of Hilltop with a superb modern winery and award winning winemaker, Ákos Kamocsay, all contributed to this stunning merlot. Ruby red, velvety, intense, charaterful, full-bodied red wine filled with the taste of red berries from the highest positioned and sunniest vineyard of the Neszmély Wine Region. With passing years it becomes finer and finer.”

More about Hilltop wines

More about Hilltop Wine Hotel and Restaurant

The largest international wine expo hosts thousands of wineries, visitors need previous preparation to avoid getting lost in mediocre wines. Put the Hungarian booth on your schedule, because you will find true icons within a few squaremeters. Are you looking for  the Hungarian equivalent of Gaja or Mondavi? Visit H03 in Hall 15 on 15–17 Marchin Düsseldorf, Germany! Now we recommend 7 of the 63 exhibitors just to bring your appetite…

1. Gere Attila Winery, Villány

An absolute icon in the southern mediterranean wine region of Villány. Attila Gere created the first cult wine called Kopar (a Bordeaux blend), and soon after another one made of Merlot called Solus. He was a pioneer to sell wines prior to its release: Kopar and Solus are so sought after, that usually they are sold out before they are actually released. The winery works hard to keep the oustanding quality, and they are eager to introduce new products like the trendy Frici aerated sparkling in white and rosé.

2. Heumann Winery, Villány (Siklós)

The Swiss–German couple has long been a key producer in Hungary, in Siklós, which is the „white spot” of Villány wine region. The fact has been proved recently by 88 points given to Heumann Rhine Riesling by Meininger’s Wine Business. „The reason is quite simple. Siklos towards the west has a slightly cooler climate but what in my opinion is the most important fact is that the thinner layer of loess on the lime stone rock, compared to Villány. That gives our wines (whites plus reds) a great minerality and a slightly higher acidity. Different terroir!” – says Erhard Heumann.

3. Dúzsi Winery, Szekszárd

Tamás Dúzsi, founder of the family winery is dubbed The Rosé King with reason. He dedicates special attention to rosé wines, which are – according to his philosophy –  harder to make in outstanding quality. With barrel ageing wines get a „make up”, while a reductive rosé is fragile, winemaker has less tools for correction. He and his family make several single varietal rosé wines (Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kadarka etc.). Jeff Jensen of Wine Enthusiast magazine has just picked Kékfrankos Rosé as Editor’s choice with 90 points!

4. Garamvári Winery, Etyek–Buda and Balatonboglár

Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year and recently Lifelong Achievement Award – Vencel Garamvári has all these prestigious awards. He is a sparkling connoisseur, therefore it was obvious to create méthode traditionelle sparkling wines besides still wines from Balatonboglár region. The sparkling cellar is in Budafok (Budapest) and grapes come from cooler climate regions for sparklings. Vencel was to first to make Furmint sparkling wines!

5. Hilltop Neszmély, Neszmély wine region

Winemaker of the Year in Hungary AND in the United Kingdom – Ákos Kamocsay, chief winemaker of Hilltop had this rare feat in his career with hundreds of gold medals. This winery had significant role to make the world get acquainted with Cserszegi Fűszeres grape variety – which was labelled for a while in England as the Unpronounceable. The Chardonnay Selection of Hilltop is a collectors’ item: Chardonnay wines from the same vintage made in the same way from different vineyards.

6. Vylyan Vineyard and Winery, Villány

Vylyan is much more than a winery, it is a cultural and artistic centre as well. Poetry and visual art is highly present in every movement of Vylyan, which would not make them famous in itself, but art is paired with exceptional wines as well. The latest venture is a crossover project with poems and short stories inspired by the wines, and with labels inspired by the poems and stories. Do you want to sell wines with stories? Visit Vylyan!

7. Grand Tokaj, Tokaj

The only state owned winery, the largest undergrand labyrinth in Hungary, countless awards and a chief winemaker Károly Áts with the double result of 100 points (Wine & Spirit and Robert Parker) – this is Grand Tokaj. Mundus Vini 2018 Best in Show award winning Szarvas Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos comes from Szarvas vineyard, Tarcal. 2013 vintage was an outstanding vintage when berries were fully infected by the noble botrytis. Notes of loess based soil, pear, dried chamomile, candied orange peel and a touch of smokiness from the new barrel. Pear compote and ripened orange on the palate with honey and chamomile tea. Creamy texture, the blessing of sunshine, amazing structure!

The best sparkling wine

Vencel Garamvári is the ’doyen’ of Hungarian sparkling wines. His passion for bubbles manifested in a sparkling cellar, and since his first bottle he constatly works on getting better, to achieve the perfect sparkling wine. This year two Garamvári wines made it to the top 5: Garamvári Tokaji Furmint Brut 2015 is in top 5, while Garamvári Brut Nature is the best sparkling wine in this year’s Winelovers 100! „The bright acids are embraced by the pearl-like bubbles, the traditional character can clearly be sensed, while the bouquets are zesty, restrained in their fruitiness.”

A sparkling from MÁD

Hungarian wineries were not allowed to make sparkling wines for a long time – due to some tax regulations –, but nowadays there is no legal barrier, and thank god more and more wineries make a sparkling wine to add some colour to their portfolio. Barta Winery is famous for its single vineyard dry Furmint wines from Öreg Király vineyard, but seemingly their „side project” is successful as well. Barta Öreg Király Furmint Brut 2010 truly reflects the unique terroir of ’Öreg Király’ (’Old King’ vineyard) and with its elegant bubbles and persistent aftertaste it is suitable for rare moments, important celebrations. The sparkling wine is available only in a special gift box with two other Barta Furmint wines from Öreg Király vineyard, it costs 88 euros (plus delivery).

A flavourful inspiration

Ákos Kamocsay has been selected the Winemaker of the Year not only in Hungary, but also in the United Kingdom. His premium line of wines is a huge success both among the customers and regarding acknowledgements. Ihlet (’Inspiration’) Cuvée is a juicly, delicious aromatic white wine made of 70% Traminer, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. „Full bodied, rich, thick and astonishingly aromatic. Vintage 2017 is all about roundness, ripeness and deep structure – so is Inspiration Cuvée. Huge pleasure – literally.”

The scholars’ choice

Wine is all around us, and it is especially relevant when speaking about Hungary. Wine is part of our culture, part of our soul. As a natural consequence our important authorities, universities, town councils each has its own wine contest to select the wines of the given institution. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences select the wines for their own events – and these super intelligent people want the best wines for themselves, of course. The president of the jury is a professor as well: Dr Tamás Freund is a world famous brain surgeon, the vice president of the Academy and a wine expert with immense tasting experience.

The winner of the premium white category

„It is a great honour that this year our Pinot Gris has been selected for this title” – said Ákos Kamocsay, chief winemaker of Hilltop Neszmély. „We regularly register wines for this contest, and several times our products have been awarded the title of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ wine. The 2017 vintage was just the right one for Pinot Gris. As a result, we have crafted a full, rich, elegant and deep wine. The Pinot Gris shows us a finely polished harmony and an amazing flavour. It is a young, developing wine, yet it already reveals a great character.”

More about Kamocsay Premium Pinot Gris 2017.

The winner of the premium red category

The red winner is a usual protagonist of the top results of wine contest: Koch Csanád Cuvée 2012 from Villány has won several awards. The winery has its centre in Hajós–Baja wine region, but also has vineyards in Villány. „It has the colour of pomegranate. Regarding the nose the first impression is that of punch and vanilla waking up a series of associations of the taster. Besides them we can smell several fruits like blueberry and blackberry. Then behind them we can discover a kind of ‘propolis’ note resulting from bottle aging. On the palate vanilla is still dominant accompanied by sweet, dark berry fruits and spices. Significant body, relatively high alcohol, integrated tannins, soft acidy form the wonderful composition of this wine.” Koch Winery won another title at this contest (see below), thus Koch is the most successful winery of this wine competition.

More about Koch Villányi Csanád Cuvée 2012.

All the 7 category winners

• Premium white: Kamocsay Prémium Pinot Gris 2017, Hilltop, Neszmély wine region
• Premium red: Villányi Csanád Cuveé 2012, Koch Winery, Villány wine region
• Premium sweet: Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2013, Füleky Winery, Tokaj wine region
• Medium (event wine) category white: Nagy-Somlói Zenit 2018, Tornai Winery, Somló wine region
• Medium (event wine) red: Villányi Cabernet Sauvignon Classicus 2015, Koch Winery, Villány wine region
• Medium (event wine) sweet: Late Harvest 2016, Tokaj Oremus, Tokaj wine region
• Medium (event wine) rosé: Pinot Noir Rosé 2018, Villa Pátzay, Badacsony