Taste our wines made of indigenous grapes

Do you like exploring new taste, new styles, wines made of unknown grapes? Then Hungarian Wine Expo is a place for you. Here are some ideas how to start your walking around tasting.

Kékfrankos

Kékfrankos is the most planted red grape in Hungary. It gives fruity, elegant, complex wines with long ageing potential. A lovely example will be presented by Tóth Ferenc Winery – visit their table and taste Kékfrankos as a varietal wine and then in a blend (in their famous Bikavér).

Furmint

The “flagship” grape variety of Hungary. It ripens late and has a nose of fresh fruits, often compared to ripe pear. Its significant acidity and alcohol produce characterful wines sometimes with a touch of tartness. Furmint originates from Tokaj, and there are several evidences to prove that, one of them is the mention of the variety as early as 1611 in a document from Erdőbénye, Tokaj region. Why not taste it with bubbles? Garamvári Tokaji Furmint Brut is a wonderful evidence how versatile this grape is.

Irsai Olivér

Ripening early, it gives a very aromatic, intense wine with grapey aromas, delicate spices. Easy drinking wine with medium-low acidity and alcohol, almost always vinified reductively for instant consumption. A beautiful example is Haraszthy Sir Irsai (for the story of Irsai, read our Grape Dictionary).

Juhfark

Juhfark is grown almost exclusively in the small volcanic hill of Somló, a small amount in Balatonfüred. Rather neutral, restrained nose with some flowers and green apples. High, sometimes brutal acidity. It is really difficult to tame this variety, but there are amazing examples of it in history! If you are not afraid of straightforward acidity, take a chance on it, taste Kreinbacher Juhfark!

Olaszrizling

It is grown all over Hungary, in fact the most widely planted grape in the country, and popular in the whole Carpathian basin. It ripens rather late, in good vintages even shrivels. When young, there are flowers on the nose, on the palate full of flavours and there is a little bitter almond note in its aftertaste. It has a pleasant, refreshing acidity. Olaszrizling is capable of long barrel aging. Laposa Selection Olaszrizling is an evidence of the great potential of the variety.

Hárslevelű

Its wine is more aromatic than Furmint with delicate linden honey aromas, sometimes elderflower. Elegant, subtle wine can be made from Hárslevelű with refined acidity, creamy texture and a touch of spices. Its name is literally ‘linden leaf’ and comes from the shape of the leaf which resembles that of the tree. According to some recent DNA researches Furmint is the parent of Hárslevelű.
Taste it in the “king of the wines”, in a beautiful Tokaji Aszú by Patricius.

Cabernet Franc

It is a kind of odd one out here – it is not an indigenous variety of course, however “Cabernet Franc has found its natural home in Villány” – said Michael Broadbent renowned British wine expert, and the wine region does his best to make the grape feel comfortable there. Bock Cabernet Franc is a complex, beautiful example of the variety.

October is dedicated to Hungary

The Hungarian Days in Latvia have become a tradition dedicated to strengthening and celebrating cultural relations between Hungary and the Republic of Latvia since 2015. The Hungarian Days provide both Latvians and foreign visitors with opportunities to participate in, and enjoy all forms of arts and culture. Through the one month event marathon, Hungarian artists and Latvian partners come together and invite everyone to participate in interactive and educational activities to discover Hungarian cultural spirit and passion.