239 wineries entered 890 wines, all the 22 wine regions were represented. The Best Aerated Sparkling Wine is Feind Irsai Olivér 2024, the Best Traditional Method is Garamvári Furmint Brut 2019 – both bubblies are from Balaton. The Best Aged White is Tornai Hárslevelű 2021 from Somló (also Balaton), the Best Kékfrankos Based Blend is Vesztergombi St. László Bikavér 2021, while the Best Red Wine is Bock Magnifico 2020 from Villány. The Most Successful Winery of the contest overall is Bock Winery.

Scroll down to see all special prizes

The stars of our cover photo

Garamvári Furmint Brut 2019, Balatonboglár

The estate centre is in South Balaton (Balatonboglár wine region) and the sparkling cellar is in Budafok (Etyek–Buda wine region). A traditional method sparkling wine made of 100% Furmint from Boglárlelle. Typical Furmint notes along with quince, citruses, mango and pear. Vibrant acidity.
More about Garamvári Vineyard

Feind Irsai Olivér 2024, Balatonfüred–Csopak

Feind Irsai Olivér “Gyöngyözőbor” 2024 is an aerated sparkling wine made of 100% Irsai Olivér grape. Quite dry, there is only 6.5 g/L sugar in it, which is not so typical in case of entry level sparkling wines. However, Irsai Olivér is a grape variety with flamboyant aromas, the wine in good hands can be attractive without sugar – as this Feind Irsai proves it. And the indicative price is only 4 EUR! The wine won VinAgora trophy as well in the same category, read more here about it along with info about Feind wine bar and Irsai Olivér grape.
More about Feind Winery

Tornai Premium Hárslevelű 2021, Somló

“The variety which is so kind to our heart is dressed up like Somló. It is characterized by a bright straw yellow color and legs that run evenly down the inner walls of the glass. In addition to its high viscosity and crystal clear color, its bright floral, acacia and lime honey nose, mixed with dried flowers and pleasant vanilla, show a unique salty-sweet character. Tasted bone dry, the salty, mineral character is strong. With a medium alcohol sensation, the wine is balanced and has a long finish. The finish is dominated by peach and ripe lemon.”
More about Tornai Winery

Officially there will be 47 Hungarian exhibitors on 10–12 March in Düsseldorf, but in fact it means many morewineries. Koch Winery (wines in our cover photo) exhibits under “Tenkes” booth at Hall 13 / B10 – it presents wines from all the wineries of Villány wine region.

Who can you meet this year

Just like Tenkes, Cabolo is another booth representing several producers, among others Vesztergombi Cellar, the multi-award winner estate in Szekszárd. Fine Wine Association is also a booth presenting several wineries.

Are you looking for some magnificent sweet wines from Tokaj? Look for Dereszla, Gizella, Patricius – just to mention a few. Are you interested in fabulous, great red wines with ageing potential? Bock(Villány), A Gere Winery (Villány), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma) will offer you astonishing wines. Making trustworthy, good quality entry level wines is an art, and we can honestly recommend Csányi / Teleki Winery (Villány), Lajver (Szekszárd), Szeleshát (Szekszárd), Tornai (Somló), Tűzkő / Eurobor (Tolna) – and don’t forget to taste their flagship wines as well, because these wineries make remarkable high-end wines as well. Are you in the “sparkling business”? Garamvári Vineyards (Balaton) is a family company with a wide portfolio of bottle fermented sparkling wines, and do not miss Sauska and their CSWWC gold winner sparkling wines from Tokaj. In case you are searching for organic and / or natural wines, taste the single vineyard, low intervention, unfined and unfiltered wines of Heimann & Sons at Heimann Family Estate booth and visit Koch Winery (Villány community booth), where Csaba Koch will tell you more about the “happy grape” concept and his organic wines, as well as his wines from Villány wine region.

See the full list of Hungarian exhibitors here

Our recent article with Koch Villányi Cabernet Franc 2020 – one of the Top 12 selection, and the Best Buy of them

Top 12 Cabernet Franc from Villány revealed

Koch Winery

Koch Winery website

A recent article about an organic wine from Koch

Have you heard of Castellum grape variety?

With 18 wineries from Szekszárd we can say that the wine region goes to Budapest with their latest releases. Fuxli, the siller of Szekszárd is darker than a rosé, a traditional style, worth a try itself. Then there is Szekszárdi Bikavér, the famous red wine with Kékfrankos and Kadarka in the blend. And Szekszárd also has the potential to give great wines made of the international superstar grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc or Merlot.

Date and time: 5 May 2023, 17.30–21.30
Venue: Stefania Palace, XIV., Zichy Géza. u. 3. (Enter from Zichy Géza street)
Ticket: 8900 HUF / 23-24 euro (in case of purchasing in advance), 10 000 HUF / 26-27 euro (on the spot)
Buy tickets here (click on ‘JÖVÖK’ on the left)
Glass rental: prepare 2000 HUF in cash for the glass rental, but you will get it back upon the return of the glass
Mineral water is provided free.
Food is available to buy at the venue.
Exhibitors featured in the cover photo: Dúzsi Family Winery, Eszterbauer Winery, Heimann Family Estate, Lajver Wine House, Vesztergombi Cellar
Full list of exhibitors here

Some more recent readings about Szekszárd producers

Golden rose: Dúzsi Syrah Rosé 2021

The winner of the 17th edition announced

Sparks of the Weekend: Lajver Blanc de Blancs

Save the date: Bikavér ‘Wine Wandering’ in Szekszárd on 13 May

Lajver Wine Estate is the place for party goer winelovers, but the state of art winery is much more than the producer of easy going summer wines. It is the home of great wines expressing Szekszárd terroir as well.

The cover girl

If you want to buy Lajver rosé in a supermarket, you might end up with “sold out” signs. Their Lajver Szekszárdi Rose 2020 got on the cover of market leading VinCE Magazine, June issue, since it is one of the best rosés of the panel tasting, and as for price-value, it is a real champion. This rosé is a blend of 4 varieties: Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch) 48%, Zweigelt 21%, Syrah 16.5% and Merlot 14.5%, After the quick harvest manual cluster selection took place. Alcoholic fermentation carried on in a stainless steel tank in a reductive space by variety. After separate maturation, they blended the wines to achieve the best taste and aroma harmony.

“Like a loose, summer raspberry syrup, it starts with a colour and then you’re not disappointed in its scent either. Ripe raspberries as we pick them from the prickly bushes as its juice drips out. There is a little roasted sugar scent behind the fruitiness, which makes it just more flattering, kinder. It also comes back from a sip of it, where the dynamic acid character and the creamy sense of alcohol, the fresh fruitiness and the flattering, sweet juiciness playfully intertwine. The second sip is still fresh, the fruitiness is crunchy and it’s nice to raise a toast on it and then take a sip of it again.”