Hungarian wine

Unique cabin lift and renewed lookout point in the Tokaj wine region – PHOTOS

The Tokaj Wine Region is one of the regions in Hungary that has become famous primarily for its winemaking. The region’s wines have been known throughout Europe since the Middle Ages, and the wine business was reorganised in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet-backed political system. The touristic significance of the region is high; therefore, Tokaj has been declared a key tourist development area by the Hungarian State, which means there will be a lot of attractive new investments in the region.

The project

This time, the company behind the Tokaj Wine Region issued a tender for the establishment of a chairlift and the renovation of the Kopasz Hill TV tower, which is unique in Hungary.
The chairlift is scheduled to run all year round, on a trail of about 2,000 metres, says Telex.hu. The chairlift will depart from the area called Fesztiválkatlan and arrive at the top of Kopasz Hill.

István Dévald, the managing director of the company, told Turizmus.com that the TV tower built in the 1960s was still a popular excursion destination in Tokaj: people go up to Kopasz Hill only to see that it is closed for visitors at the moment.

Hence the idea that in order to further develop tourism, the existing TV tower will be filled with guest-friendly features so that visitors can admire the area from a height while enjoying new services.
The development is expected to increase the number of visitors in Fesztiválkatlan. The plans include a 600-square-metre, multi-storey building.

While visiting the complex, visitors are going to be able to enjoy exhibitions, buffets or restaurants on the first floor, but the main attraction will be a 50-metre-high panoramic lift next to the TV Tower, which will be connected to the tower at the top by a bridge. The lookout tower, which many simply call the “mushroom”, is also going to be renewed, and a panoramic staircase is going to be created as well.

Tokaj wine region

The Tokaj region is an area of 5,500 hectares of vineyards and includes 27 towns and villages in total. The area is best known for its sweet aszú wines, made from nobly rotten grapes. We wrote an article 2 weeks ago about the Tokaj wine and French king Louis XIV’s famous saying about the Tokaj wine: “C’est le roi des vins et le vin des rois“, meaning “The King of wines and the wine of Kings”. You can read that article here.

Other developments

There is another big development going on in the Tokaj region: the world’s longest suspension bridge construction has started, we suggest you read our article about that, too. You can find it here.

February 5, 2022

Red versus white wine – which one is healthier?

Whether you prefer a glass of translucent Irsai Olivér or a deep ruby Egri Bikavér is a matter of personal taste. However, when it comes to the question of which one is healthier, we probably could not give a quick straightforward answer. Do you wonder that in the battle of red versus white wine, which intoxicating nectar would reign supreme? The differences go far beyond the choice of grapes of the region where they come from. Read on to find out which wine turns out to be the healthiest pick.

Word of caution: even though wine is delightful, you will not get superpowers from it nor should it be considered a health drink to sip on every day after your gym class.

Nutrition comparison

Both types are more or less similar in respect of their sugar and carb content. The main difference between red versus white wine has to do with the colour of the grapes. If we break down the chemical profile of wine, all we got left, after alcohol and water, are polyphenols. These micronutrients include tannins, pigments and flavonoids among thousands of other plant compounds.

Flavonoids are the ones responsible for the heart-friendly reputation of this divine alcoholic drink.

Bad news for white wine lovers: these beneficial natural substances are predominantly found in grapes (also in dark chocolate, berries, red cabbage and onions but those do not make you funnier nor a better dancer) that are darkly pigmented.

Apart from flavonoids, red wine only slightly fares better in its vitamin and mineral content compared to white wine. They contain equal amounts of magnesium and vitamin B6, both value at 4% of the reference daily intake (RDI). However, red outperforms white when it comes to their iron (4% of the RDI in contrast to white’s 2%) and potassium levels (5% of the RDI in red while only 3% in white).

Benefits of red versus white wine

Even though the beneficial health attributes of wine outplay all other types of alcoholic beverages, not all wines rate equally. Certain types contain significantly more “good stuff”. As an example, antioxidants found in red wine promise more health benefits in comparison to white wine.

Antioxidants have the power to reduce oxidative stress in the body, which is linked to many modern-day chronic diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular disorders.

You may have heard of the “French paradox” that baffled scientists for decades. Taken all the Camembert and Roquefort French people munch on, they somehow appear to be less vulnerable to heart disease than Americans who have less saturated fat in their diet. Experts suspect that it can be due to the fact that red wine is a mandatory companion to almost all French dishes (you have to wash off those juice snails with something). Presumably, the protective effect is the result of the high flavonoid content of red wine. Numerous studies have proven that moderate red wine consumption can lower the risk of coronary heart disease by 30-40%.

Besides all that, red wine is also known to lower the bad cholesterol in your system. To mention something good about white wine too, people who look to reduce their sugar intake should definitely opt for a light-coloured glass.

What to look for?

Is it wine o’clock and you cannot wait to indulge in a glass (or two) but still want to stay on the healthier side? There are some telltale characteristic traits you can look for in that case. If you wish to drop some pounds go for dry wines that are less sweet, meaning they hide less sugar. You will not compromise your fitness goals with a few sips of Etyeki Kúria Sauvignon Blanc, Feind Sauvignon Blanc, Cassiopeia Merlot from Villány or Badacsonyi Pinot Gris. It can also be a good idea to opt for wines with low alcohol content such as riesling, chardonnay and again sauvignon blanc.

If you do not fret the calories but want to ripe all the promising health benefits of wine, look for deep red options from famous Hungarian wine regions such as Eger, Villány and Szekszárd.

All that said, take our advice with a grain of salt. There are so many wonderfully delicious wines out there, you should not limit yourself. Take a wine tour in the Hungarian countryside and explore all the rich and exciting flavours the country offers. Treat yourself to a glass of sweet and fruity Tokaji Aszú or a velvety Soproni Kékfrankos with notes of plum and blackcurrant and relish every luscious drop.

February 1, 2022

One of Balaton’s beautiful restaurants transforms into a wine-tasting place – PHOTOS

Another popular restaurant is closing its doors but, thankfully, only because it will go through a transformation! Read on to find out what lays in store for one of Balaton’s most famous bistros.

As Index reported, one of the most beautiful terraces of Balaton, the Szent Donát Borkúria (Wine Cellar) formerly called Márga, used to be open all year round but now it is saying goodbye – luckily, only as a bistro. The place was well known for its unparalleled views: in winter, guests could admire the landscape through panoramic glass windows.

Szent Donát Borkúria

Tamás Kovács, the owner of Szent Donát Borkúria, reported in his blog post about the expansion of the winery. He also informed readers of the processes that brought worldwide recognition to their wines from Csopak and Lake Balaton regions.

Read also: Did you know? The Italian espresso was revolutionised by a Hungarian from Transylvania

The post of Tamás Kovács reads,

“Meanwhile, on the terrace of our bistro, in the hustle and bustle of hospitality, these messages that are important to us are often lost, unfortunately. People interested in our wines were not getting the right feedback so we decided to turn the former guest area of our bistro into a tasting room where various wine programmes will be held.”

He also added that they closed their former restaurant era at the end of last summer.

However, fear not: according to nlc.hu, the Szent Donát Borkúria will reopen to the public from the beginning of February, although advance booking will be required.

A bit of history

As Index reported a while back, wine and gastronomy are integral parts of the family-owned and operated Szent Donát Borkúria. The cellar and the on-site kitchen with a panoramic terrace are located in the building of the Csopak manor house, which serves as the centre of the estate. Today, the area has grown to 16 hectares, mainly in the vineyards of Csopak and Paloznak, and to a lesser extent in Tihany and Szentbékkálla, where the farms are managed with a strictly organic approach.

Read also: Hungary’s unique Neo-Classical castle reborn after decades of decay – PHOTO GALLERY

What is interesting is that Tamás Kovács’s wife has created a tradition years ago.

They were struggling with a particularly difficult vintage, so she drew a smiley sign on the barrels with chalk.

The wine recovered within weeks and since then, the smiley has been portrayed on every barrel.

Read also5+1 special breakfast places you must try in Budapest

January 31, 2022

“The King of wines, the wine of Kings” – History of the Tokaj region

With a number of vineyards and world famous grapes, Hungary is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy some quality local wine. Tokaj region is one of the most famous beetween all the ones to be found in Hungary

The Tokaj region in general

The Tokaj region is an area of 5,500 hectares of vineyards and includes in total 27 towns and villages. The area is best known for its sweet aszú wines, made from nobly rotten grapes. In Tokaj, six grape varieties are permitted to grow. The most famous ones are Furmint and Hárslevelű. Other varieties grown in smaller quantities are Sárga Muskotály, Kövérszölö, Zéta (a crossing of Furmint and Bouvier), and Kabar (a crossing of Hárslevelű and Bouvier). All of these varieties can be used in Aszú.

Short history of the Tokaj region

First written mentioning of Aszú wine: 1571
Mád gathering of 12 regional wine-towns: 1641
The world’s first vineyard classification: 1720’s
Royal Charter: demarcation and appellation control: 1737
Revival – a new style of Aszú wines: 1990’s
UNESCO World Heritage Site as Cultural Landscape: 2002
Government-designated Growth Area: 2014

XIV Louis and the Tokaji wine

Ferenc Rákóczi II, Prince of Transylvania, who owned a huge piece of the vineyards in the Tokaj region, established a good relation with the French Royal Court. The reason for that was, that both him, and the french side were looking for allies against the Habsburgs.

During the war for independence in Hungary, started by Rákóczi, what was a fight against the Hapsburgs in the early 18th century, he tried to ally himself with influential European monarchs, amongst them Louis XIV of France.

Tokaji Aszú — Photo: Facebook.com/tokajiaszushop/

Tokaj Essencia, wine, Hungary, region, expensive — Photo: facebook.com/royaltokaji

aszú tokaj wine — /facebook/Tokaji Aszu/

The fight for independence have fallen, and Rákóczi was first arrested, then imprisoned in Vienna on the 18th of April, 1700, but he sucesfully managed to escape and left to Poland, where he was sheltered by the French ambassador. Three years later, while the Austrian forces had to move most of their forces from Hungary to Spain, Rákóczi started another uprising, which unfortunately failed again in 1711.

After refusing an amnesty by the Habsburgs, Louis XIV offered Rákóczi exile in France in 1713 and paid him a pension. On the occassion of a feast in Versailles, when Tokaji wines had been served, the menu card showed His Majesty’s hedonistic quote „C’est le roi des vins, et le vin des rois“ (The King of wines, and the wine of Kings).

The successor Louis XV used to serve Tokaji to his famous mistress – Madame Pompadour. „Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum“ – this famous line is used to this day in the marketing of Tokaji wines.

Read alsoHere are the property prices of Hungary’s most popular wine regions

January 16, 2022

10 things to do at Balaton during winter – PHOTOS

When we hear the name Balaton, most of us think of the lake itself. But Balaton as a region holds much more than just the Hungarian sea. Here are 10 reasons why you should not forget about Balaton even during the winter months.

Of course, when there are sub-zero temperatures outside, it is not the beach and the waves we dream about. There are many more things that Balaton can provide us with if we open our eyes. Check out these recommendations, and you might find something you want to try this winter.

lake balaton winter — Lake Balaton in winter, source: pixabay.com

1. Go ice skating

It is one of the most popular winter sports and programme alternatives for the cold days. Even though the lake itself is not always safe enough to go ice skating on, there are a number of ice skating rinks in the vicinity of Balaton. If you love sliding along on the ice, do not hesitate to go.

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2. Go skiing

In the Síaréna (ski arena) in Eplény, snow cannons are used to provide the necessary snow for skiing. If you decide to visit the arena, it is important to note that from this season on, you cannot pay with cash but only by card.

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3. Visit a patisserie

Nothing is better than a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate in this freezing cold weather – especially if you have just finished at the skating rink. Get warm in a cute patisserie while relaxing with a slice of cake of your choice. Here is a list of the best patisseries around Lake Balaton, compiled by Szallas.hu.

4. Discover Veszprém’s newest shops

Veszprém is one of the most well-known towns in the region. If you are there, do not forget to visit the town’s Óváros Square. There are a number of authentic shops, like Wine & Vinyl, where you can buy wine and vinyl – obviously. You can also visit the newly opened Füge Fagyiudvar, Kedvencem Wok & Bar, and Pekedli.

5. Try some delicious wine

The “valley of volcanos”, as Badacsony’s official website calls the region, is famous for its amazing wine. If you are an oenophile, this region is the perfect choice for you. Check out this page to see all the alternatives available.

Read also: Visit the best skating rinks outside Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY

6. Go cycling

If the weather is not too cold, you can go for a cycling tour around Lake Balaton. However, do not forget that if you want to stop and eat or drink something, many places are not open at this time. Do check the restaurants and bars you would want to stop by before setting off.

7. Live next to lake Balaton for a little while

Have you ever thought about living right by Lake Balaton, say, in winter? Have you ever dreamed about experiencing one of the calmest atmospheres in the country? Now your dream can become a reality. Rent a small weekend house and rest as much as you need to.

8. Go hiking at Lake Balaton!

If you are a fan of staying fit even during winter, we are sure you would love hiking there. For example, the Szent György Hill Basalt Organs Trail is a circular route that is almost 4 km long. It might not sound like too much, but when it is zero degrees Celsius out there, every step is harder to take.

9. Enjoy thermal baths

Thermal baths and Balaton? The perfect combination. Héviz is one of the most popular thermal baths in Europe. Book a place or two in Thermal Hévíz Health Spa and Hotel and forget any problem of yours that has ever existed.

10. Visit some beautiful towns near Lake Balaton

Whether you are more interested in trying some exquisite wines, going sightseeing or visiting museums, you will find the perfect choice. From Siófok and Keszthely to Balatonfüred and Tihany, there are countless beautiful places waiting for you to discover them.

Read alsoRenewed Budapest – You can visit these architectural projects in early 2022

January 14, 2022

Travel+Leisure: Budapest among the best places to visit in 2022

A travel magazine, Travel+Leisure, has included Budapest in its article “The 50 Best Places to Travel to in 2022”.

The magazine is based in New York and is published monthly. According to its media kit, it has 4.8 million readers. No wonder we find it an honour that it included Budapest in its newest article about the best places to see in 2022.

buda castle — The Buda Castle, source: pixabay.com

Two years of restrictions, border closures, cancelled cruises and flights are behind us. Now, with the feeling of safety the vaccine offers, it seems like we can get back to discovering the world. But making a choice is not always easy: this is exactly what Travel+Leisure helps us with.

With their brand new article, they provide the top 50 destinations the world has to offer this year.

Read also: Hungarian restaurants that fell prey to COVID – PHOTOS

The list

Even though our capital is in 8th place on the list, the destinations are not ranked but are merely listed alphabetically. But that does not take away from the fact that Budapest is probably going to be flooded with tourists yet again this year.

This is not new because, as we wrote earlier, 2021 was a truly outstanding year for the Hungarian tourism sector.

budapest night landscape — Budapest, source: pixabay.com

Budapest is up on the list along with fascinating destinations like Italy, Barbados, the Bahamas, Sardinia, Greece, and so on. The travel magazine talks highly of our capital. According to it, Budapest is one of the very few places that “captures both old-world charm and elegant modernity”.

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The Matild Palace

matild palace interior — Matild Palace, source: matildpalace.com

It lists the Matild Palace as a great example of this mixture. The palace (which is a luxurious hotel at the same time) is in District V, and it once was home to Budapest’s royalty.

In 2021, the palace won two prestigious international awards, about which you can read in our article here.

Also, check out our article about the opening of the Matild Palace in July last year.

The travel magazine highlights the fact that Spago by Wolfgang Puck, a restaurant in Matild Palace, is the first of its kind in Central Europe. Apart from the famous restaurant, the article lists some wine bars that are absolutely worth visiting. Travel+Leisure also underscores the cultural importance of the 22 wine regions surrounding Budapest and advises tourists not to leave the country without enjoying a glass of Kékfrankos or Kadarka.

Read alsoRestaurants to check out in Budapest if you love international food – PHOTOS

January 10, 2022

Hungary in the world’s top wine tourism destinations!

Tasting different types of wines is no longer a stay-at-home activity. That is because the quality wineries of the world combine wines with colourful programs for guests to attract as many tourists as possible. Thanks to a list compiled by Bounce, you can learn now which countries you should choose for a wonderful wine experience. The website shared the wine lover’s index and wrote a few lines about the wine industry of the different countries. Furthermore, they also dug up for us, which country to choose if we want the best vineyards, the best wine tours, or the best prices.

Being a wine lover? Here is where you should travel

Bounce says that the world of wine offers endless possibilities for those who like the heavenly nectar. They can choose from vineyard tours to organised tastings, from exploring innovative new blends to enjoying their favourite bottles.

Many wine-lovers even choose their summer trip destination based on the type of wine or famous winery of the city or region.

Therefore Bounce made the list of the best wine destinations in the world. They considered consumption, production, exports, vineyards, wine tours, and the average cost of a bottle of wine.

Read more: The best Hungarian wines were awarded, here are the winners

Hungary having cheap and quality wines

According to Helló Magyar, Hungary is the 10th best destination for wine-lovers in the world. About the country, they say that the average consumption of 100,000 people is 18.5 million hectoliters. Meanwhile, in the case of production, this number is 28. Thus, it is not surprising Hungary is one of the wine exporters in the world, whose products are famous even in the Far East or in the Americas. Interestingly, there are 667 wine tours per 100,000 people every year. Meanwhile,

the cost of a bottle of wine is only 4.32 dollars. That is the second cheapest in the list

only Argentina precedes Hungary in that category. In the South American country, you can buy a bottle of wine for only 3 dollars.

Read more: Hungarian Szepsy Winery among the best in the world according to renowned list

According to Bounce, the best destination for wine lovers is Italy, especially the Veneto region. The silver medal went to Portugal, where you should visit Porto. Interestingly, Portugal is also the biggest consumer of wine on the list, with the country

drinking 47 million hectolitres per 100,000 people.

Spain got third place, France the fourth, and the fifth was New Zealand. In the latter, the popularity of this nectar skyrocketed in the last two decades. Interestingly, the country offers 4,062 wine tours, the third-highest on Bounce’s list, and has 40 thousand hectares dedicated to viniculture.

Here is the list of the website:

Read alsoHungarian wine from Villány becomes world’s best

January 4, 2022

A unique bottle reserved only for Egri Bikavérs – PHOTOS

After years of development the special bottle for the Eger wine region was launched two years ago. The latest news about the bottle with the „1552 Eger” inscription is that from now on it can only be used for Egri Bikavérs. The creators of the bottle, the members of Eger Wine Workshop made their decision so as to make the most emblematic wine of the region easier to identify.

The shape of the bottle launched in the summer of 2019 was inspired by one that was used in the Eger wine region in the 1930s and then almost completely forgotten. The bottle was updated to conform to modern standards. The „1552 Eger” inscription on the bottle honours and commemorates one of the most important events in the history of the city, the siege of the Castle of Eger where the attacks of

the Ottoman army were successfully repelled by the defenders.

In the first two years following its launch many customers got to know the special bottle. However members of Eger Wine Workshop felt that the concept needed some fine-tuning in order to make the message more unambiguous.

„There aren’t too many wine regions that can take pride in possessing an unmistakable character. To be frank, we weren’t always certain that Eger was one of them, even though we have always had Bikavér right in front of our eyes. But once Eger winemakers committed themselves to Egri Bikavér it all became so obvious. We are witnessing a new era of self-awareness in the wine region.

The Egri Bikavér bottle is a further step in this direction”,

summerizes the region’s current efforts local winemaker, Tibor Gál.

Fish of the Szeged fish soup became protected by the EU!

According to the new and in effect regulations the Egri Bikavér bottle can contain nothing but Egri Bikavér. To strengthen the perception that the special bottle is a guarantee of consistently high quality Bikavér the top two categories of the AOC system, the superior and grand superior Bikavérs are automatically eligible for the use of the Egri Bikavér bottle. However wines belonging to the classicus category have to pass a quality test in order to enjoy the same privilege.

For further information and for the full regulations please visit the website: egribormost.hu/egri-bikaver-palack/

Read alsoNew image launched for the Eger wine region

December 1, 2021

Hungarian chef returns to Budapest to serve us mouth-watering dishes

He travelled around the world, from Spain, France, and London to Miami, Dubai, Japan, and Vietnam, yet chef Márk Molnár returned home after 20 years to bring the flavours of the world to Hungary.

N28 Wine and Kitchen, located on 28 Nagymező Street, in the heart of Budapest’s theatre quarter, is one of the newest bistros in Budapest. Founded by Károly Barta, who makes great wines in Mád, and József Szentesi, who makes wine in the area of Sukoró, N28 primarily functions as a wine bar and wine shop, specialising in

special Hungarian wines that are exclusively available here in the city.

N28 Wine and Kitchen-restaurant-food-Budapest — Photo: n28.hu/fotogaleria

N28 Wine and Kitchen-restaurant-Budapest — Photo: n28.hu/fotogaleria

Numerous styles and experiences mix and merge in the elegant yet affordable N28, and the menu is divided into three main sections, writes Street Kitchen. The first section consists of a variety of pintxos (pintxo is the sophisticated Basque version of tapas) and bites. Then come the matured meats, i.e. charcuterie, pâtés, and cheeses, then finally, the main dishes and desserts.

From luxury Angus steak pintxo and bread fermented eryngii mushroom to caramelised fresh goat cheese, duck foie gras terrine and red deer goulash, in N28, everyone can find something to their liking on the menu.

Meat dishes start around HUF 4,000 (~EUR 11), but you can also choose from an assortment of lighter main dishes for HUF 3,000−3,400 (~EUR 8−9). N28 also has a unique afternoon offer that is available until 6 pm, so you can sit down for a few bites before going to the theatre, for example. Opening hours are from 11 am to 11 pm every day.

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Back home again after twenty years

N28 Wine and Kitchen-restaurant-Budapest-chef-Márk Molnár — Photo: n28.hu/fotogaleria

Hospitality has always been part of the life of chef Márk Molnár, son of the well-known gastro-writer and expert Tamás B. Molnár. First, he worked as a chef in an inn, then he gained experience in several famous restaurants in Budapest. His original plan was to spend a month abroad. He first travelled to San Sebastian (Spain) where he spent one year.

The menu unquestionably reflects the Basque and Spanish influence.

Márk Molnár visited many other regions in Spain, he worked in Mallorca, in the Canary Islands, and even in the restaurant of famous chef Ferran Adriá. Then, he moved to Japan, Paris, London, Miami, Dubai, and finally to Vietnam.

Read alsoOne of the country’s best gourmet restaurants to close soon

November 30, 2021

Here are the results of the 2021 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships

Corks have been popping all over the world this week as the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships hosted its Virtual Awards Week announcing a total of 36 trophies to the greatest sparkling wine producers from around the globe.

The week kicked off announcing the Best in Class winners followed by the virtual audience being able to discover the 13 Regional Champions, 12 National Champions and finishing the week off with the announcement of 7 World Champions, the Supreme World Champion, the Tony Jordan Rising Star Award, The Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year and the Chairman’s Trophy!

The title of Best Hungarian Sparkling Wine was nominated to the Sauska NV Brut in the 2021 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships.

For the first time since the competition began, the World Champion Trophy Awards had never been so close with Best in Class winners from around the world batting it out to be crowned with a CSWWC trophy. The judges were delighted to crown Dom Ruinart with the supreme world champion trophy for their Dom Ruinart 2004 Rosé in Magnum.

The Chairman’s Trophy, this year went to Carassia for the NV Rosé (for surprising the judges with its impressive performance in the Supreme World Champion taste-off, when it shone beautifully in third position) and The Tony Jordan Rising Star Trophy went to Abrau-Durso Russian Sparkling Wine House (for a quantum leap forward in quality on previous years).

Founder and chair of judges Tom Stevenson commented “Last year was memorable for obvious reasons, but who could have imagined at the start of 2020 that we would still be battling a pandemic in 2021, even though we were even less sure of finding a single working vaccine.

Here are the property prices of Hungary’s most popular wine regions

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Yet we have attracted more than 1000 entries of extraordinary quality into our niche competition for the second year running.

The bar was set high from day one and the Trophy count certainly reflects this. However, it is not only our mission to promote world class wines, but also to discover and reward new and exciting wines from established and emerging regions across the world. The biggest surprises for me were Japan, Russia and Sicily.

You can find all result by following THIS link.

Although Japan received only one silver, it clearly showed the potential this country has for serious sparkling wine and we look forward to a wider range of Japanese entries in the future. Abrau-Durso Russian Sparkling Wine House was a worthy winner of our Rising Star because, frankly, we had tired of tasting their oxidative fizz year after year, but 2021 revealed a change of quality to a brighter, purer style.

We were surprised last year when Sicily won two gold medals and four silvers, as it is not the first place that comes to mind when asked to name somewhere with sparkling wine potential, but they took those awards as encouragement and dumbfounded us with no less than five golds and 11 Silvers!

In addition to Sicily, I would also like to highlight the incredible breath of medals that have been awarded to Italian sparkling wines this year.

This is a country that continues to push boundaries and produce top quality sparkling wines. From the north of Italy in Franciacorta and Trentodoc regions, to Prosecco and Lambrusco, all the way down to Sicily with one particular winery there, AZIENDA AGRICOLA G. MILAZZO, being showered with medals this year!”

Read alsoThe best Hungarian wines were awarded, here are the winners

November 28, 2021

The best Hungarian wines were awarded, here are the winners

Hungary is famous for its excellent wines and wine regions. On 5 November, the Vince Award was given to the best wines, based on votes from professionals and the general public. Among the winners, premium wines and entry-level wines can be found.

People could vote for 33 categories from September 23 until the end of October. You can see the full list of wines HERE. In total, 7,000 votes were cast, writes Origo.

In the category of white wines, Frittmann’s 2020 Irsai Olivér was the winner. In Etyek, the most-liked wine was the Sauvignon Blanc 2019 by Etyeki Kúria. Lajvér Borbirtok Prémium Rosé 2020 was the winner of its category.

When it comes to red wines, Villány and Szekszárd receives great praise. Mandolás Cabernet Franc Válogatás 2016, the wine of Vylyan winery, won the award in the category. Consumers loved Attila Gere’s Solus Merlot 2016. In the category of cabernet sauvignons, Vesztergombi Pince won the award with its Szekszárdi Bodzás Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. Among blue franc wines, Szentahegyi Kékfrankos 2016 won the award. This wine is produced by Takler Borbirtok.

The best sparkling wine of 2021 is Kreinbacher, and the best bubbly rosé is Pláne Frizzante by Etyeki Kúria. The legendary Tokaj wine region represented itself in the competition as well. Puttonyos Aszú from 2013 by Szepsy Pincészet won the award.

The Hungarian audience awarded József Bock the Lifetime Achievement Award for the best winemaker this year. The Bock family have been cultivating grapes and making wine since 1850 in the Villányi region. The best winery of the year is the winery of the Archabbey of Pannonhalma (Pannonhalmi Főapátság).

Those who voted could win a Dunavox wine cooler, 10 Vince Club red trio one-month membership packages, 10 Vince Club white trio one-month membership packages, 20 1-day tickets to the Vince Gala event, and a selection of 50 bottles of wine.

November 8, 2021

Here are the property prices of Hungary’s most popular wine regions

In addition to viticulture and winemaking, Hungary’s wine regions are also popular among those who would like to disconnect themselves and get away from the stressful city atmosphere. Accordingly, the Tokaj, Kunság and Pécs wine regions are becoming more and more popular residential destinations. We reveal how much a property costs in the most famous wine regions of Hungary.

Tokaj

In one of the most well-known wine regions of Hungary, real estate prices show significant differences. The cheapest houses in the wonderful Tokaj wine region – which are usually awaiting renovation – are offered for EUR 13,800-19,300. In the more popular settlements, similar residential properties are available for EUR 22,100-41,400, depending on the condition. As the Hungarian news portal 24.hu reports,

the most popular settlements of the wine region are Erdőbénye, Mád and Bodrogkeresztúr, where tourism and investment purchases have recently started to boom.

The highest price category in the Tokaj wine region is represented by vineyards and wineries, usually waiting for the right buyer. Due to its advantageous characteristics, the Tokaj wine region is usually targeted by those investors who are interested in viticulture and winemaking.

Kunság

In September, the real estate market of Hungary’s widest wine region realised the third strongest month ever.

As far as tourism is concerned, the settlements with baths are still the most popular in the region. High demand can be observed in the case of small settlements along with more extensive industrial and economic facilities, such as Kecskemét. Here, buyers are mainly looking for properties that need minor renovation. However, without being renovated, a property in the smaller settlements can be found for EUR 11,050 – 13,800. At the moment, there is still some price increase in the wine region, mainly due to the rising cost of building materials. Furthermore, the real estate market is still booming, and due to the declining supply, the customer decision-making process has accelerated.

In addition to the sale and purchase of the real estate, the number of property rentals is also significant in the Kunság wine region. In the case of tourist destinations, such as Tiszakécske, Cserkeszőlő or Kiskunmajsa, short-term rental and accommodation service has gained popularity. Meanwhile, properties for higher education students can also be found on the market, such as in Kecskemét.

Pécs

In the Mediterranean wine region of Pécs, a slight increase can be observed in the price level of properties since the beginning of this year. However, the real estate market is still vibrant in the region. In the larger settlements, the most popular properties (to be renovated) are offered for less than EUR 55,250 and can be purchased within the framework of the Family Housing Support Program (CSOK). Additionally, several properties can be found in the higher price category as well. These are mostly freshly renovated properties in good condition or newly constructed real estates.

It can be mainly observed in Pécs that many buyers exchange their surrounding urban flats for a rural family house.

In addition, investors are primarily looking for building plots or properties in poor condition where the new property can be built on the plot after the house is demolished. This trend can even increase further as a result of the Green Home Program.

According to some experts, the fourth wave will not cause any decline in Hungary’s real estate market, thanks in part to the government’s family-friendly measures. As the Hungarian news portal Üzlet és Utazás reports, based on the first three waves, those who can afford it are still keen on investing in real estate, especially in the countryside, where they can get away from the stressful city atmosphere. This is one of the reasons why property investment in Hungary’s wine regions is becoming more and more popular nowadays.

Read alsoWhat inspired a Swedish brother and sister to produce wine in Hungary?

October 20, 2021

How well do you know Hungarian cuisine? – QUIZ

The history of Hungary is quite long and eventful, just as Hungarian cuisine is rich and tasty. We have many unique foods and traditions concerning gastronomy. How well do you know these traditions and Hungarian dishes? Test you knowledge in the following quiz.

If you want to know more about Hungarian cuisine, we have many articles you can read about our gastronomy and if you are looking to try out some of the foods, feel free to scroll through our collection of recipes.

Read alsoHungarian Autumn desserts from 100 years ago – How did they taste?

St. Martin's Day Szent Márton Nap Liba Geese Étel Food

Read alsoSavoury Hungarian Autumn delicacies you need to try – It is meatlovers’ heaven

October 16, 2021

These are the most important traditions of Hungarian harvest festivals – Photos

Harvesting has a great tradition in Hungary as, in addition to hard work, it was celebrated with delicious snacks, beautiful wines, parades, music, and joyful get-togethers. Here are the most important customs and traditions related to this period, many of which are still held today.

In the 16th-17th centuries, the harvest was a true holiday, for which even the knights who fought in a foreign land returned home. It was an unmissable event, an important part of social life and, last but not least, an important place for getting to know each other. During that period, legislation was suspended. According to Vylyan, the custom of balls emerged only in the 18th-19th centuries, within the framework of which the harvest work was closed with dinner and a dance. In addition to dancing, wine drinking could not be missed either. This often resulted in small fights without which no real harvest fun could pass, reported Borászportál. Harvest balls had a special social significance. In some cities, it was thought that if someone did not go to the harvest ball, they would stay unmarried forever.

Traditionally, harvesting started with noise, rioting or pistol shots, after which the work began. The girls and women picked the grapes in a bucket or basket and the men collected the grapes in their grape gathering baskets called “puttony” in Hungarian, which were made of wood at the time. The grains were usually crushed by bare feet, most commonly by a young lady, before being pressed, after which the actual winemaking began. The countryside was loud with cheerful songs and jokes during the work.

At the end of the day, the harvesters wore a vintage wreath on their shoulders, which was a wreath of bunches of grapes decorated with wheat and ribbons. It used to be gathered at the landlord’s gate to praise the crop, and the landlord held a dance party in the evening. In connection with the harvest ball, the day ended with a parade which is still celebrated in many places.

The characters of the olden days – the judge, the maids and the dancers – are revoked by people dressing up today. An essential player is the wine king, who is responsible for the evening entertainment. A man in a red dress, called a baksus figure, planted on a barrel, cannot be left out of the fun either. Its origin can probably be traced back to Bacchus, the wine god of the Romans. In addition, other important characters are thieves and pipe enthusiasts who entertain the audience while at the same time showcasing their characteristic role from the harvest.

The vintage dish is made from mutton or beef. After the broth was served, beef stew or mutton stew was cooked in a cauldron. In addition to these, the traditional food of weddings, the Székely cabbage, could not be missing from the evening entertainment either, which was closed with special doughnuts for dessert. Along with the food, pálinka and wine were consumed during the party until dawn.

Harvest 5 — Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Rostásy Szabó Mihály/

Harvesting has such a great tradition in Hungary that even the Hymn refers to it, saying thanks and gratitude for the abundant blessing of wine and grapes (“…In the vines of Tokaj, you dropped nectar…”). Harvesting habits change from century to century, but one thing is constant: the harvest is one of the most beautiful and important periods in the life of a winery.

Wine Conference, Hungary, Budapest, wine

Read alsoHungarian wine-tourism gets more popular day by day

October 10, 2021

Hungarian Szepsy Winery among the best in the world according to renowned list

The World’s Best Vineyards award has been bestowed for the third time this year, and Hungary has managed to grab a place on the list for the first time.

“World’s Best Vineyards are proud to annually reveal the Top 50 most amazing vineyard experiences – the best places to taste terrific wines and learn about winemaking and grape-growing. Many also offer superb views, restaurants, and places to stay,” they say on their website. Their aim is to make wine tourism popular and to draw attention to special wineries each year.

It is the World’s Best Vineyards Academy that is behind the World’s Best Vineyards list. It consists of almost 600 people from all over the world. When considering their nominees, each Academy chair member hires 36 experts, and each region recommends seven vineyards. They narrow the competitors down from there.

“Each vote is a nomination for a vineyard experience that they deem to be the best in the world. The experience will take into account all the things connected with the visit – tour, tasting, ambience, wine, food, staff, view, value for money, reputation, accessibility,” they say.

Hungarian wine from Villány becomes world’s best

For the first time this year, on 20 September, they extended the list to be the top 100 wineries. Thanks to this, new countries, such as Lebanon and Russia, have managed to make it onto the list.

Speaking of the former, the Karam Wines winery from Lebanon jumped to 14th place on its first feature, making it one of the most successful novice wineries to have ever been nominated, Vince reports.

Unfortunately, Hungary has not made it to the top 50 this year either, but thanks to the change, there is at least one winery from Hungary that was included within the top 100 of the world’s best.

Just a few places behind the top 50, the Hungarian Szepsy Winery from Mád, located in the famous Hungarian wine region, Tokaj, managed to grab the 62nd place.

According to the winery’s website, the Szepsy family has been producing wine in the Tokaj region for over 500 years, right when the typical Hungarian aszú-making started.

Szepsy Winery Hungary 3 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

Szepsy Winery Hungary 2 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

Szepsy Winery Hungary 4 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

Szepsy Winery Hungary 5 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

Szepsy Winery Hungary 1 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

Szepsy Winery Hungary 7 — Photo: szepsy.hu/

The Szepsy Winery currently has 52 hectares of cultivated area in 22 vineyards located in six different towns. They produce around 38,000 bottles of dry wine, 7,000 bottles of aszú, and 12,000 bottles of szamorodni wine in the winery.

The first place was awarded to the Zuccardi Valle de Uco Winery from Argentina three years in a row and, interestingly, the majority of the top ten wineries are from South America, while some of the most famous wine-producing countries, such as France and Italy, only managed to grab one place each in the top ten.

Read alsoBudapest Wine Festival celebrates its 30th birthday with exciting programmes!

Sources: Vince.hu, Hvg.hu, Szepsy.hu, Worldsbestvineyards.com

September 23, 2021

Budapest Wine Festival celebrates its 30th birthday with exciting programmes!

Are you interested in the Hungarian wine culture and would like to try the best wines from around the country? Then Budapest Wine Festival is awaiting you! The unique wine event, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, will bring its visitors unforgettable wine experiences, along with several exciting programmes.

According to the website of Budapest Wine Festival, after three decades of its first organisation, the event has become more and more popular across the globe, “attracting thousands of foreign visitors to its World Heritage site every year.” Furthermore, in September, the festival is ready to bring new experiences to wine lovers, celebrating its 30th birthday this year. If you have not yet enjoyed the stunning panorama of Budapest with a glass of wine in your hands, this year’s Budapest Wine Festival will be the best time to do so.

Over the years, the Budapest Wine Festival has become one of the most important events of Hungarian wine culture, offering a series of multi-day programs where participants can try the best wines of Hungary. In addition to the important wineries of the country, visitors can also enjoy concerts, exciting gastronomic outings and a classic charity wine auction at the Buda Castle.

Just like in the previous years, the festival’s main focus will be on Hungarian wineries and gastronomic enterprises.

In addition to wines from more than 70 wineries, the event will be full of artisanal desserts, traditional and street food dishes, and an actual “wine festival” atmosphere with several exciting musical productions,

including the Csík band and the Vera Jónás Experiment, as well as special Hungarian Jazz concerts on the third day of the festival. This year, one of the main guest regions of the four-day-long festival is Somló, famous for its memorable wines made on the volcanic hillsides that the visitors can also taste.

The selection of the Wine of the festival and the charity wine auction are classic programs at the event which will not be missed this year either. As the Hungarian news portal Sportrajongó reports, the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, along with Hungarian winemakers, have been collecting donations for 21 years. The collected donations will be used to buy a new ambulance car.

The Budapest Wine Festival takes place at Buda Castle between 23rd and 26th September.

The event can be visited with either a daily ticket (HUF 4990) or a 4-day pass (HUF 8900); both are available in limited edition at an additional cost, including a special souvenir wine glass.

One of the main sponsors of the event is SPAR Hungary. As a result, customers who buy more than HUF 10,000 in SPAR, City SPAR or INTERSPAR stores between 9th and 22nd September 2021 will receive a coupon entitling them to a 50% discount at the Wine Festival box office.

The website of the Budapest Wine Festival emphasises that the event can only be visited according to effective COVID regulations. Based on the currently valid regulation 484/2020. (XI. 10.) on music and dance events,

the Budapest Wine Festival can only be visited by a person providing credible proof of immunity against the coronavirus.

September 16, 2021

Construction of Budapest-Balaton cycle path under way!

Construction of a new cycle path connecting Hungary’s major tourist hotspots, Budapest and Lake Balaton, is under way, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM) said on Friday.

Almost every section of path from the capital to Balatonakarattya, on the northern tip of the lake, is being carried out this year, the ministry said in a post on social media, adding that the path, with the exception of the Biatorbágy and Székesfehérvár crossings, is expected to be completed by next summer.

The ministry is providing 13.5 billion forints (EUR 38m) in support to build the 108km path,

which will pass through the Etyek wine region as well as the area around Lake Velence and the city of Székesfehérvár.

Over 15,000 took part in the ‘I Bike Budapest’ bicycle parade on June 26th – PHOTOS, VIDEO

We reported before that a 1.1 km long bike road was built for 556,000 EUR in Szendehely (Nógrád county). According to Magyar Narancs, it is not strange that road-building is very expensive in Hungary. For example, one km of the M6 motorway is being built for 4.5 billion HUF (EUR 12.5 million). Of course, bike roads are not that expensive since their technical content is more modest.

However, between Ságvár and Som (Somogy county, near Lake Balaton), 5.6 km cost 627 million, which means that one km was 111 million HUF (EUR 308,000). But almost the double of this price seems to be very much – Magyar Narancs says. The paper sent its questions to the local government of Szendehely, which ordered the construction, why they needed the bike road between two small villages for this high amount of money. However, they did not receive an answer.

Cross-border bike-sharing system inaugurated between Hungary and Slovakia

July 30, 2021

Hungarian wine from Villány becomes world’s best

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2021, one of the world’s most prestigious wine competitions was held in Luxemburg this year. Out of about seven and a half thousand samples the highest score in the red wine overall category was received by the Cassiopeia Merlot 2015 from Jammertal Wine Estate Villány.

This great red won the Grand Gold Medal Revelation Red Wine Award

The relevance of this worldwide success is that no other international wine competition of similar prestige had ever been awarded a Hungarian red wine the highest score among her peers in such an open category.

The value and the magnitude of the competition is shown by the fact that medals have been distributed among 672 French, 507 Spanish, 389 Italian and 335 Portuguese wines, but the highest score went to a Hungarian Merlot!

The wine competition, which took place from 17-27 June, saw 300 judges evaluate nearly 10 000 entries over 9 days.

A special feature of the competition is that each year a different venue hosts the wine testing. The competition’s judging panel is strictly selected from renowned judges who are recognized at a global level.

International buyers and suppliers, engineers and winemakers, journalists, trade journalists and critics, researchers and industry representatives judge the wines submitted from all over the world.

The primary objective of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is to provide consumers with a guarantee: it objectively rewards wines of impeccable quality that offer a truly outstanding drink experience. As they share on their website, ” Belgium is proud to organize a unique event that is known and recognized by the wine industry and consumers worldwide “.

At the same competition in Luxembourg, the Jammertal Wine Estate collected two more prizes:

Cassiopeia MCS*Achird 2016 Grand Gold Medal
Cassiopeia Franc 2015 Gold Medal

Jammertal Wine Estate has 85 hectares of finest vineyards in Villány Wine Region, South Hungary and produces 550-600 thousand bottles a year.

Head winemaker is Ms. Zsófia Kövesdi and Mr. Zsolt Nagy is the vineyard manager.

The Jammertal Wine Estate is an umbrella brand of a family-owned holding that brings together several viticulture and winemaking companies in Villány.

Read alsoHungarian wine chosen as one of the best in the world

July 14, 2021