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.”

Bock Cellar, Villány

The family winery with József Bock – Winemaker of the Year in 1997 – is famous for its full bodied red wines and for their old wines going back to as many as 25 years. At the festival try their latest award winning wines, for example the best rosé of the Hungarian National Wine Competition.

Dúzsi Family Winery, Szekszárd

Tamás Dúzsi– Winemaker of the Year in 2014 –, the founder of the winery in Szekszárd wine region works together with his whole family. They pay special attention to rosé wines, which are all vinified in stainless steel tank, and several single varietal rosé wines are made.

Frittmann Winery, Kunság

While Kunság wine region had a horrendous reputation of wine fakery, the Frittmann brothers were making their high quality wines without compromise. Its worth trying the indigenous Hungarian varieties at their booth like Irsai Olivér, Cserszegi Fűszeres. János Frittmann was chosen Winemaker of the Year in 2007.

Garamvári Winery, South Balaton

Vencel Garamvári was chosen Winemaker of the Year in 2006, and his exhibitor booth is a must offering still wines from South Balaton and méthode traditionelle sparkling wines from several wine regions. Garamvári was the first to use Furmint for sparkling wine.

Hilltop Winery, Neszmély

Chief winemaker Ákos Kamocsay was selected Winemaker of the Year in 1999. Hilltop estate is wellknown for its easy to drink, refreshing white wines, but there is a premium line as well made according to the guidelines of Ákos Kamocsay. There is a Chardonnay single vineyard collection as well, a must-have piece for collectors.

More about Budapest Wine Festival

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