Wine of the Weekend

Tűzkő Estate, the Hungarian winery of Marchese Piero Antinori has recently updated their brand image including the logo and the labels. There is only one wine of their portfolio, whose label remained more or less the same: Banka, the “one with the bird”. New vintage 2022 is available now and you can taste it today in Szeged, on the last day of Szeged Wine Festival (Tűzkő is at booth 61).

Szeged Wine Festival
21 May is the last day of the outdoor wine event with concerts late at night.
There is no admission fee, wines are to be purchased by the glass from each exhibitor.
Website (in Hungarian, but google can help): https://szegediborfesztival.hu
Szeged is only 2 hours’ drive from Budapest, the festival is in the city centre.

Hoopoe, the favourite

Banka stands for the bird on the label. ‘Búbos banka’, in English Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a beautiful bird, protected in Hungary, typical around Tűzkő Estate, in the charming hilly region of Tolna. (You can listen to its song here.)
Fun fact: Hoopoe birds have been seen at high altitudes during migration across the Himalayas. One was recorded at about 6,400 m by the first Mount Everest expedition. So, hoopoe is a migrating bird, yet it stays on Tűzkő labels. The explanation is simple: regular customers like the bird, she is familiar to them, they would have missed this lovely, beautiful creature from the label.

Tűzkő Banka Grüner Veltliner 2022

In Hungarian Grüner Veltliner is called Zöldveltelini (‘zöld’ stands for green), but the German name is also popular (just like the grape variety itself in the neighbouring Austria). Grüner Veltliner / Zöldveltelini is grown on 1250 hectares in Hungary. As a comparison with other white varieties: there are 1950 hectares of Chardonnay and 3700 hectares of Cserszegi Fűszeres. (More information about grape varieties grown in Hungary here.)
The latest vintage of Tűzkő Banka reveals the typical notes of “GrüVe”: citrus fruits, green apple and white pepper. The palate shows crispy acidity and a touch of residual sugar. Refreshing, easy to drink, juicy, delicious wine. It can pair well with salads, hard cheeses and lighter dishes and also enjoyable by itself.

Tűzkő Estate website is under construction, meanwhile you can find info about the winery HERE.

Soon we will introduce the new labels of Tűzkő Estate!

Importers: The Netherlands (Activin B.V.), Belgium (Drankenservice Vandermolen – Vanko bvba), Germany (Xaver Troiber e.k. ; Weinland Ariane Abayan GmbH ), Poland (LAUBEL – Peter Illesy), Switzerland (Globalwein AG – Philipp Reher), Taiwan (European Consumer Product Trading Co. Ltd.), Canada (Mark Anthony Brands), USA (Hemispheres LLC), Israel (Havit Hungarit), Italy (Marchesi Antinori S.p.A)

If you cannot find an important nearby, you can order Tűzkő wines from Winelovers Webshop. They ship to every European country.