New precious wines in the portfolio

Tokaji Eszencia is a heavenly wine collected drop by drop – hence the price. Yet, once in a lifetime you deserve it! While Gere Kopar is a stunning red wine, a true icon from the opposite corner of Hungary, Villány. Both available at Taste Hungary in the EU and in most of the states of the United States.

What is Taste Hungary and what do they do?

Read our interview with Carolyn Bánfalvi, co-owner of Taste Hungary

The Hungarian ‘wine dealers’ of two continents

Premium organic Kékfrankos from the west of Hungary

Steigler Winery has recently been introduced to the wine trade of London at the Blue of the Danube international grand tasting. The wine was received well, and thanks to Best of Hungary UK import company and webshop Steigler Kékfrankos is available for the UK public. What is more, another importing company with Hungarian roots, Taste Hungary has just included Steigler wines in their portfolio, which is good news for wine enthusiasts in the United States, since Taste Hungary ships to almost every state.

In the UK

“Visitors loved the guile and elegance of Kékfrankos from the cool-climate Sopron terroir, and they were intrigued by its subtle mineral tones from the unique mica schist soil” – commented Dr. Mónika Gyenes, owner of Best of Hungary UK. Kékfrankos is also known as Blaufrankisch, since our neighbours in Austria are active enough to make the name of the grape known in German. Thanks to tasting like the london event organized by Wines of Hungary UK / Wine Communications, the Hungarian name is getting more recognition as well. “Classic deep ruby with purple shades. Zesty acidity and medium tannins with a cavalcade of red and black fruit on the palate, rounded out by elegant spicy notes from the oak barrel ageing” – as we can read on the webshop page of Best of Hungary UK, where IWC 91 pts Steigler Soproni Kékfrankos 2019 is available for 15.50 GBP.
Find Steigler Kékfrankos in Best of Hungary UK webshop

 

In the US

Carolyn and Gábor Bánfalvi, owners of Taste Hungary run a shop and a tour company in Budapest, and they deliver wines to EU and the US. They select wines carefully, with great taste. “Though Sopron has a long history, it’s one of those regions which has become somewhat overshadowed by other flashier regions. The mid-sized Steigler Winery is one of the region’s exciting newer projects. We’ve been selling these wines for quite some time at our shop in Budapest, and they are well-loved by our customers! We hope you give them a try … and let us know what you think! FYI – The two Steigler white wines are already sold out in Hungary,and we have very limited quantities (just a few cases) in the US!” – say Carolyn and Gábor, so you had better hurry! A 6 pack mixed case costs only 154 USD.

Find Steigler wines in Taste Hungary webshop

Gere Fekete Járdovány at Taste Hungary

Fekete (literally black) Járdovány is a grape variety unknown for even local wine experts. It is practically not grown anywhere else, Attila Gere, the iconic winemaker in Villány however has a tiny vineyard of this ancient grape of the Carpathian Basin. He carries on several experiments with the research centre of Pécs, and his single varietal Fekete Járdovány is a result of this experiment. The grape extinct with phylloxera, but it came to life again in 2011, when the first vintage was made.

This rarity is available in the European Union and also in the US thanks to Taste Hungary, a company importing and selling wines in Europe and in the United States.

“In the glass, Fekete Járdovány has a pale cherry-red color with pink reflections. It has aromas of sweet vanilla, caramel, ripe black cherry, and coffee (due to the 10 months it spent aging in small oak barrels). With 13.5 percent alcohol, this reminds us of a Nebbiolo-based wine, with its pale color, elevated tannins and acidity, long finish, and flavors of caramel, cherry, and coffee. This wine represents the effort of generations of winemakers and ampelographers to revive ancient grape varieties. And we are thankful for that!”

See the webshop of Taste Hungary

Interview with Carolyn Bánfalvi, co-founder of Taste Hungary

British print and online publication, Drinks Business founded the award 17 years ago. Since then the best achievements of wine and spirit trade have been announced annually in several categories. It is worth checking the list of winners also for getting inspirations about trendy packaging, effective marketing campaigns. The previous edition brought success to a Hungarian company called Wines of Hungary UK: it received Special Recommendation (with RandR Teamwork) for its Furmint February campaign in trade campaign category. Back then the award ceremony took place during London Wine Fair, while this year due to the pandemic the award ceremony was virtual, streamed from Asia House, London.