Land of wine: The best sommeliers of Hungary

The Hungarian Sommelier Association have awarded its Par Excellence profession award in five categories. The Association have been giving out these awards for the fifth year consecutively for the best winery, vintner, restaurant, writer and instructor.

The Par Excellence award is given to those Hungarian professionals, who continuously provide their best to contribute to the improvement of the Hungarian restaurant culture, in particular to the aspects of improving upon the correct wine and drink consumption standards and spreading this knowledge in both theory and practise. First, the members of the association vote on the candidates, then, a list is made according to these votes and finally, the presidency will make the final decision of whom to be awarded. The winners will receive the Par Excellence plaque during the finals of next year’s Hungarian Sommelier Championship – Turizmus.com informs.

There is an interesting story about a Hungarian winemaker who became a member of a knighthood. Read about it HERE.

In the category of the best winery, the Par Excellence award goes to the Holdvölgy Pincészet in Tokaj. The winery started its activity in 1998, and now the winery grows the grapevines on 26 hectares of land. Their first wines were produced in 2006, and their range of wines are based upon local traditions complemented by their own attributes, evoking the uniqueness and richness of the famous wine-producing region. Their wines are on the menus of numerous prestigious foreign restaurants and the winery regularly wins first place in many international competitions.

In the category of the best vintner, the Par Excellence award goes to Radovin. The wine shop opened up in 2001 in Hűvösvölgy and since then, it opened three additional stores in Budapest. Their range of wines are constantly expanding; they provide a wide variety of inland and foreign drinks as well. Their customers can currently select wines from nineteen different countries, and they can provide snacks and coffee to those who wander into their store.