The winner is: Best of Hungary

As Dr Monika Gyenes commented, who is the owner of Best of Hungary, the UK’s only purveyor of Hungarian fine food and wine, this is the first time that the prestigious IWC Merchant Award for the best Specialist for Southern & Eastern Europe has been given to a retailer with a portfolio comprising exclusively of Hungarian wines. Monika added that this achievement celebrates the success of all quality Hungarian wines in the UK market, reflecting their increasing popularity and is hopefully a sign of even greater things to come.
Monika and her son – who is the company’s managing director – personally select winemakers and the vintages best suited to the British market. They look for progressive and dedicated producers, capable of making great quality wines that authentically reflect the characteristics of the grape variety and the terroir while providing excellent value for money.

Let us recommend some wines from the exciting portfolio:

 

– Tóth Ferenc Kadarka Siller 2020 (a kind of darker rosé) from Eger

“Delicate aromas of sweet spices, honey and red fruits, especially strawberry and raspberry. The same mouthwatering fruit character dominates on the palate, with added notes of sour cherries and cranberries. ”
Find the wine Best of Hungary webshop

 

– Steigler Soproni Kékfrankos 2019 from Sopron

This organic producer is a great hit even in Hungary: they have come and won… “A cavalcade of red and black fruit on the palate, rounded out by elegant spicy notes from the oak barrel ageing. Zesty acidity and medium tannins make this a complex yet easy-drinking vintage.”
Find the wine in Best of Hungary webshop

 

– Vesztergombi Turul Cuvée 2016 from Szekszárd
We explained the meaning of Turul, this mytholigical bird here. Csaba Vesztergombi, son of the founder is one of the most adamant winemakers we know, he is practivally unstoppable. “The rich, fruity flavour and fullness of Cabernet Franc are perfectly complemented by the smooth and light character of Merlot. This is a velvety, harmonious, thoroughly modern Bordeaux-style blend with ripe black fruit on the palate and spicy notes of vanilla, oak and cocoa.”
Find the wine in Best of Hungary webshop

 

– Teleki Kopár Super Premium Villányi Franc from Villány
The grapes for the top wine come from the emblematic vineyard of Villány called Kopár. The wine has won a gold medal recently at Franc du Monde wine contest. “An intense aroma of red-berried fruits and sweet spices is followed by the luscious, captivating flavours of blueberries and raspberries and rounded out by well-integrated notes of coffee and biscotti from the 39 months of oak barrel ageing.”

Find the wine in Best of Hungary webshop

 

– Frittmann Gold Brut from Kunság

Let us cheer to Best of Hungary with a unique, bottle fermented sparkling wine made of the indigenous Ezerjó grape, another local grape called Generosa plus Olaszrizling. “Straw colour and a persistent fine mousse. Restrained, elegant nose with a hint of quince and lees notes. A refreshing, lively acidity creates a firm sense of structure on the fully-dry palate—a delicate, clean and bright drink with a touch of lemon and green apple.“

Find the wine in Best of Hungary webshop

 

Mangalitza, paprika, truffle

Besides the great wine portfolio of Best of Hungary, they offer gourmet food like goose liver in different formats, artisan cheeses, sausages and certainly original Hungarian paprika. Attention! Do not check the website when you are hungry…

https://www.bestofhungary.co.uk

See all IWC Merchant Awards winners here