Like in the wine regions on the Alföld the production of table wines is
dominant here as well. Growing the vine "Kövidinka" a characteristic method
was used, the so called pruning to the basal bud, which does not even need
stakes. The wine production of this region can be traced back to the Middle
Ages.
Area: 2330 hectares.
Climate: dry, extreme, a lot of sunshine.
Vine varieties, wines: Kövidinka, Zweigelt, Italian Riesling, Kadarka,
Kékfrankos.
Several harrow-cellars prove that the tradition of viticulture at the hills
of Zala goes back to the past more than 100 years. The characteristic
representatives of folk architecture can only be met in this area by now.
The harrow-cellars were carpentered from timbers and were plastered with
clay from in - and outside. There have only been left a few samples of them
by now - breathing the strange atmosphere of death. By becoming a wine
region in 1998 again, there is once more hope that the values here - coming
into adequate hands - will be preserved.
Area: 1623 hectares
Climate: mild, consolidated, wet.
Vine varieties: Olasz rizling, Rizlingszilváni, Zöld veltelini, Red Tramini,
Chardonnay, Kékfrankos, Zweigelt, Oportó.
Though the ecological conditions on the Alföld are not so good as in the
mountain regions, the quality of wine, if treated in the right way, can be
compared with that of the wine of the mountains. The representatives of
German architecture in Hungary, the characteristic press-houses making up
the cellar-village of Hajós, together with Hungarian hospitality make this
wine region very attractive for wine-lovers.
Area: 1710 hectares.
Climate: extreme, dry, rather hot summer.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling, Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay, giving
milder wines poor in acids. Kadarka wines are fine, fiery, velvety.
Kékfrankos, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon.
Wines with the highest alcohol-, sugar-, and acid-contents of the country
are born in Tokaj-Hegyalja. It can only be spoken in the superlative about
this wine, as it is a medicine, a real nectar. The secret of this wine is
not to be sought extra in the nature of climate, position or soil, but in
the common effect of all of these. The long, hazy, sunny autumn is
favourable for the shrivelling of the ripe grape berries and for the
development of noble rot. The world famous Szamorodni and Aszú wines are
made by adding these berries with noble rot, and the more aszú-grapes the
wine contains the more precious it is.
Area: 5428 hectares (87 km long and 3-4 km wide).
Climate: hot summer, cold winter, long, hazy autumn.
Vine varieties, wines: Furmint - developing noble rot best, acidic, fine
fragrance. Hárslevelu - more robust, full-bodied. Yellow Muscat - developing
noble rot under favourable conditions, hard acid, extraordinarily fine,
elegant fragrance.
The largest wine region of the country is to be found on the Alföld (Great
Hungarian Plain) with its sandy soil. A part of the vine was planted here in
order to bind the wind-blown sand. The wine grown on sandy soil of this
region is the wine of the weekdays. It is not for particular events, nor for
the festive board, but the "tavern wine" is an important part of everyday
life. The acids of the wines of the plain are milder than of those grown on
highlands, and that fits the taste of our days better. The big quantity of
the wines produced on the Alföld does not mean plainness at all.
Area: 28930 hectares.
Climate: little precipitation. Hot, sunny summer and dry winter.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling - reseda fragrance, pleasant tart.
Ezerjó, Kövidinka - mild wines with high sugar- and alcohol-contents.
Kadarka - ruby red, spicy fragrance, aromaful. Kékfrankos - fine, spicy,
light.
In our largest hill- and mountain wine region good quality white wine is
produced. The hill-sides are sheltered from the north wind by the mountain
chain of the Mátra and most of the vine-territories can be found amidst
forests. Past and present get on well together: modern wine production and
the old, merry, Hungarian vintage tradition do not exclude each other.
Several medieval wine cellars can be found in the area, some of them have
been reconstructed and offer wine even today.
Area: 7450 hectares.
Climate: sheltered from wind.
Vine varieties and wines: Italian Riesling - dry, fresh acidic.
Rieslingszilváni - fragrant, light, soft. Leányka - fine, full. Hárslevelu -
spicy, harmonious, elegant. Tramini - fine fragrance, full, aroma-rich.
Muscat-Ottonel - high alcohol contents, fragrant, high sugar degree. Though
red wine production has gone back, Kékfrankos and Zweigelt wines are still
produced. Wines made with reductive method, fitting the western taste
better, can be found here too, which are fresher and contain less alcohol.
Kosher wine is made here too.
This wine region recently attained or rather got back the rank as a wine
region. About the wine growing on the vineyards of Neszmély looking upon the
Danube István Széchenyi wrote praising words too and many people liked the
pleasant, tart taste of the wine produced here. The famous model vineyards
and the wine cellars in Ászár of the estate in Csákvár of the Esterházy
family contributed to the international repute of the region in the second
half of the XIXth century as well.
Area: 1560 hectares.
Climate: cooler than the average, less sunshine, medium precipitation
quantity.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling - fine, nice acid, fits most meals.
Leányka - harmonious, round, suave fragrance and bouquet. Ezerjó - vivid
acid, fits heavy, fat meals. Rieslingszilváni - light, fine, primary
fragrance
This old, baroque town is known abroad first of all for its wine. Though the
ecological conditions are favourable for white wine production, the name
"Egri Bikavér" /Bull`s Blood of Eger/ sounds familiar all over the world and
this wine made the town of Eger and its surroundings famous. There is a
large cellar- and cave-system beneath Eger, through the corridors of the
cellars the town can be walked through under the surface in its whole width.
Parts of the caves are of natural origin, but most of them are artificial,
decorated with carvings.
Area: 3910 hectares.
Climate: little precipitation, long winter.
Vine varieties, wines: Kékfrankos, Cabernet, Merlot, Kékoportó are the base
of Egri Bikavér. Characteristics of the wine: harmonious, full-bodied,
velvety, harsh, warming, - it gets its characteristic bouquet after years of
ageing in wooden casks. From grapes named Leányka is made the slightly
sweet, fruity wine with complex taste-harmony. Italian Riesling -
harmonious, fine, characteristic fragrance, elegant acidic. Tramini -
characteristic fragrance and bouquet.
The wines produced around Lake Balaton own a special character. Sitting
about in front of a wine-cellar we can delight all our senses, as the
quality of the wines is accompanied by the beauty of the scenery, the view
of the lake, the vineyards, the press-houses with white walls, and the small
villages at the bottom of the hills. Many artists and scientists devoted
their works to the spell of the scenery and it may not be by chance that the
wine of Badacsony was called the "nectar of gods".
Area: 1790 hectares.
Climate: consolidated, with sub-mediterranean character, lot of sunshine,
sheltered from northern wind.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling: most wide-spread - mild, soft acid,
resembling bitter almonds in bouquet. In good vintages "Aszú" is made of it
as well. Szürkebarát - the most famous: aroma-full, warming, harmonious,
round wine with high alcohol contents in this region. Kéknyelu -
"upper-class vine" - good quality, but poor vintage because gets fertile
hard. Discreet with spicy bouquet and noble elegance. Ottonel Muscat - fine
Muscat aroma, warming, sometimes mild, poorly acidic.
The wine region of Tolna belongs to the wine regions since 1998. However,
vinegrowing has had an old tradition here it can be traced back to the Roman
times. The settlers of German nationality, whose role was very important in
strengthening the viticulture deceased by the XVIth century, have played a
significant role in vinegrowing. The main pride of the wine region is the
cellar-village of Györköny. The village having slept its Sleeping Beauty
dream has been discovered by now again and the tradition-preserving and
value-saving renewal of the ancient press-houses is still being performed.
Area: 2180 hectares
Climate: mild winter, dry and sunny summer.
Vine varieties, wines: Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Rhine
Riesling, Rizlingszilváni, Kadarka, Kékfrankos, Zweigelt, Merlot.
This wine region, as its name tells us, is divided into two wine producing
regions. The wines of Balatonfüred are more full-bodied, more warming, their
alcohol contents is higher - while the wines of Csopak are more modest,
lighter, slimmer, and they are richer in fragrance and bouquet. Balatonfüred
and its surroundings are made attractive by the mineral water and the wine
together. People from all over the world travel here to pet themselves from
both outside and inside. The sparkling carbonic medical water, the unique
climate - beneficial for those suffering from heart diseases and the
strength of fine white wine do their best.
Area: 2100 hectares.
Climate: a lot of sunshine, weather serving vine production.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling - nice to look at; greenish-white,
fragrance resembling reseda, with spicy taste, full-bodied, round. After
several years enriched with a secondary bouquet of plum smell. Furmint -
fine fragrance, rich in acids, high sugar content. Rieslingszilváni -
pleasant, intensive fragrance, mild, rich bouquet.
Similarly to the wine regions Eger and Tokaj wine is stored here in -
sometimes huge - cellars hollowed in rhyolite-tuff. Some of the walls and
columns are decorated by the precious works of peasant stonecutters. The
famous wine of Miskolc was aged in cellars covered with thick mould. On the
hill Avas, which is altogether 100 metres high, once there used to be rich
vineyards. On its slopes more than a thousand cellars were hollowed. From
the XIXth century champagne-basis-wines have been produced here as well.
Area: 1130 hectares.
Climate: lot of sunshine, cool, favourable for producing white wine.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling - light, elegant. Leányka -
fragrant, lighter and thinner than that of Eger. A lot of other sorts -
grown on smaller territories - can be found here as well.
This wine region with rich medieval tradition is not positioned right at
Lake Balaton, but its climate is still influenced by the nearness of the
lake. This region was already discovered by urban people years ago because
of its beauty and the decreasing number of its original inhabitants. A great
number of artists moved here, who had the preservation of the scenery at
heart and have done a lot for that purpose. Mainly the surroundings of the
Káli-basin is characterised by old houses, churches, inns, and wine-cellars
awaiting guests, renovated with demanding care and new ones, fitting into
the landscape with their style.
Area: 1508 hectares.
Climate: varied, with mediterranean character, lot of sunshine.
Vine varieties, wines: Szürkebarát, Italian Riesling, Chardonnay -
full-bodied, rich in bouquet, lively acidic wines with fine fragrance.
"Wine worth gold" is produced in the most southern wine region of the
country. According to the tradition Hungarian wine-making was born here, in
this region. "The elegant wine, that of Villány is the wine of the cavaliers
and the ladies. As for me, I would only give Villány wine for balls?All its
advantages come to light when you have had a bath, shaved and changed from
head to toe. The best in tails or a dinner jacket, ladies in neckline. It is
moderate, fine, well educated." - writes Béla Hamvas
Area: 1770 hectares.
Climate: sub-mediterranean character. Hot summer, mild winter with a lot of
sunshine. Frequent hails.
Vine varieties, wines: Kékoportó - has already lost its importance.
Kékfrankos and Cabernet Sauvignon - dark ruby colour, robust, full-bodied,
spicy bouquet. Hárslevelu - white wine with flower fragrance. Italian
Riesling - long, warming white wine. Leányka - fine, elegant, robust.
Though this territory got the rank of a wine region only in 1990, vine
growing here has had a tradition of several centuries. In recent years
quality wine has been produced here too, but mainly the champagne-base-wine
production is characteristic of the region. Since the end of the XIXth
century the famous Törley champagnes have also been produced of base-wine
from Etyek. It is worth visiting the round cellars and the nice German
houses of the previous century, several old, precious winery tools can be
found in them.
Area: 1480 hectares.
Climate: windy, a lot of sunshine, little precipitation.
Vine varieties, wines: Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Rhine Riesling, Pinot
Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc - elegant, dry, definitely acidic, light wines with
fine fragrance.
Who will not know the Trout-quintet of Schubert? But do you know that the
composer was inspired to write this piece by the red wine of Szekszárd?
Franz Liszt tasted the wine visiting Szekszárd several times, he presented
even Pope Pius IX. with it in 1865 who wrote the following appreciative
words about it: "?this wine of Szekszárd preserves my health and unbroken
spirit." Zoltán Kodály wrote his musical comedy, János Háry from the sources
of the tradition from here. There can be no doubt about the inspiring force
of the wine of Szekszárd.
Area: 2210 hectares.
Climate: Mild, long winter, extreme, but dry summer, a lot of sunshine.
Vine varieties, wines: Kadarka - old, famous variety. By today it has become
a rarity but its resettlement has already started. Kékfrankos - rich
fragrance, harmonious, full-bodied, high tannin contents. Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc - fine, characteristic fragrance and bouquet,
fiery, velvety. White wine is made of the varieties Chardonnay and Italian
Riesling, they are full and rich in aroma. The Bikavér (Bull`s Blood) of
Szekszárd is of ancient origin, it is made of 2-3 red wines. Alongside Eger
only Szekszárd was entitled to use the name Bull`s Blood.
The picturesque Valley of Mór runs between two mountains, the Vértes and the
Bakony; this is the home of the Ezerjó. Though the Ezerjó is an old
Hungarian variety, it has found its real home here, in the wine region of
Mór. The new territory has made wonder to this vine variety, elsewhere
rather average and hardly known, and has revealed its unknown
characteristics. Recently other vine varieties giving wines of excellent
quality have been introduced here.
Area: 1680 hectares.
Climate: favourable, though cooler than the average. Mild winter, a lot of
air motion, which is unfavourable for diseases. The rays of the sun reach a
big part of the vineyards all day long in summer.
Vine varieties, wines: Ezerjó - neutral fragrance, full body compensating
the strong acidity, manful, hard, elegant, in good years containing not
fermented sugar, but of dry character. Rizlingszilváni - fine fragrance,
good acids. Tramini - intensive fragrance and flavour - occasionally soft.
Leányka - fragrant, light, elegant. Chardonnay - fine fragrance, fiery,
full-bodied.
Mecsekalja "was created even by God to be a wine growing region", and the
people observed this in time, as vine has been grown here for 2000 years.
Vine feels well on the soil and climate created for it and it is very
thankful for the invested work. Pécs (Sopianae) was the trade centre of this
wine region already in the antiquity. The base wines of the long tradition
champagne production in Pécs have been produced in this region since the
XIXth century.
Area: 633 hectares.
Climate: sub-mediterranean, sheltered from the north-wind. Hot summer with a
lot of sunshine, mild winter.
Vine varieties, wines: Cirfandli - characteristic wine of the region. Flower
fragrance, spicy, high alcohol contents, in good years containing not
fermented sugar. Italian Riesling - pleasant dry, but not acidic, mild,
warming, reseda fragrance. Chardonnay - fragrant, elegant, velvety acidic.
Furmint - marked, tart, dry wine. The wines of Mecsekalja are full-bodied,
mildly acidic wines with high sugar-contents due to the big number of hours
with sunshine.
The first Benedictine monks came to Hungary in the year 996 and settled on
the hill - named Saint Martin Mountain - near the small village Pannónia and
built a monastery. The monastery of Pannonhalma was the first and has been
the most famous monastery of the Benedictines until today. The monks of the
order preached the importance and know-how of vine production from the
pulpit, too. The first written record about vine growing is to be found in
the deed of foundation of the Monastery of Pannonhalma.
Area: 620 hectares.
Climate: moderately dry, moderately warm, mild winter.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling, Rhine Riesling, Tramini,
Chardonnay, "Irsai Olivér". The white wines are of excellent quality, they
are rich in fragrance and bouquet and have a strong region character.
On the south shore of Lake Balaton mainly white wine is produced, but there
is some red wine production as well. Lately the champagne produced here is
considered to be the best in Hungary. The nearness of the lake, which is
shallower here than on the northern shore, so it gets warm relatively fast,
and creates a favourable microclimate, has a favourable influence on the
vineyards of the hill slopes. Because of the nearness of Lake Balaton, the
beauty of the land, the old country-seats and cellars this region is visited
by a lot of people these days as well.
Area: 2820 hectares.
Climate: consolidated.
Vine varieties, wines: Italian Riesling, Yellow Muscat - fruit fragrance,
rich in aroma, slightly acidic, elegant white wines. Chardonnay - fine,
lively acidic, elegant. Cabernet, Merlot, Kékfrankos: - fine, velvety red
wines.
The smallest, but one of the most famous of our wine regions is located
around an extinct volcano. There were times when its fame preceded even that
of Tokaj. "Though every wine bears a social character and reveals its real
nature when drunk in company, the wine of Somló is the drink of the lonely.
It is so full of the oil of the ecstasy of creation that it is only to be
drunk in devoted, definitely quiet, balanced loneliness. It is the wine of
the wise, of those people who at last have learnt the greatest knowledge,
serenity." (Béla Hamvas)
Area: 830 hectares.
Climate: very windy region, so moderately warm, though rich in sunshine. Due
to the slopes the sunshine is very advantageous.
Vine varieties, wines: In this region only white vine varieties are to be
found: Furmint, Italian Riesling, Hárslevelu, Rhine Riesling, Juhfark
(Sheep`s tail). High alcohol contents, strong acids, and hardness
characterise the wine of Somló. As it is a typical aged wine, it achieves
its character after several years of ageing in wooden casks. It would not
permit blending.
The wine region Sopron is one of the most ancient wine growing regions of
the country. Grape seed finds prove that already the Celts dealt here with
vine growing. Vine growing has been performed in this region since then.
Almost everyone had a vineyard and a cellar, and nearly every farmer here
had the wine licence.A fresh pine-bough hanging from a bar indicated that
new wine and a bundle of straw that aged wine was sold. A red or white
ribbon showed that the farmer was selling red or white wine. This nice
custom is reviving in the streets of Sopron.
Area: 1670 hectares.
Climate: sub-alpine character. Frost-free spring, cool and rainy summer,
sunny autumn, advantageous for overriping, mild winter with a lot of
precipitation.
Vine varieties, wines: Kékfrankos - pleasant tart, velvety.