If you happen to stay in Hungary, do not miss the chance to taste the Top 100 Hungarian wines (and many more) of the 4th edition of Winelovers Wine Awards. Among other gold medal winner wines, you can taste Patricius Tokaji Aszú 2021, one of the Top 10 Aszú wines of the contest!

Date and time: 27 September 2025, 14.00–21.00
Venue: Corinthia Hotel Budapest, 43–47 Erzsébet krt, Budapest, Hungary
Message from the organizers: “Do you agree with the professional jury’s decision?
See for yourself on September 27 at the Winelovers 100 Grand Tasting, where we will bring you all of the wines that made it into the top 100!”
More information and exhibitors’ list
Tickets: 15 900 HUF / 40 EUR in advance (today until midnight) or 18 900 HUF / 48.5 EUR on the spot
Buy your ticket here (in Hungarian) or contact the organisers here.

250 g/L residual sugar, yet outmost balance!

Patricius Winery is a frequent name on the top charts of Tokaji Aszú wines with several IWC and DWWA trophies. The 2021 vintage is just about to released, and as it was proved in June at WWA contest, this vintage is again an outstanding one. The blend is made of Furmint, Zéta and Hárslevelű, the alcohol content is 11%, and the immense residual sugar is balanced by 9.3 g/L acidity. Pure pleasure, pure gold.
More about Patricius Winery

Patricius wines are available in several countries, for example in the United Kingdom at the Great Wine Co and in the USA at Citadella Imports.

Why to trust Winelovers Wine Awards?

With 1063 entries at the 4th edition, Winelovers Wine Awards have become the largest wine competition organized in Hungary. Samples came from 13 countries, 8 wines received grand gold medal, six from Hungary, one from Romania and one from Italy. Jury members are renowned wine experts from all over Europe including Essi Avellan Master of Wine and Mikk Parre Sommelier Champion of Europe 2024. The majority of the jury members are buyers or experts with buying potential.
See the jury of the 4th edition here

Tűzkő Kékfrankos 2022 – a price-value champion

With 1063 entries at the 4th edition, Winelovers Wine Awards have become the largest wine competition organized in Hungary. Samples came from 13 countries, 8 wines received grand gold medal, six from Hungary, one from Romania and one from Italy. Taste the top 100 Hungarian wines (and many more) of the contest in a grandiose event on 27 September in the 5-star Corinthia Hotel Budapest.

New category this year: “Retail”

This year the contest has added a new category, the “retail wines”, sponsored by Auchan. Tűzkő Kékfrankos 2022 from Tolna wine region received gold medal (90 points) and costs only 1850 HUF / 4.75 EUR in retail, which makes it a real champion in the price race. Destemmed grape from Mőcsény vineyard fermented in stainless steel tanks at 28 °C, under controlled temperature, and it was pressed after malolactic fermentation. The wine aged in 2nd and 3rd use barrels for 8 months. The wine has ruby colour, the intensive, attractive nose is abundant in cherry, rose pepper and red pepper notes. Vibrant palate, subtle tannins and long, fruity aftertaste.

More about Tűzkő Estate

Are you interested? Contact Bulcsú Ősi commercial manager.

About the event

Date and time: 27 September 2025, 14.00–21.00
Venue: Corinthia Hotel Budapest, 43–47 Erzsébet krt, Budapest, Hungary
Message from the organizers: “Do you agree with the professional jury’s decision?
See for yourself on September 27 at the Winelovers 100 Grand Tasting, where we will bring you all of the wines that made it into the top 100!”
More information and exhibitors’ list
Tickets: 15 900 HUF / 40 EUR in advance (not too much time left) or 18 900 HUF / 48.5 EUR on the spot
Buy your ticket here (in Hungarian) or contact the organisers here.

An article about the premium Kékfrankos of the estate

Did you know, that Marchese Piero Antinori is one of the owners of Tűzkő?

Wine of the Week: Tűzkő Kékfrankos Selection

Steigler, Tornai, Tűzkő, Vylyan, Zsirai and others

The 3rd edition of Winelovers Wine Awards international wine contest takes place next weekend with a great line up of international jury members and buyers from three continents. A side event of the contest is a wine exhibition on Saturday afternoon with more than 30 exhibitors and with the international wine celebrities among the guests. Apart from the exhibition, masterclasses are also available with wines of Central Eastern European countries. Another highlight is a masterclass for sommeliers by Piotr Pietras MW. The exhibition and the sommelier masterclass is free for members of the trade and press.

 

Venue: Corinthia Hotel Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 43–47., Budapest, Hungary
Date and time: 28–29 June 2024
Winelovers X: 29 June (Saturday), 15.00–21.00
Masterclass of CEE wines: 28 June (Friday), 14.30–16.00, speaker: Attila Petzold
Masterclass “Sell your wine in 10 minutes”: 28 June (Friday), 16.30–18.00, speakers: winemakers
Masterclass of Romanian wines with highlight on Feteasca Neagra: 28 June (Friday), 18.30–20.00, speaker: Zoltán Szövérdfi-Szép, more info here.
Buy tickets for the masterclasses here (in Hungarian, but google can help)
Masterclass for sommeliers: 29 June (Saturday), 14.00–15.45, speaker: Piotr Pietras MW, more info here.
To register (free of charge) for the exhibition or the masterclass for sommeliers, write here. Don’t forget to give your name, your position and your workplace.

5 exhibitors from Winelovers X not to miss

Wine of the Week

Grüner Veltliner is mostly known as one of the best white Austrian grape variety however, “GrüVe” can give great wines on the other side of the border, in Hungary as well. Sopron wine region on the west of Hungary has a unique climate and soil structure, and the grape also has its tradition here. Steigler is an organic winery with outstanding wines – as it was also proved at the last edition of Winelovers Wine Awards.

A serious wine competition

Winelovers Wine Awards international wine competition, held for the second time in July 2023, attracted wines from 14 countries. The jury comprising 65 wine experts and winemakers represented 19 countries and included several Masters of Wine and one Master Sommelier evaluating 839 wines. (I–Ágnes Németh, the editor of Hungarianwines.eu–was also involved in this international wine contest organized in Budapest for the second time. My duty was to invite and take care of the foreign jury members–therefore I have first-hand experience of the expertise of the jury.)

The list of jury members can be seen here.
See the full list of results here.

Crispy, zesty, easy

Organic farming, Guyot training system, yield: 8000 kg/ha. Fermentation in stainless steel tank at low temperature, ageing in stainless steel tank on fine lees for 6 months. “A lighter, more easy going Zöldveltelini (Grüner Veltliner) from Steigler Cellar with vivid greenish yellow colour and amazingly fresh nose – mainly with grapefruit, lime and fresh green herbs. The crispy acidity and the subtle carbon dioxide makes the wine even more refreshing and zesty.”

More about Steigler Cellar

Have you not heard about Grüner Veltliner / Zöldveltelini?

In Hungary in 2022 there were 1237 hectares under vines of the variety–much more than for example Juhfark, the flagship grape of Somló with only 145 hectares. In Sopron wine region with its 98 hectares Grüner Veltliner–in Hungarian Zöldveltelini–is the most planted white grape.
As mentioned earlier, Grüner Veltelini is a top quality, versatile white grape in Austria, there are more than 17 000 hectares unter the variety. The Czech Republic and Slovakia also have significant amount along with Hungary. There is a small amount in the US, in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
As for the origin of Grüner Veltliner, we can find the following in the book called Wine Grapes: “The earliest mention of Grüner Veltliner dates back to the eighteenth century. Despite its name, Grüner Veltliner has no link with Valtellina. Recent DNA profiling unexpectedly uncovered the parentage of Grüner Veltliner: it is a natural cross between Traminer (SAVAGNIN) and, very likely, an obscure vine found in St Georgen am Leithagebirge near Eisenstadt (Regner 2007). This old vine has a unique DNA profile and is currently the only known survivor of this variety.”
Excerpt From: Robinson, Jancis; Harding, Julia; Vouillamoz, Jose. “Wine Grapes (9780062325518)”. Apple Books.

The summer season is not abundant in wine contest results, however the results of the second edition of the international Winelovers Wine Awards have been released recently. Holdvölgy (Tokaj), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), Jammertal Wine Estate (Villány), Babarczi Vineyard and Winery (also from Pannonhalma) are some of the gold winners – with some extra.

The wine competition, held for the second time in July 2023, attracted wines from 14 countries. The jury comprising 65 wine experts and winemakers represented 19 countries and included several Masters of Wine and one Master Sommelier evaluating 839 wines.

I (Ágnes Németh, the editor of Hungarianwines.eu) was also involved in this international wine contest organized in Budapest for the second time. My duty was to invite and take care of the foreign jury members. I hope I have done my job well and they had an unforgettable experience.
The list of jury members can be seen here.
See the full list of results here.

Holdvölgy in Mád, the pearl of Tokaj

Last year Holdvölgy achieved the highest score for white wine at the first edition of WWA, and now again we can see the estate on the top of the chart with two wines! (This year Pajzos Tokaj and Trifecta wineries got 96 points and Holdvölgy 95 points). The Mád (Tokaj) estate has been impressing jury members across the globe with their super elegant Tokaji Aszú wines and also with their dry Tokaj wines.

More about Holdvölgy Culture Aszú 2010 (95 points)
More about Expression Hárslevelű 2019 (90 points)

The “infusion” you would not refuse – Pannonhalma Archabbey

The historic estate of Pannonhalma has also received not only one, but two gold medals, one for the legendary Infusion red blend, and another for the white blend called Prior. The double success proves again the versatility of Pannonhalma wine region and the potential for producing world class wines made of international grape varieties – Infusio is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon while Prior is a Rhine Riesling selection.

More about Infusio 2020 (91 points) 
More about Prior (90 points) (The link leads to the current vintage 2021, the gold winner was 2020.)

Not one, not two – 5 gold for Jammertal in Villány!

High Parker points, Winemaker of the Year by Selection.de – just some of the most recent acknowledgements, but Jammertal team never stops. Zsófia Kövesdi, the young, talented female winemaker won a gold medal for “her every finger”:

Ars Poetica Syrah 2021 (91 points, Best Syrah)
Ars Poetica Pinot Noir 2020 (91 points, Best Pinot Noir)
More about Villányi Jammertal Grand Cuvée 2019 (90 points)
More about Villányi Jammertal Blue Sky 2020 (90 points)
Jammertal Villányi Merlot 2019 (90 points)

“I know my wine is good” – Babarczi Merlot from Pannonhalma

Last year Babarczi Vineyard and Winery entered Marianum Cabernet Franc at this contest and it did not receive gold medal, even though Marianum has collected several trophies from international contests. Zsuzsanna Babarczi, the manager of the winery could not believe her eyes, but she gave another try and her perseverance was rewarding. And, what is interesting – another red medal for Pannonhalma wine region (see Pannonhalma Archabbey above). Babarczi Marianum missed gold only with one point this year

More about Babarczi Merlot 2020 (90 points)

Watch a short viedo about the contest and its side events

Last minute registration for professionals

If you are a wine professional (sommelier, merchant, bartender, etc) you can still register for the tasting / networking event taking place at Continental Hotel Budapest tomorrow.

The tasting is a side event of the 2nd Winelovers Wine Award international wine contest, therefore the jury members take place at the tasting as well. Rose Murray Brown MW from Scotland, Jamie Goode from England, Caro Maurer MW from Germany are some of the wine experts participants can mingle with.

As for the wines to be tasted, guests can taste an exciting international selection of the samples, and there will be 10 exhibiting wineries, plus a wine region – Balatonboglár wine region – with 5 more wineries.
One of the exhibitors is Eszterbauer Winery from Szekszárd, the winery which produced the best red wine of the 1st Winelovers Wine Awards.

See the list of exhibitors here

Register here (in Hungarian, but google can help)

Our earlier article about Eszterbauer Grand, the best red wine of Winelovers Wine Awards

Eszterbauer Grand 2017 – The Best Hungarian Red Wine

See the list of Winelovers Wine Awards jury members

Wine of the Week

The first international Winelovers Wine Awards took place this June, and it was a great success with 623 submittedwines from 14 countries. 63 gold medals were given and 22 special prizes. Tűzkő Estate in Tolna wine region received the ackowledgment of The Best Chardonnay of the contest.

See the full list of results of Winelovers Wine Awards here.

 

Tűzkő Chardonnay Barrique 2019

The grape for the wine comes from a special, 5 hectare vineyard of the estate. Fermentation took place in wooden barrel and then the wine aged in 300 L Hungarian oak made by European Coopers company. The oaky tones are intense, but smoothly integrated into wine, resulting a creamy, complex wine rich in fruity and nutty aromas. It pairs well with smoked meat, try it with smoket salmon, it will be a noble match!

 

Did you know that Tűzkő Estate belongs to Marchese Piero Antinori, the superstar of Tuscany?

The history of Tűzkő Estate dates back to the beginning of the 1990s when Hungary went through some groundbreaking political and economic changes. This transformation created real market conditions and opened up the county for foreign investors as well.
Two renowned Italian wine people: Marchese Piero Antinori and Marchese Jacopo Mazzei, who have been closely related to the world of wine for generations through their family traditions, discovered the potential of Tűzkő Estate situated beetween the hills of Tolna, in the vicinity of Szekszárd wine region.

Read more about Tűzkő Estate

Tűzkő Estate

Website of Tűzkő Estate

Wines of the Weekend

Winelovers Wine Awards international wine contest took place in June and the results were announced earlier in July. The best red wine of the competition is Eszterbauer Grand 2017 from Szekszárd with the highest score: 92 points. ‘Grand’ is the top red blend of Szekszárd producers only in the best vintages. Eszterbauer Grand is a very special wine – it places the crown on a sumptuous Sunday meal.

What is this Grand?

The most versatile wine region of Hungary, Szekszárd created a new community label, the so called Grand in 2012.  It has to be a blend of the top lots of a winery, from only exceptional vintages, bottled in a bottle designed especially for Grand wines. As for the grapes, Grand should contain at least 25% Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch), and regarding the ageing 5 years is the minimum. The first Grand labels appeared at the end of 2018 by only 4 wineries of Szekszárd: Eszterbauer, Heimann, Takler and Sebestyén. The list was short, but as János Eszterbauer said, other Szekszárd estates were welcome to join. The first vintage of Grand wines is from the extreme sunny year of 2012, and since it was a superb year, the next Grand wines came from 2017, released in 2022. 18 wineries attempted to receive the name, however only 6 of them proved to be up to the required standards: Bodri, Németh János, Prantner, Schieber, Takler and Eszterbauer. Eszterbauer Grand 2017 has not been released yet, it will be available from September, but the pre-sale is on.

Order Eszterbauer Grand 2017 here

More about Eszterbauer Winery

About Winelovers Wine Awards

The 1st edition of Winelovers Wine Awards took place on 20-21 June at Continental Hotel Budapest, Hungary. The competition had been organized previously on national level, it was the first year to step onto international stage. Immediately it has been a huge success: 58 wine experts from 19 countries evaluated 623 wines from 14 countries within the 2 days of the contest. The highest score was 93 points, 5 Hungarian wineries recieved it, all with natural sweet wines – for example Holdvölgy Culture 2017. The best red was Eszterbauer Grand Cuvée 2017 from Szekszárd, Hungary with 92 points.
See all results here