sommelier Archives - Hungarianwines

Planting the seed

Hungarianwines.eu — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 16:21:56 +0000

By Yan Biazruchka, Ukraine / Lithuania

This article was written for the 7th WebWineWriting contest. Hungarianwines.eu has no relation to the author, we only host the writing.

Hi, my name is Yan and I’m a sommelier. I have 6.5 years of experience in wine industry. Now I live and work in Vilnius, where I moved in 2022 after the war has been started. My article will not be a professional wine evaluation or organoleptic description, only the written form of my emotions and a real case that forced my love for Hungarian wine.

The most memorable encounter with Hungarian wine was before I even started working in the wine industry. It happened during a vacation trip with friends in 2015. We were passing through Budapest and couldn’t find our apartment booked for the night for a long time. The landlord didn’t get in touch and left only unclear instructions how to get inside. After spending almost two hours looking for the right door with the help of some locals, we solved the puzzle and were accommodated in the apartment.

It was evening, and we realized we needed a breather. We found a bar nearby, told the story to the bartender, and he said to us: “You know, guys, after such adventure you should try Hungarian wine, but not in the usual way. Winemakers will kill me if they find out, but the benchmark of Hungary is sweet Tokaji wine. I’ll make you a sparkling cocktail with it. Please don’t tell them”.

The bartender took out a small bottle from the fridge labelled Royal Tokaji with a gold-coloured wine inside, like 2009 vintage. I didn’t know at the time that this was one of the best Tokaj producers and had no idea of its value. It was amazingly yummy. Several factors coincided here at once: the moment, the atmosphere, the feeling of being a guest and my lack of expectations. Was it the most delicious cocktail I’ve ever had in my life? Definitely no, but it was the most vivid and memorable.

I recall every time my impressions and that moment just to compare. Do Hungarian wines continue to surprise me as that Tokaji sparkling cocktail? Yes, indeed!

And these are my top tasting moments, which I can describe as outstanding.

2017 Reserve Prestige from Chateau Dereszla tasted at Prowein 2024. This wine has amazing depth and freshness. Nice balance, citrus notes and green apple note with gentle undertones of bakery. I never expected Hungary produces wines like this!
Sauska Rosé, the spectacular blend of Kékfrankos, Merlot and Syrah. I used to work with this wine in a restaurant and this is the sommelier’s weapon, no doubt. Universal with carpaccio, ceviche and salads dressed with citrus and savoury sauces and fish dishes.
Diverse wines from a Hungarian embassy tasting in Vilnius, March 2023 – different regions and wine styles, new producers I have never seen before. Dry and oak aged Furmint, Welschriesling and Kékfrankos from Balaton, Pinot Noir from Etyek-Buda, Cabernet Franc from Villány and of course Tokaj. And that’s just a small part of it. Yeah, you could say that about any country. But to be honest, I have never associated Hungary with a wine country.

And that’s just a small part of it. Yeah, you could say that about any country. But to be honest, I have never associated Hungary with a wine country.

My idea and message are that random chance can plant a seed of interest in your mind for something new in a future. In my case, it is the thrill and wonder of discovering new horizons of Hungarian wines. Hope my experience will inspire you to follow the same way.

The post Planting the seed appeared first on Hungarianwines.

The Best Sommelier will taste Hungarian wines

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 13:39:31 +0000

Andreas Larsson and Dúzsi Kékfrankos 2011

The Swedish born Andreas Larsson awarded the Best Sommelier of the World in 2007, when he won the Sommelier World Championship. Then he lauched Blind Tasted, his own publication online, and since its start he has tasted 19 956 wines. All tasted 100% blind, because this is the only objective evaluation method – as he states in his videos. His YouTube channel is most popular with short movies of tastings reaching out thousands of winelovers and professionals. This October he is about to taste wines from Hungary, the deadline for sending samples is 23 October. And to see how he speaks about wines, click on the video below, it was put online three years ago, but the wine he is describing is still great! Listen to the jazz gitarist, chef and champion sommelier talking about Dúzsi Tamás Family Winery Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch) Selection 2011!

Dúzsi – a family winery with love and devotion

Dúzsi winery has just joined joined hungarianwines.eu, and we cordially suggest our readers to come back later to find out more about his wines. A brief introduction has already been uploaded, and soon we will update the wines as well. A winery worth following!

Tamás Dúzsi produces a wide range of white wines, rosés and red wines; all together more that 25 different types. Among his products, the ‘Kékfrankos’ and the ‘Kékfrankos’ based, blended wines appear the most. He won several awards from great internationally recognised wine competitions, for example 19 prize only from the “Le Mondial du Rosé”, 6 medals from “Mundus vini”, also some rewards from the “Le Mondial du Merlot”, “Challenge International du Vin”, ”Le Citadelles du Vin”, “Le Mondial du Shiraz”, “Le Vinalies internationales”, “Le Mondial des Pinots”, “Zarcillo”, etc.

Kristinus – 5 medals at DAWA

Hungarianwines.eu — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:58:34 +0000

Hungarian results at Decanter Asia

Decanter Asia Wine Award results have just been announced. More than 3000 wines from 37 countries have been judged by 50 international experts, certanly with many Asian palates. Hungarian wines obtained 20 medals altogether, though this year gold medals were not given to Hungarian ones. 6 silver medals, 11 bronze medals and 3 commended awards were given to our country. The most successful of the Hungarian wineries is definitely South Balaton Kristinus Wine Estate with 5 medals, 2 silver and 3 bronze.

Villány estate Csányi Winery also got 2 medals: Chateau Teleki Villányi Franc 2015 and Elegance Cuvée 2012 bronze medals.
Vylyan Vineyard and Winery also from Villány won 2 medals: silver for All in one 2012 and bronze for Montenuovo Cuvée 2014
Grand Tokaj from Tokaj again won two awards: bronze for 5 puttonyos Tokaji Aszú 2013 and commended for Szamorodni 2013.
Holdvölgy (Tokaj) and Szepsy (Tokaj) also won 2-2 medals. while MAD Ltd won 3 medals.

Full list of Hungarian award winners

Kristinus Sommelier Line proves its value

The relatively new wine label of Kristinus Wine Estate, the so called Sommelier Line is meant for gastronomy, and made with special care. One of the silver winners belong to Sommelier Line, while the other one, Utopia is a new label. The bronze winners are Kristinus Sauvignon Blanc Selection 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon Selection 2015 and Sommelier Pinot Noir 2015.

Silver winner Kristinus Sommelier Merlot 2015

Dark ruby colour. Ripened cherry, sour cherry, dark chocolate and earthy notes on the nose with a hint of coconut and sweetish barrel spices. Medium acidity, medium body, medium alcohol and smooth tannins. Blackberry and lovely, clear cocoa in the aftertaste. Fruity and complex, ready to drink now but it will surely benefit from further bottle ageing. Sommelier Merlot won gold medal at the other prestigious Asian competition, at China Wine&Spirit Awards.

Silver winner Kristinus Utopia 2017

Utopia is made of 49% Chardonnay, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 16% Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris) and aged in half new, half used oak for 6 months. The medium bodied wine has a balanced acidity with apple, lychee and citrus fruits. Lovely, juicy wine ready to drink but can also be kept for some more years. The wine won a silver medal at China Wine&Spirit Awards and at VinAgora 2018 international competition as well. According to DAWA judges: “Concentrated layers of ripe pear, herbal tea and apple with a vibrant acid core and a mellow, rounded lemony texture.”

The post Kristinus – 5 medals at DAWA appeared first on Hungarianwines.

An ideal pair for Pinot Noir

Hungarianwines.eu — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 09:33:50 +0000

Duck liver, apple, sage brioche and Kristinus Pinot

The following dish is delicious, and though the recipe looks complicated, in fact it is not difficult at all. The new ‘Sommelier Line’ Pinot Noir by Kristinus Wine Estate, South Balaton is a special, elegant wine, which makes a superb company for the noble flavours of the plate.

Duck liver

Clear the duck livers, cut them into approximately 70 gramm pieces, and then put them in the fridge for a while. Later fry them in a heated saucepan with very little oil on both sides. Salt them with Maldon salt, ground pepper and thyme.

Apple strings

Cut the peeled apples into rings, caramelize them, then pour some apple juice onto them and cook until tender.

Apple espuma

Mix 600 d freshly pressed apple juice with 400 g apple puree and heat it until luke warm. Soak 3 sheets of gelatin in cold water, then solve them in 1 dl warm apple juice (do not boil it). When dissolved, mix it with the apple juice–apple puree mix, fill in an ISI cream whipper, and place it in the refrigerator for two hours.

Thyme brioche

Mix 500 g flour with 60 g sugar, 2 g chopped thyme and a pinch of salt. Heat 200 g milk until luke warm, crush 25 g yeast in, wait until rises. Add it to the flour with 2 beaten eggs. Cut 150 g butter into small cubes, and gradually add it to the dough, then knead it for 20 minutes. Leave the dough to rise for an hour in a warm place. After one our place the dough in a baking mold, and leave again to rise for a while. Spread the top with egg yolk and bake it at 150 °C. To serve, place a slice of brioche on the plate, then an apple ring, then a slice of fried duck liver, and at the end a splash of the espuma on top. Decorate it with edible flowers.

What to drink it with?

Kristinus Sommelier Line Pinot Noir

Clear and day bright ruby colour with brick coloured reflexes. The viscosity and tearing is high intensity. After some sniffs the wine is changing a lot. Matured and cooked strawberry with jammy character of red fruits and also some forest minerality is coming. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are also strong elements of the wine. Complex nose with warm spices and moderated barrel notes. Pretty much the same on the palate after some air contact in a bigger glass. No regret after the name. A perfect gastro-wine has been born. If there is no chance to decant, let’s try it from a Riedel 001 glass! Great Pinot Noir experience with a huge ageing potential.

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The sommeliers’ best friends – Par Excellence awards are announced

Hungarianwines.eu — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:18:36 +0000

The sommeliers have the hard job to sell the wines from the wine list, and the more information they have, the easier this job is. Therefore the Hungarian Sommelier Association awards those professionals in their annual celebration, who helps their work in the most effective way. The Par Excellence awards of 2016 were announced on 12 December.

The Par Excellence award in the winemakers’ category this year went to Nimród Kovács, the owner of Kovács Nimród Winery, Eger, who – besides producing great wines – is especially active in helping the sommeliers with workshops, excursions, wine tastings.
In the wine merchant category Attila Tálos, co-owner of Bortársaság wine stores was awarded, who has been running the stores for 20 years, and these shops work as a kind of educational centre where regular tastings are organized.
The gastronomy caregory award went to Lajos Bíró, the chef who runs Bock Bistro in Budapest and three other top category restaurants. His creativity is legendary – if you taste his ’tripe carpaccio’, you will understand.
Wine instructor category award was given to Gabriella Mészáros, co-owner of Borkollégium, who has been teaching for 25 years, and educated almost every wine professional in Hungary.
Wine writer category award went to Gábor Cseh, a wine journalist whose articles appear regularly in professional publications.

The award ceremony will be held on 18 February, 2017, within the coffee and drinks exhibition called KávéBár Bazár, along with the Hungarian Sommelier Championship.

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Blind Date – a creative wine dinner in Budapest

Hungarianwines.eu — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:34:18 +0000

Kollázs is a trendy, rather new place to be in the capital of Hungary. Cosy atmospthere, superb service, interesting wine list, quality ingredients. „Vibrant and inspiring, yet casual and affordable, Kollázs Brasserie & Bar is a contemporary brasserie in a landmark Budapest location, overlooking the Chain Bridge and the Danube River. The Hungarian word for “collage,” Kollázs highlights creative combinations in all aspects of the dining experience.”

A new menu option for those who are not afraid of being surprised is the so called ‘Blind Date’ dinner. Well, don’t be threatened, a new, unknown partner will not appear by your table. Blind Date refers to the dishes accompanied by drinks: several unexpected combinations. A ‘firework’ of the chef (Árpád Győrffy) and the sommelier (Mátyás Szik). As Mátyás Szik (3 times national sommelier champion) commented the new feature: “During this dinner, the chef and me can show what we are really here for, we can explain our ideas with flavours instead of words. Plus it is great value menu here.”

Blind Date with the chef costs 19 000 HUF (63 euros), and with the sommelier 29 000 HUF (97 euros).

Reservation is recommended

Some great Hungarian wines to taste from the wine list:

Kreinbacher Brut Classic (méthode traditionelle sparkling made of Furmint), Somló
Gróf Buttler Chardonnay, Eger wine region, 2015 (Burgundy style Chardonnay from the one of the best vineyards of Eger)
Kovács Nimród Grand Bleu, 2011, Eger Wine region (an amazing Kékfrankos, a ‘wine you must try before you die’)

And finally here is a video that shows the chef and the sommelier how they prepare for the Blind Date, and two guests, who enjoy the consecutive surprises (the guests Zsófia Mautner, a wellknown food blogger and Ágnes Herczeg, a wellknown wine expert).

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