The prestigious title has been awarded for 33 years, the nominees of the 34th edition have been announced recently. Szekszárd and Villány wine regions have given 5-5 award winners each so far, Eger follows them with 4 title holders. Will Szekszárd take the lead with Vesztergombi or will Eger gain on those two on the leaderboard with Lamport of Thummerer? Or will Pannonhalma get its first winner with Liptai of Pannonhalma Archabbey? And also Szepsy Jr can get the 4th title for Tokaj and Szentpéteri the 3rd one for Kunság. See some interesting statistics below. A gala dinner with the nominees will take place on 30 November at Gundel restaurant in Budapest.

Some statistics of the past 33 years of the Winemaker of the Year award

– The youngest award winner is Tamás Borbély from Badacsony.
– One winner from outside the borders of Hungary: Géza Balla, a Hungarian in Transylvania, Romania.
– 3 of the recent nominees were nominated last year and the year before as well: Csaba Vesztergombi of Vesztergombi Cellar, Zsolt Liptai of Pannonhalma Archabbey and József Lamport of Thummerer Winery.
– 2 of the recent nominees can say that their father is an earlier award winner: Csaba Vesztergombi and István Szepsy Jr. And József Lamport is the chief winemaker of Thummerer Winery, with the late Vilmos Thummerer, one of the former winners.
– 8 of the 33 award winners deceased.
– There are only 2 female award winners out of the 33: Beáta Nyúlné Dr. Pühra (Etyek-Buda) and Éva Gálné Dignisz (Kunság).
– There is one father and son winner pair: late Mihály Figula and Mihály Figula Jr from Balatonfüred–Csopak.

Wine dinner at Gundel restaurant with the nominees

Date and time: 30 November 2024, 18.00–22.00
Venue: Gundel restaurant, 1146 Budapest, Gundel Károly út 4., Hungary
Tickets cost 20 000 HUF (approximately 50 euros)
Order your ticket here (in Hungarian, but google can help)

More about Gundel restaurant

Wine regions with the most award winners

– Szekszárd: 5
– Villány: 5
– Eger: 4
– Etyek–Buda: 3
– Tokaj: 3
– Balatonboglár: 3
– Balatonfüred–Csopak: 2
– Kunság: 2
– Neszmély: 2
– Badacsony: 1
– Hajós–Baja: 1
– Mátra: 1
– Outside Hungary: Romania: 1

Former award winners

2023 Tamás Günzer, Villány
2022 Mihály Figula Jr, Balatonfüred–Csopak
2021 Beáta Nyúlné Dr. Pühra, Etyek-Buda
2020 Tamás Borbély, Badacsony
2019 Csaba Koch, Hajós-Baja
2018 Géza Balla, Arad (Romania)
2017 † Mátyás Szőke, Mátra
2016 Pál Mészáros, Szekszárd
2015 † Mihály Szöllősi, Neszmély
2014 Tamás Dúzsi, Szekszárd
2013 Éva Gálné Dignisz, Kunság
2012 Károly Áts, Tokaj
2011 Péter Vida, Szekszárd
2010 Ottó Légli, Balatonboglár
2009 Dr. György Lőrincz, Eger
2008 † János Konyári, Balatonboglár
2007 János Frittmann, Kunság
2006 Vencel Garamvári, Balatonboglár
2005 Béla Vincze, Eger
2004 Ferenc Takler, Szekszárd
2003 János Árvay, Tokaj
2002 † Ernő Malya, Etyek-Buda
2001 István Szepsy, Tokaj
2000 † Mihály Figula, Balatonfüred-Csopak
1999 Ákos Kamocsay, Ászár-Neszmély
1998 † Tibor Gál, Eger
1997 József Bock, Villány
1996 Zoltán Polgár, Villány
1995 † Vilmos Thummerer, Eger
1994 Attila Gere, Villány
1993 Ferenc Vesztergombi, Szekszárd
1992 † Tibor Báthori, Etyek-Buda
1991 Ede Tiffán, Villány