Wine of the Weekend: a “Grand” red from Mátra

Dominium is an organic family winery from the mountainous Mátra wine region. At the latest edition of VinAgora wine contest, the estate won two gold medals, one for Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022. Feketeleányka (‘Black Maiden’) is the same grape as the Romanian Fetească Neagră.

Two years ago, we reported that Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022 had been selected the best red wine of a Hungarian trade magazine, and it had also been chosen “The Wine of Gyöngyös” (the capital city of Mátra). We wrote the following: “The 2022 vintage was an excellent year, the fruit of it is called Grand Feketeleányka, a complex, barrel aged, organic wine with great potential.”
And yes, the tasters were right! Now, two years later, the same vintage got gold medal again at the prestigious VinAgora international wine competition! What is more, Dominium Merlot 2023 was also awarded gold.

Not cheap, not weak – so what?

Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022 is made of selected fruit from a vineyard cultivated with organic viticulture. It fermented spontaneously, and matured in new and second use 250 L and 500 L oak barrel for 11 months. Full-bodied, complex, layered wine abundant in forest fruits and spices. The alcohol is 16%, well, do not drive after that, you had better stay in one of the charming rooms of Dominium guest house, and the other day do not miss the sauna with view of the vineyard.
It costs 49 000 HUF / 138.5 EUR – but outstanding wines have their price… The other gold winner wine, Dominium Merlot 2023 costs only 99 000 HUF / 28 EUR.

More about Dominium Winery

Read an interview with Dániel Orbán, the winemaker of Dominium Winery

Organic wines and absolute “recharge” in Mátra

Dominium wines are available in several wine shops in Hungary, like Ab Ovo wine shop or the webshop of Dominium. In case you are interested in importing Dominium wines, contact Dániel Orbán. 

Dominium Guest House – the best place to taste

The well equipped, lovely guest house is ideal base for those, who plan to discover Mátra mountain. Recently the guest house has been equipped with three e-bikes and 2 bikes, thus friends and families have a new way to wander in the neighbourhood.

More about the guest house and booking

Dominium Wine Yard “After”

Dominium Winery holds several events throughout the year, the so called ‘Borudvar’, meaning ‘Wine Yard’ is probably the most popular. This year it was so successful, that the winery decided to add an extra evening. Dominium Wine Yard “After” awaits guests with the whole range of Dominium wines, DJ sessions and a live concert.

Borudvar (‘Wine Yeard’ After
Date and time: 27 September 2025, 17.00–until the guests can party…
Venue: Dominium Winery, Farkasmály (near the town of Gyöngyös), Mátra, Hungary
How to get there: Dominium Winery is about 70 minutes by car from Budapest via M3. By public transport take a train to Gyöngyös (Mátra InterRegio), then you can walk, ride a bike or take taxi. Gyöngyös taxi: 36 20 557 7733
Tickets: 2500 HUF / person
Order your ticket and reserve a table here.
More about Dominium Winery

Are you hesitating? Watch this short video!

Fekete Leányka aka Feteasca Neagra by Dominium

Black Maiden from Mátra: Dominium Feketeleányka

Our earlier article about Dominium guest house, and Dániel, the “engine” behind the winery

Organic wines and absolute “recharge” in Mátra

The grandiose French wine expo begins today, and for the first time in Paris, Hungary is represented by the national wine marketing agency showcasing wines from 25 Hungarian estates. Wines of Hungary booths are located in HALL 4 / C 153. If you hurry, you can catch the Uncorking volcanic wines masterclass by Konstantin Baum MW from 10 am (Room 3, Hall 4). Find all the exhibiting Hungariasn wineries here.

Dubicz Vineyard and Winery, Mátra

This family winery in Mátra produces aromatic white wines typical of the region, but also single vineyard, complex beauties like Sárhegy Olaszrizling. The grape is Olaszrizling, and ‘Sárhegy’ (something like ‘Mud Mountain’ is the name of the vineyard. The current vintage is 2021, and this barrel aged wine has collected several gold medals. We visited the estate with Valeria Tenison wine writer, she was impressed by the wine and she gave it 89 points. “The palate is round and creamy with a perceivable oak influence, well-balanced by the refreshing acidity and bright fruitiness of garden pears and white apples.”

Read the whole wine description by Valeria Tenison here:

3 great Hungarian wines picked by Valeria Tenison

Eszterbauer Winery, Szekszárd

“Stories sell the wines”, this is the Number1 marketing rule, and this family from Szekszárd is full of stories! Actually, every single wine has a tale, heart-warming stories about long gone ancestors and funny figures of the society. The winery has won several national and international awards, and one of their specialities is Kadarka, they make several varietal wines of this variety, and obviously Szekszárdi Bikavér is a key product.

The estate has undergone a rebranding recently, read more about it here:

Eszterbauer – a good example of rebranding

Sauska, Villány / Tokaj

This estate “cannot not win” when it comes to CSWWC, the most important contest of sparkling wines. The winery has a “leg” in Villány, in the southernmost wine region of Hungary with subtle, serious red wines, while the brand new Tokaj estate is a landmark now, an unmissable place. The third leg is the sparkling cellar in Budafok (within the capital, Budapest), where the traditional sparkling wines age patiently.

Read about the latest Sauska success at CSWWC here:

And the “Oscar” goes to Sauska Brut Magnum again!

Tűzkő Estate, Tolna

Dr. Erdélyi Árpád, estate manager of Tűzkő Estate has explained in a recent radio interview that 140 hectares of their 180 hectares in total are located in the Szekszárd hills, even though the wine region is Tolna. He has also revealed that the Italian owners–Antinori and Mazzei–let the team make as Hungarian wines as they want.
Read more curiosity about Tűzkő Estate here:

Wine of the Week: Tűzkő Kékfrankos Selection

Tóth Ferenc Winery, Eger

Eger is the Number 1 tourist destination in Hungary after Budapest, no wonder, the city is full of cobblestoned little streets, baroque buildings, all around the medieval castle of Eger. And of course, the wineries with their legendary red blend, the Egri Bikavér (Bulls’ Blood), and also the white counterpart called Egri Csillag (‘The Star of Eger”). Tóth Ferenc Winery makes a classic and a superior of this white blend, both of them are great at different levels. Egri Csillag Superior 2022 “is a superb reflection of Eger wine region, the cool climate, it reveals beautiful, ripened fruit and the refreshing acidity in a deep, layered wine. Our objective was to create a superior quality elegant white blend with long ageing potential.” A blend of Hárslevelű, Olaszrizling, Leányka and Rhine Riesling. Plus, the winery is an expert of chocolate and wine pairings, they work with a Hungarian chocolate manufacture.
Read more about the chocolate and wine pairings of Tóth Ferenc Winery here:

Enjoy Wine & Chocolate pairings delivered to your home!

Heimann & Fiai, Szekszárd

Zoltán Heimann junior never stops, just like his parents. He awaits guests at Wine Paris, his new vintage siller wine called Piros is about to be released, and he keeps his followers posted on his lively Instagram page. Meanwhile Zoltán Heimann, the founder of the estate is selling the last bottles of the 2018 vintage and the first bottles of 2020 of the iconic Barbár blend, with his wife, Ágnes they are preparing for their first “Pizza & Wine Fair & Art” event on 1 March, and the whole family is planning the annual “Heimann Estate Tour” on 3 May in Szekszárd, Hungary. Oh, almost forgot: their website has just been renewed.
Read more about the novelties of Heimann & Sons:

Learn the word ‘Piros’

Homola Winery, Balatonfüred

At the last edition of Winelovers Wine Awards international competition, the organisers launched a Buyers’ Program, which proved to be successful. More than a dozen importers / distributors were speed dating with the participating wineries, each encounter had to be done within 10 minutes. Half a year has passed, the organisers surveyed the buyers, and it turned out that the most successful winery was Homola Winery from Balatonfüred–Csopak wine region, Homola shipments have left–among others–to Taiwan and the USA.

Read more about the success of Homola:

Homola: the most loved brand of a “speed dating” session

Nearly 30 estates at Daejeon International Wine Expo

220 wineries from 16 countries will present their wines to the members of the South Korean wine trade. Hungary will be represented by nearly 30 wineries from 5 wine regions, organised by Wines of Hungary. Some of the exhibitors: Bock from Villány, Dubicz from Mátra, Etyeki Kúria from Etyek, Heimann & Fiai and Lajver from Szekszárd, Homola from Balaton, Tóth Ferenc from Eger, Tűzkő from Tolna, Zsirai from Tokaj.

Try something new, try Hungarian wines!

Though the wine in South Korea consumption has dropped in the last two years, the country is still considered to be a developing wine market. As there are more and more sophisticated wine connoisseurs, the trend of drinking less, but better helps wines from less known countries, like Hungary. For the adventurous Korean wine drinkers wines made of indigenous Hungarian grapes can be great alternatives to the market dominating Chilean, New Zealand, Italian and French wines.

Thanks, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery

Do you feel alone? Call your friends today! International Friendship Day is celebrated today, on the 30th of July. I have not even heard of Friendship Day until I came across a blog post of Dubicz estate in Mátra. Their journalist, Anna Winkler provides the readers with valuable content regularly – a great way of promoting Dubicz wines!
By Ágnes Németh

Too many best friends? No problem!

As Anna Winkler pointed out, Friendship Day originates in Paraguay, and later many United Nations personalities joined forces, and A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh has become the ambassador of the day. The writer also suggests different Dubicz wines to celebrate Friendship Day
– with you best friend: talk for hours and refresh with a playful, vibrant, but at the same time complex Dubicz Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé,
– with some great friends of yours: organise a game evening and elevate the cheerful atmosphere with the joyous Dubicz Zsizsi Frizzante semi dry aerated sparkling wine (in our cover photo),
– with a party with your many friends: find some great price-value wines, like the pack of 6 bottle of wines or the Bag-in-Box wines, like the juicy, flavoursome Dubicz Irsai Olivér BiB!

The “asparagus and Sauv Blanc time” of the year

Our wine educator used to say that Sauvignon Blanc is a variety easy to recognize even for beginners. It is true, and how delicious that revelation is! Though there is a trend to focus on local grapes and rediscover ancient varieties, it is nice to have stunning guest grapes. And guests should be treated well: we give them great soil, plenty of sunshine and loving care. Taste Sauvignon Blanc wines from different wine regions to discover the differences! Dubicz from Mátra wine region, Koch from Hajós–Baja and Frittmann from Kunság. This is the season of dishes made of fresh asparagus – an ideal pair of Sauvignon.

In Hungary there are 957 hectares under Sauvignon Blanc (source: HNT 2023), it is the 14th most planted white variety (out of the 125 white grapes planted in Hungary).
See all the grapes and their vineyard sizes here

Wine of the Weekend

Dominium Winery is a pioneer in the volcanic Mátra wine region using grape varieties like the Spanish Tempranillo, the ancient Hungarian Turán or the Romanian Fetească Neagră. Feketeleányka is the literal translation of the Romanian name Fetească Neagră, meaning Black Maiden. Dominium makes an outstanding wine of the grape called Grand Feketeleányka, it has just been selected the best red wine at Bor és Piac (‘Wine and Market’) Hungarian trade magazine panel tasting of volcanic wines.

Jubilee wine of the town of Gyöngyös

Our cover photo above is about Feketeleányka 2020, which was the first Fetească Neagră label at Dominium. The 2022 vintage was an excellent year, the fruit of it is called Grand Feketeleányka, a complex, barrel aged, organic wine with great potential.
According to the tasters of the trade magazine it has a “natural, primal force”. Full bodied, yet elegant wine abundant in black berry fruits, mainly blackberry and blueberry. Intense spiciness, chocolate, tobacco – all in nice balance.
It costs 23 000 HUF / 60 EUR and available only at the winery.

Grand Feketelányka has also been selected the Jubilee Wine of Gyöngyös, the capital of Mátra wine region. The town celebrates its 690th anniversary this year, and to commemorate it, the Jubilee Wine (selected in a wine contest blind) will be available in the Tourist Office of Gyöngyös, but only 690 numbered bottles.
Gyöngyös Tourist Office

Celebrate rosé wines in City Park

Around 60 wineries pour rosé wines and bubblies in the sunny City Park for 3 days. The entrance is free including live music programmes, only an official Rosalia glass is needed to be rented or purchased, and then the festival-goers pay for the wines and food they consume. Three of the exhibitors – featured in our cover photo –: Borbély Family Winery from Badacsony, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery from Mátra and Garamvári Vineyard from South Balaton.

Greeting from the organisers

“Pack up your friends, colleagues and the whole family along with your dogs, and head for a picnic in the shade of the City Park’s giant trees. You’ll only need a blanket because everything else, from cooled rosé to chilled champagne, easy white, or refreshing spritz, will be provided by Rosalia Wine Picnic. On the last day of spring, we open the wine festival season with Budapest’s biggest, original, one-and-only garden party. From 31 May to 2 June, Rosalia Wine Picnic awaits enthusiasts of fine wines and trendy bites with numerous programs and discoveries in the capital’s most beautiful park.”

Find more information and tickets on the website
Don’t miss the Early Bird Deluxe pack – available until 21 May here.

“Kinnagangon” Rosé 2022, Borbély Family Winery, Badacsony

This easy-going rosé is made of Pinot Noir, and the name needs some explanation. ‘Kinnagangon’ is three words written together, reminiscent of colloquial spoken Hungarian. The meaning is just “being outside on the balcony”, but the sound of this made-up word also reflects the featherlight happiness of enjoying a chilled rosé wine in a hot, lazy afternoon.

More about Borbély Family Winery

Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Rose 2022, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery, Mátra

“In this elegant premium rosé, the delicious aroma of blackberry tempts us to taste it. In its taste raspberry, cherry, sour cherry and crispy acids are melded in a special harmony. It is not an everyday rosé experience!”1014 on the label refers to Mátra’s highest peak – which is actually the highest peak of our whole country.

More about Dubicz Vineyard and Winery

Lellei Rosé Gold 2023, Garamvári Vineyard, South Balaton

Garamvári Vineyards is a family owned winery specialised in still and bottle fermented sparkling wines. Lellei Rosé Gold is a still blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah from Balatonlelle, hence the name ‘Lellei’. A crispy, refreshing rosé abundant in red berry fruits, mainly raspberry and strawberry accompanied with vibrant acidity.

More about Garamvári Vineyards

Margot Robbie actress was on a diet during shooting the new Barbie movie, yet she did not restrain herself from a glass of wine or two. The girls of Dubicz family winery were impressed by the movie, which is undoubtedly more than some “girly comedy”. So which Dubicz wine is in the picture in miniature format? “Kékfrankos– Cabernet Franc red blend, because Barbie had a hard day”.

“Terroir telling” labels

Dubicz award winning labels (Red Dot Design) are easy to recognize it is especially easy to identify our favourite wine with the shapes on it. The white labels with black stripes, spots or triangles represent the easy going, entry level wines while the labels with black background stand for the 1014 wine family. 1014 is the height of Hungary’s top peak called Kékes (in metres), and the wines in this line come from the most precious vineyards, like Sárhegy single vineyard – this is where the super complex Sárhegy Olaszrizling Barrique 2020 comes from. And regarding “Barbie’s wine’ mentioned above, this red blend of Kékfrankos and Cabernet Franc from 2021 won a gold medal at Berliner Wine Trophy.

More about Dubicz wines

Volcanic wines in the afternoon, and as the sun starts going down, connoisseurs can continue with stunning rums – all in picturesque surroundings. The 2 day event is organized by Dominium Winery and Premirum, a rum importing company. Guests can enjoy one or two relaxed afternoons-evenings in good company, with unforgettable wines & rums and certainly with experts to guide them through the journey of aromas and flavours.

Rum brands that will surely be available for tasting:
Diplomatico, Dicatador 12, 20, Milonario, Zacappa, Bumbu és Bumbu XOl, Don Papa, Legendario, Bacardi, Plantation XO, Daemon Share, Matusalem, Rum Nation
Wines are presented by Dominium Winery. Their latest big success:

Best Sustainable, Best Merlot, Best Sauv Blanc and Best Syrah of VinAgora 2023

Date and time: 23–24 June 2023, on 23 June from 16.00, on 24 June from 14.00
Venue: Dominium Winery, Gyöngyös-Farkasmály, hrsz: 067/50, 47.805N 19.951E, Hungary
Tickets: 5000 HUF / person / day (13-14 euros). For 2 days only 6000 HUF / 15-16 euros!
Buy your ticket here
The ticket includes the entrance, 1 wine glass, 1 rum glass and participation in 3 “rum duels” (in each duel guests can taste 2 rums and decide the winner)
Accommodation: inquire here: +36 30 570 3849, info@dominiumwine.com, dominiumpinceszet@gmail.com

 

Another exciting wine by Dominium

Tempranillo from Mátra? Why not!