In Budapest’s very own vineyard haven, everything is set for a true escape – in this unmatched venue, you can slow down in harmony with nature, enjoy the silence, sip on exceptional wines and sparkling selections, and taste dishes crafted to match. Whether you come as a couple, solo, with friends or your dog, perfect relaxation is guaranteed!

At Etyeki Kúria Sparkling Estate, harmony and quality go hand in hand with sustainability. Only all-natural ingredients make it to the table, and each dish is dreamed up by a master chef, using mostly local produce, entirely free from artificial additives. Their wines and sparkling creations inspired the menu – and even made their way into a few of the dishes. 

Nothing proves the popularity of Etyeki Kúria Sparkling Estate better than the prestigious titles it has earned in recent years – named both Hungary’s Most Beautiful Winery and Best Countryside Event Venue! Speaking of awards: their drinks have also claimed numerous international honors, while enchanting every visitor. 

Good news: the estate is also perfect for hosting events – let it be a small family gathering or a larger corporate occasion. You can choose from a variety of unique venues, and their experienced event planning team is happy to help you, even if you’re having your dream wedding or a peaceful retreat. 

Etyeki Kúria Sparkling Estate is easily accessible by bike, car, or public transport, and warmly welcomes all visitors from Tuesday to Sunday – come and make unforgettable memories in the magical Etyek this autumn! 

2091 Etyek, Báthori utca 21. | Website

If you’re on the hunt for something tasty in the city:

Best of Budapest: The City’s Top Restaurants Worth Visiting

From Michelin-recommended marvels to hidden gems, join us as we expose the city’s top restaurants.

Funzine

Flaska Borbár

At Flaska Borbár, you can literally drink to your health: Their carefully put-together wine list is composed only of naturally produced, artisanal items, free of additives, flavour enhancers, sulphites, and colourants. Awaiting wine-lovers in a modern location with a classic twist, the interior is dominated by handmade wine bottle chandeliers and a vertical garden composed of 144 living plants. Whether you decide to drop by to pick up a bottle of birthday wine, have an inexpensive lunch with your friends (a three-course menu goes for 1,690 HUF), or spend a romantic evening sampling fine Hungarian wines while dining on seasonal dishes, made from top quality, unprocessed ingredients, Flaska Borbár will not let you down.

1094 Budapest, Tompa utca 17/B.

Andrássy Food and Wine

The newest addition to downtown Budapest’s contemporary Hungarian culinary scene, trendy Andrássy Food and Wine is dedicated to give you a taste of the country’s most precious flavor compositions both in terms of food and – you guessed it! – wine. They serve traditional meals (let it be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and a fine selection of Hungarian wines in a modern environment with a laid-back but always buzzing atmosphere. Guests can choose from three sections to sit at: inside the cozy bistro, the chill lounge, or the stylish restaurant area. No matter where you decide to sip on your glass of Kékfrankos or Irsai Olivér, you’ll feel right at home.

1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 41.

Doblo Wine Bar

Hidden in the Jewish District and often mentioned as Budapest’s most beautiful wine bar, Doblo looks like the combination of a wine cellar and a New York City loft. But, however charming the interiors are, there’s more to Doblo than meets the eye: besides a wide array of wines from the best Hungarian wineries (complete with sparkling wines, Prossecco and Champagne) and a special pálinka selection, guests can choose from meaty and vegetarian platters, as well as cheese, and vegetarian spreads. The venue, popular for its nightly jazz jams, also hosts regular wine and pálinka tasting events, starting as low as 4,950 HUF.

1072 Budapest, Dob utca 20.

Borkonyha

Named in 2018 by Hungary’s Dining Guide as the second best restaurant in Hungary and the proud owner of a Michelin star since 2014, Borkonyha’s main focus is on wine: out of the 200 bottles (many of them procured from local producers) sold at the downtown location, 48 are offered by the glass. The restaurant’s chef, Ákos Sárközi runs a modern kitchen offering well-executed dishes inspired by French, Hungarian, Spanish and Italian cooking, prepared with ingredients sourced from surrounding countries and within Hungary. In case you’re willing to dig a bit deeper into your pocket than you’d have to in the other establishments of our selection, Borkonyha will reward your generosity with an unforgettable culinary experience.

1051 Budapest, Sas utca 3.

0,75 bistro and bar

Opened by the owner’s of Buda’s popular Palack Wine Bar, Szent István tér’s snug and cozy 0,75 bistro and bar is located right in front of the imposing St. Stephen’s Basilica, offering visitors a choice selection of drinks, including more than one hundred different wines, craft beers, homemade lemonade, whiskies, and a colorful cocktail assortment. Hungarian origin is preferred both in terms of the available wines and the main components of the dishes rolling out from 0,75’s kitchen, ranging from goose breast with mashed sweet potato, pak choi and jus to Rákóczi cake with sweet cottage cheese, the menu also features a delicious bar snack section and a number of tapas options.

1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 6.

VinoPiano

Situated inside one of the pioneering venues of the Budapest craft beer scene, Élesztőház, this industrial-style wine oasis has pledged to introduce Budapest-based wine connoisseurs to small-scale and artisanal wine producers from the Hungarian countryside. Doubling as a tapas bar, VinoPiano features an á la carte selection of cheese, olives, and sausages, as well as an ever-changing variety of more sophisticated wine snacks. Thanks to its helpful and knowledgeable staff, fair prices, off-the-cuff atmosphere, fun wine tasting events, and last but not least, its long and comprehensive wine list, VinoPiano has been responsible for countless of great night outs, and hopefully will be for many years to come.

1092 Budapest, Tűzoltó utca 22.

+1: Badacsony NewYorkban

The prestigious building of New York Palace, located at Erzsébet körút, will give home to an exclusive wine tasting and several related master classes on 29 February. This will be the 10th occasion when Budapesters, and anyone who is interested in wine and viticulture, get the chance to taste Badacsony’s outstanding wine in the capital city. The event is designed to give enthusiasts the opportunity to sample a range of wines from classic volcanic types to novelties with exciting new flavours. Tickets go for 6,900 HUF in advance (until midnight, 27 February) and cost 8,900 HUF on the spot.

What is Vincent’s relation to wine and by association to winemakers? We don’t really know. His veneration originates from France, where his name is pronounced “Vin-sang”, meaning wine blood, so it’s possible the cheese-eaters only chose him on account of etymological similarities between the French word for wine, and Vincent’s name.

Whatever the reason for his patronhood may be, in a few centuries, winemakers all over Europe began praying to and thanking Saint Vincent for a good vintage. In Hungary, the first evidence to Vincent’s veneration is to be found on the Hungarian coronation mantle, dated to 1031, just a few decades after the country took up the Christian faith. Proving just how serious Hungarians of the good old days were about wine. After this brief historical overview, let’s take a look at the present of Hungarian wine-growing.

Compared to its size, Hungary has a large number of wine regions – a whooping twenty-two, to be exact. Although there are some matches in the grape varieties grown, the larger areas are easily differentiated by their unique features and their own characteristics. And they are all worth a try (or more).

The most famous is the Tokaj wine region, located at the foothills of Zemplén Mountains in the north of the country. The area is notable for its long warm autumns and mists that come in from river Bodrog, creating perfect conditions for noble rot, essential in the creation of the region’s most beloved wine. The Eger area is another internationally renowned wine region: often named the Burgundy of Hungary, it is home to the legendary Bull’s Blood, an elegant red blend of three or more grape varieties, and is the destination of many wine-tourists for its Szépasszony-völgy, a cozy valley with numerous wine cellars. Viticulture in the Sopron region dates back to the time of the Celts and ancient Romans: located in the far west, the area’s sub-Alpine climate is ideal for growing elegant red varieties.

A unique characteristic of the region is that the cellars are built beneath the houses within the city, and not on the hillside. The area around Lake Balaton consists of six different wine regions, producing fine white and red varieties, as well as delicious cuvées – look for the bottles of Kristinus Wine Estate to get an authentic taste of the Balaton vineyards. The country’s southernmost and hottest wine region, Villány, is known for its full-bodied, spicy reds and rosés, as a result of its sub-Mediterranean climate. It’s because of this that Villány is called the Hungarian Bordeaux.

The most typical varieties are Kékfrankos, Kadarka, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. If you’re a white wine person, then look out for the popular Irsai Olivér, Hárslevelű, Juhfark, Cserszegi Fűszeres, Olaszrizling, Furmint and Leányka varieties, all of them originating from within the Carpathian Basin. We shouldn’t forget about Hungary’s number one wine specialty, the pride of Tokaj, the world-famous Aszú which has been the most well-known Hungarian wine for hundreds of years, with King Louis XV of France calling it the “Wine of Kings, King of Wines”.

Pócz Winery

8638 Balatonlelle, Kishegy telep 0107/6.

Balatonlelle’s Pócz Winery can be found 4 kilometres away from Lake Balaton, on picturesque Kishegy. Its bistro-style restaurant is open from Friday to Sunday, ready to impress guests with divine meals and locally bottled wine specialties which carry the unique characteristics of the soil and climate.

Kislaki Borkert

8691 Balatonboglár-Szőlőskislak, Fő utca 44.

Everyone who is interested in all things wine and vinery is welcome at Kislaki Wine Garden in Szőlőkislak, 3 kilometres from Balatonboglár. In the autumn/winter season you have to make an appointment to visit the winery, and to take part in an exclusive wine tasting and vineyard tour led by winemaker Légli Géza. Kislaki wines can also be purchased outside of Szőlőkislak, at three different wine shops in Budapest.

Zelna Wine Bar And Shop

8230 Balatonfüred, Zákonyi Ferenc utca 3-5.

Zelna Wine Bar and Shop is situated right next to the newly built fountain on Zákonyi Ferenc street, in Balatonfüred. The stylish bar with a shady terrace primarily boasts Zelna wines, alongside delicious and surprising dishes. You can find and taste here the winery’s Bárka estate wines, just like their first traditional sparkling wine that has been available on the market for a few months. The family-run wine bar is a great choice if you want to get familiar with the wines of the young winemaker generation in the Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region.

Borbély Winery

8258 Badacsonytomaj, Káptalantóti út 19.

The love and respect for wine, Badacsony’s beautiful landscape and the family’s vineyards have been influencing Borbély Winery’s life for decades. Their motto is: A Good Taste of Badacsony, therefore they put special emphasis on traditional winemaking and white wine varieties, especially Welshriesling, which are characteristic of the region. Their Nász a Bácson Welshriesling (2016) has been awarded Best Riesling of the County for the second time in 2019. It’s only available at their winery, where homemade delicacies are also served at the table.

Let’s start with a one-of-a-kind culinary event series that is organized from autumn to spring. The Wine Adventure Dinners (Borbarangolás borvacsorák) held on Saturdays are a great way to learn about the owners of certain wineries or restaurants and their families in real time: they will appear in person to tell you about their stories, missions, the wine region, its wines and foods. Beside the excellent dishes, during the evenings secret produces that otherwise may not be available to the public will also be presented. The dining experience is completed with live shows and welcoming gifts at all venues.

There’s another thematic weekend event series in the off season: Gastro Hill (Gasztrohegy) introduces us to the restaurateurs of Badacsony and their volcanic wines and special dishes. Poultry weekend, dishes inspired by our grandmas’ recipes, venison weekend, vegetables and cheeses in focus, as well as smoked specialties make up the program schedule.

You’ll find complete weekend packages at several wineries from autumn to spring: beside accomodation and breakfast meals, they offer thematic wine tasting events, wine dinners, live music concerts, winery and farm visits, but you can also learn about vine-dressing.

The Badacsony region boasts traditional New Year’s Eve programs too as the restaurant owners of the wine region do their bests at the end of the year too. If you long for something special on 31 December, bid farewell to 2019 with a winter splash in Ábrahámhegy, or swim in Lake Balaton in Szigliget on 1 January. Despite the cold and icy water, many volunteers have a dip in the lake at these events. The organizers will make sure everyone feels good both on the inside and outside.

You can taste traditional winter meals and drinks, as well as learn about their special cooking method at the rural pig killing on 1 February, the pig pudding beauty contest on 8 February, or the mulled wine making and salty scone baking competition on 22 February.

Apart from culinary treats, it’s important to stay active, especially when you have such a picturesque landscape to get familiar with as the Badacsony region. The Saturday adventure tours organized by Badacsony Guild Association for Tourism helps you explore the distinct mountains, rich geological heritage, flora and fauna, as well as historical and cultural treasures of Badacsony with an experienced guide.

For further information, visit badacsony.com, Badacsony Régió Tourinform or Borbarangolás Badacsonyban.

Frittmann Winery (Booth #49)

Producing wine for over 40 years, Frittmann family believes that a winemaker’s job is to produce the finest wine from the gift of the vintage. This quality-centred view is manifested in Soltvadkert, the centre of Kunság wine region. The elegant Frittmann wine house gives home to wine tasting events during which visitors can taste opulent wines, explore the Great Hungarian Plain, and catch a glimpse of winemaking. You won’t even need a drive back home as the wine house is complete with 4 rooms with double beds and a family room for 4.

The assortment boasts the grape varieties of the Kunság region like Cserszegi fűszeres and Irsai Olivér, but includes international favourites such as Riesling too. The newest additions to this nice selection are the FriSecco sparkling wines, the Ezerjó brut champagne, and two kinds of pálinka. Quench your thirst with any of the Frittmann produces on Budapest Wine Festival, and you’ll be more than satisfied.

6230 Soltvadkert, Eötvös u. 5.

Gere Winery Villány (Booth #130)

The winery of Tamás and Zsolt Gere is a traditional family enterprise from the heart of Hungary’s southernmost wine region, Villány. The second generation family business has set foot on the path of change: following a change of image, Gere Winery has revised its product palette to be more distinguishable and easily understood. To promote the recognition of local gastronomy, this summer they set up their own restaurant in the form of Villányi Bistro, offering the reinterpreted flavours of traditional Hungarian cooking. Despite all the new development, there’s something that hasn’t changed: their credo. To preserve in its true form whatever nature gave us, and to show everything that the Villány terroir is able to give. Find them at booth #130 at Budapest Wine Festival.

7773 Villány, Erkel Ferenc u. 2/a.

Gróf Degenfeld Wine Estate (Booth #7)

In 1994 Count Degenfeld’s family successfully revived its wine estate in the Tokaj wine region following an over 150-year-old tradition. Their vineyards of 35 hectares are located in Mád and Tarcal. To the family, winemaking has always meant the love of nature, respect for traditions, and the incorporation of modern technology. The Wine Estate produces dry wines and sweet wine specialties from the three main varieties of the region: Furmint, Hárslevelű and Muscat Blanc (Yellow Muscat). Late harvest Tokaj wine specialties include sweet Szamorodni, and the famous Tokaji Aszú. Since 2009 the vineyards have been managed by a certified organic cultivation; Degenfelt Wine Estate’s wines with organic labels became available this year.

3915 Tarcal, Terézia kert 9.

IMO – Time for Wine (Booth #139)

IMO – Time for Wine is a major Hungarian wine retailer, focusing on the production and distribution of Hungarian wines, pálinkas, and fruit syrups, as well as foreign wines and spirits. Their love for the Hungarian wine and the country’s wine regions is unmatched in the industry. Through their represented wineries, they take part in the distribution of the products of the country’s most important wine regions, including Tokaj, Eger, Villány, Szekszárd, Balaton, and the Great Hungarian Plain. The company’s portfolio is composed of 14 flagship wineries, maintaining a close and personal relationship with each, with tasks related to professional backing, unique product developments, and marketing support. Starting from 2019, the company has welcomed its first foreign wineries: after a long search and tasting process, they have brought to Hungary Southern Europe’s most promising and delicious products: currently, IMO imports speciality wines from Italy and Spain, complementing well the company’s Hungarian product range. Italy’s world renowned wine industry is represented by eight different types of prosecco (ranging from standard to vineyard-select produces), while under the Spanish colours you can find the bottles of two distinguished, dynamically growing wineries.

One of the most exclusive foreign drinks distributed by IMO is the iSpritz, a pre-mixed version of one of the most popular Italian aperitifs: you only need a glass, a couple of ice cubes, and a few slices of orange to feel good right away.

At this year’s Budapest Wine Festival, the company will present its new image to both the public eye and the business sector. Time for Wine is more than just a brand, or a sweet sounding slogan: it is a reflection of IMO’s attitude to all things wine as they believe that every moment can be made better with a nice glass of wine.

Besides the usual partnership meetings, they will also host an exclusive VIP wine tasting event, complete with a star guest and ten lucky winners, who will be selected through a Facebook sweepstakes, open from 26 August.

Give some of Hungary’s finest wines a taste and sip on bubbly proseccos and the glamorous iSpritz at booth #139!

If you’d like to try to the light Chardonnays, playful rosés and full-bodied reds of Villány, then look for Bognár & Polgár Winery at booths #127 and #128. Finally, taste for yourself one of the favourites of the summer, the otter-labelled whites and rosés of the Velence wine family at booth #60 in Hunyadi Courtyard.

Koch Winery (Booth #48)

Located in the Hajós-Bajai wine region of Hungary, Koch Winery has been producing wines for generations: József Koch settled down in the little village of Császártöltés in 1748, and launched his viticulture business soon after. Csaba Koch grew up surrounded by vineyards and wine cellars, so today he works to help the family business keep blossoming. The modern winery manages a 140 ha area with a production of 800 thousand bottles per year that contain 27 grape varieties. Its wide range of outstanding wines includes Cserszegi Fűszeres, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kadarka and Rosé. In 2014 Koch Winery won the Hungarian Wine Academy’s Winery of the Year award, and the family has established the Vin Art Winery in the Villány wine region to expand its selection of fine wines.

6445 Borota, V. ker. 5.

Kristinus Wine Estate (Booth #145)

In the last few years Kristinus Wine Estate has become an important part of Balaton wine region. Situated in Kéthely, the winery has been producing internationally recognized, award-winning wines since 2005, so we highly recommend you to stop by their stand at Budapest Wine Festival.

The building complex occupying the southern slopes of Lake Balaton is often referred to as an entertainment estate: besides fines wines and the mouth-watering dishes of Gastro Bistrot, visitors can choose from a wide range of interactive programs, including picnic with music, sports facilities, and film screening with friends.

There is one thing with which Kristinus rises above many other wineries around Lake Balaton, its sustainable winemaking. It’s lesser known that there is conscious production planning behind the 57 ha entertainment estate that has been using biodynamic farming methods since 2019.

The CEO of Kristinus Wine Estate Florian Zaruba believes that winemaking comes hand in hand with the love for nature. There is no fine wine without healthy grapes, so the Kristinus team pays special attention to process the fruit attentively, thereby decreasing the ecological imprint of the estate.

Wines are starting to lose their unique tastes because of monoculture and the use of chemicals, which is why artificial insecticides are not applied at Kristinus Wine Estate. The use of tractors has also been minimized, which left an impact on the quality of Kristinus wines: they evoke the characteristic flavours that are typical of certain wine varieties and habitats. Since the number of sunshine hours on the southern shores of Lake Balaton is pretty high, solar energy is used to produce electrical energy necessary to run the estate.

Kristinus aims to earn the biodynamic certificate of Demeter International, the largest organization that monitors biodynamic agriculture in 50 countries. This certificate addresses products made with biodynamic farming methods.

Kristinus Wine Estate works to show that viniculture can be different.

8713 Kéthely, Hunyadi utca 99.

Szivek Winery (Booth #55)

Szivek Winery is a little family-run enterprise: the label you can see on the Szivek bottles shows three hearts, a symbol for the Szivek family that consists of Gyula Szivek and his two sons György and Péter Szivek. Situated at the foot of Pilis, the winery welcomes its guests with mysterious mist in the fall/winter season and bright sunshine during the spring/summer months. Szivek Winery’s white grape varieties are grown on a limestone terroir at 340-meter high, where organic viticulture dominates. Taking all this information into account, it’s no longer surprise that the Szivek organic wines introduce us the complexity and richness of the terroir, and the uniqueness of Pilis.

2517 Kesztölc, Csévi utca 17-15.

Tiffán Ede Winery (Booth #126)

Thanks to its eleven generations of winemakers, the Tiffán family has been known for producing quality Hungarian wine since 1746 in the Villány wine region. Currently led by Ede Tiffán, the very first person to be awarded Winemaker of the Year in 1991, the estate’s vineyards are situated on the most excellent parcels of the region: Jammertal, Sterntal, Ördögárok, Remete, Kopár, and Várerdő. It is more than business; it is passion, and Ede Tiffán makes sure to share all his knowledge about liquid art with his two grandsons who also committed themselves to winemaking. Their hard work and effort pay off: the winery’s red wine, Elysium (2013) took home a golden medal at VinAgora International Wine Competition, while the Grande Selection (2015) won a golden medal in Bordeaux, Berlin and Eger. Find Tiffán Ede Winery’s specialties at Budapest Wine Festival’s booth 126!

7773 Villány, Erkel Ferenc u. 10.

Váli Birtok (Booth #75)

Situated among the vineyards of Badacsonyörs, Váli Birtok is the friendly micro-world of carefully cultivated vines, fresh local produces, homemade cheeses and cold cuts, and of course the finest wines. The stylish Váli bottles are filled with heavenly potions that range from light white wines to full-bodied reds and equally evoke the Badacsony region and its volcanic soil. Let us draw your attention to three zesty whites: Luca Bora (Luca’s Wine) and Budai Zöld (Buda Green) represent unique flavours, while the Váli Kéknyelű wine (2017) is outstanding in its own kind. Taste Váli wines in Badacsonyörs, the gastro venues of Budapest, or at Budapest Wine Festival between 5-8 September.

Badacsonyörs, Major u. 2.

Bujdosó Vineyard

8638 Balatonlelle, Várszói út

Situated on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, Bujdosó Vineyard is among the most beautiful vineyards of the Somogy hills. It’s a family-owned business, in which three generations put their heart and soul into producing premium quality wine and prosecco with fruity freshness. Referring to their passion for sailing, Bujdosó products are named after classic Balaton sailboats, such as Sirocco, Nemere, and Tramontana. Claiming that life is sparkling in the area in every season, their very first traditional sparkling wine was introduced in 2018.

Borbély Winery

8258 Badacsonytomaj, Káptalantóti út 19. 

The love and respect for wine, Badacsony’s beautiful landscape and the family’s vineyards have influenced Borbély Winery’s life for decades. Their motto is: A Good Taste of Badacsony. They put special emphasis on traditional winemaking, and embrace mainly white wine varieties, which are characteristic of the region. Not only will you have a blast at their gorgeous wine terrace – the panorama is simply gorgeous –, but your taste buds will also thank you: taste-test the weekly changing snack offers, as well as the wide selection of wines.

Váli Wine Cellar

8257 Badacsonyörs, Major utca 42. 

The very place where Válibor is born radiates positive energy; it’s a homely environment where we would all love to spend a few days to recharge our batteries. At the family winery’s tasting events, home-cooked delicacies, freshly baked home-made bread, cold buffet meals, heavenly cauldron-made foods and desserts accompany the cellar’s noble wines, on request. Service is attentive and kind-hearted, the charmingly beautiful guest house is a stunner! If you haven’t decided on where to travel yet, hesitate no more: head to the gorgeous Badacsonyörs!

Varga Winery

8257 Badacsonyörs, Füredi út 49. 

Award-winning Varga Winery’s doors are open all year round in Badacsonyörs. Visit them to get a sneak peek at the winery’s everyday life from grape processing to bottling, and don’t leave without attending a guided tasting tour when 8 types will be presented to you with fresh patties for 3500 HUF/ person.

2HA Vineyard and Winery

8265 Tapolca, Szent György-hegy 

The boutique-winery’s white and red wines are aged exclusively in wood barrels, with special attention to natural winemaking. Their grape varieties include a specialty, sangiovese grosso, or as it is called in Toscana the clone of Brunello, which is the base of Tabunello. Book your visit in advance!

Káli Kövek Winery

8274 Köveskál, Fő utca 11.

Spending a few hours at Káli Kövek Winery’s cozy garden area and renovated tasting venue will help you slow down and enjoy your life as it is. Get to know Káli Basin’s characteristic, mineral wines and taste gastronomic specialties prepared of ingredients sourced from local food producers. Cheers!

Besides featuring the produces of more than 60 Hungarian wineries and showcasing the latest street food trends, the organizers of Rosalia also have a series of great programmes in store for you; from concerts and parties through the annual Wine of the Park competition (where we’ll find out which one is this summer’s most popular rosé wine) to sourdough bread tasting.

Serving the entertainment of children, the ŠKODA KRESZ Park will be filled with foot-to-floor minicars. A team of Liget Budapest Projekt, in partnership with House of Hungarian Music and the Museum of Fine Arts, ensures that your kids will have a ton of fun and exciting things to do while you’re sampling the latest harvest. Drop by City Park and start this summer season by spending a lovely day under the cool shade of a tree, chatting over a glass of exquisite wine, enjoying a concert, and picking your favourite rosé or sparkling wine!

Csányi Winery

The predecessor of Csányi Winery was founded by the famous viticulturist and the saviour of Hungarian winemaking, Zsigmond Teleki in 1881. His legacy still plays a key role in defining the long-term goals of the winery and the everyday life of the estate. Deep below the state of the art winery you find Villány’s longest cellar system, where every year the winery bottles over two million wines. As the largest winery of the region, Csányi owns territories in every top quality vineyard of the area, including Kopár vineyard, Ördögárok, Csillagvölgy, and Jammertal.

Currently, they produce grapes on 370 hectares, which will be expanded to close to 500 hectares by 2020. The items of the Teleki wine family are widely available on the shelves of domestic grocery store chains, but you can also purchase them through the web store of the winery, or in their Villány-based wine shop. Try the Teleki wines and the Csányi Winery’s other delicious produces at Rosalia Festival! To get a complimentary glass of sparkling rosé wine, just show this month’s Funzine issue at the festival’s Teleki Villány booth (nr. 46).

Gancia – Drink Beauty

Founded in 1850 as Italy’s first sparkling wine house, Gancia has grown to become one of Italy’s most important wineries. Today, Gancia is seen as the embodiment of the Italian lifestyle all across the world: their prosecco wines and aperitifs represent the essence of what the Italians call Dolce Vita. The bubbles of Gancia provide unique flavours, lift one’s spirits with great ease, while the stylishly designed bottles transmit a delicate elegance for every occasion.

This year Gancia is bringing two prosecco specialties to Rosalia Festival: Leggero Prosecco is a low residual sugar wine, offering sparkling wine enthusiasts a light, fruity and low-calorie delight, while the Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. is produced and bottled in the most prestigious zone for Prosecco wines, in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. In addition, Gancia will also exhibit their Asti, Rosé, Brut, and Metodo Classico variants (the latter available in two versions: riped for 24 or 60 months).

Pócz Winery

Pócz Winery is situated atop the enchanting Kishegy of Balatonlelle, only four kilometres from the shoreline of Lake Balaton. The winery’s bistro restaurant is open every day of the week during high season, awaiting guests with reasonably priced, flavourful dishes, as well as the rich and aromatic, fruity wines of the region. Pócz Winery bottles fragrant, easy-to-drink, reductive wines, and wines aged in barrels for a shorter or longer time. Their terrace offers a beautiful panoramic view to the lake and the nearby buttes. They’ll prepare for Rosalia Festival with their beloved rosé wine, and will also debut the latest vintage of their fruity, corpulent olaszrizling, “Close to you”.

Szivek Wine Cellar

Viniculture and wine production has been an integral part of the Szivek family’s daily life for generations. The hearts in their logo design stand for the head of the family Gyula Szivek, and brothers György and Péter Szivek who put their heart and soul into the business. The small wine cellar blends the passion for winemaking with young dynamism and traditional values, while aiming to present the complexity of the region. The beauty of Szivek wines reflect the picturesque vineyards they own: it’s a limestone rich wine growing area with 30-year old plantations of white varieties, 340 metres above sea level. Just imagine when in the spring a mysterious mist covers the land, or when radiant sunshine touches the Pilis Hills in the summer.

Proseccoshop

Proseccoshop is the one and only wholesaler in Hungary, specialised to prosecco, that brings the dolce vita for prosecco lovers. The products are carefully selected and tasted by experts who make sure that only the highest quality of prosecco will fill the Hungarian glasses. Among 70 different kinds of prosecco, there are several international award winners. The range of Proseccoshop includes a wide variety of quality (DOC, DOCG, Cartizze) and taste from dry to brut nature, but you can find many vegan proseccos as well. If you desire to try different types of such unique products, you can opt for Italian liqueurs, champagnes, such as Franciacorta, and light wines. Let Proseccoshop prove you that Italy’s nectar is not just for evenings, drop by at its prosecco tasting and brunch events too!

Jammertal Wine Estate, Villány    

Located at the Croatian border, Villány is the southernmost wine region in Hungary, and one of the most popular ones, too. It is protected from the northern, cold winds by small hills. The area has a unique Sub-Mediterranean microclimate: summers are characterized by hot weather, while the fall season is long and dry. The soil is made up of clay-brown forest-loess on limestone, which provides excellent basis for blue grape production. When it comes to wine estates and viticulture, one of the region’s gems is undoubtedly Jammertal Wine Estate that was established in 2001.

The estate owns 75 hectares of vineyards on the finest terroir and two adjoining wineries equipped to the highest standards. These wineries use state-of-the-art technology which they combine with the winemaking traditions of Villány. Jammertal’s perfectionist owners make great efforts to produce full-bodied red wines of the highest quality, using Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Their endeavors have been recognized and justified by numerous international awards that their brands “Cassiopea” and “Koh-I-Noor” received from Bordeaux, London, Bruxelles, Madrid, Vienna and Düsseldorf in the near past. Due to a growing market demand for rosé wines, Jammertal produces different rosé types made of Pinot Noir, Kékfrankos and Merlot.

These reductive wines are all fruity, represent a Mediterranean style, and carry distinctive flavours. If one is spoilt for choice, here’s a hint: Jammertal Wine Estate’s team encourages wine lovers to pay special attention to their pride and joy, “Pink Panther“, a rosé made 100% of Kékfrankos. The whole rosé portfolio, of which several specialties will be available at Rosalia festival, belongs to the estate and is known under the brand name Wunderlich.

Béla Winery

For two decades, the family-run Béla Winery has cultivated vines on 60 hectares in Imrehegy, South Hungary, and produced fine wines, commonly referred to as “a sip of sunlight”. At Rosalia Festival, you’ll have the chance to taste Béla’s several grape varieties, including Irsai Olivér, Cserszegi fűszeres, Nektár, Gewürztraminer, and some of its fruitful rosés. The winery aims to introduce wine lovers the Kövidinka variety, the Ezerjó-Generosa domestication, and the Champion award-winner late harvest wines. The unique selection has been recently perfected by owner Zoltán Béla with semi-sparkling wines, bringing new flavours to the already varied array of heavenly produces.

Zsoldos Pálinka Manufaktúra

Also known as the „Hungarian spirit”, pálinka is a fruit distillate made of high quality, ripe, zesty fruit. When it comes to distilleries, Zsoldos Pálinka manufactory is among the honourable mentions. Luckily, the Tiszaföldvár-based (eastern Hungary) business has a geographical advantage: there are many varieties of fruit (plum, sour cherry, cherry, apple, quince and apricot), and the area gets quite a lot of sunshine.

They apply natural procedures and the best technologies to make sure they will bottle something truly exceptional. Proud to have won multiple Quintessence-Award titles with their Irsai Olivér and Capiscum, Zsoldos Pálinka’s team values their customers’ opinions a lot. Try their sweet, charming, and unusual flavour combos too!

Etyeki Kúria Winery

Etyeki Kúria Winery was established in 1996 in Etyek, half an hour away from the capital. It has put special emphasis on innovative approach while respecting traditions. Ten years ago, chief winemaker Sándor Mérész joined the winery’s team: ever since he has been harmonizing the experiences of wine experts who belong to older generations with the latest vinicultural research results, while keeping the balance of nature and technology.

The winery boasts vineyards on 50 hectares in Etyek-Buda and Sopron wine regions, where the most important grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt and Merlot. (Booth Nr. 33)

Lovassy Life

„Wine is eternal, life is beautiful, the sensation is yours” – this is the message of the wine family, a brand new selection that runs the gamut from fresh, fragrant and light wines to more heavy items, intended for all wine connoisseurs. The Lovassy Life wine selection was carefully sorted by professional wine experts to showcase the best produces of Hungarian wine regions, paying attention to the changing wine consumption habits of the younger generation of enthusiasts. As a result, bottles do not only look more dynamic (thanks to the energetic labels), but are also equipped with an easy to use screw cap, so that you can enjoy them whenever, wherever.

The assortment comprises of three whites, two rosés, three reds, and two sparkling wines. Whether you’re a fan of more classical flavours or a novelty-seeker, you’ll surely find a bottle or two to sweep you off your feet. There’s the citrusy, green apple-flavoured Olaszrlizling, for example, or the flowery Cserszegi-Irsai cuvée, a wine that smells of spring but tastes like summer. Then there’s the Muskotály, a seductive wine with notes of honey and walnut. The dry and semi-dry rosé wines of the selection are characterized by a vibrant, raspberry fragrance and aroma, and vivid colours. The winery’s red wines, its Kékfrankos, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are smooth, fruity, and pleasantly spicy. Last but not least, the refreshing sparkling wines of Lovassy Life are essential items for your summer evenings.

If you’re looking for a light, cooling, and lively wine for weekend get-togethers with your friends, a romantic picnic, or a backyard barbecue, look no further than the youthful bottles available at Lovassy Life (especially recommended are the Sparkling Rosé and the Sparkling Cserszegi-Irsai Cuvée), which will captivate your senses with their enchanting scent and playful taste. Find the crisp and lively wines along with a number of prizes at booth 68.

Velence Winery

Part of the ancient Etyek-Buda wine region, the area around Lake Velence is famous for its highly acidic, reductive, dry, and medium bodied wines. Courtesy of its special geography and the cool breezes coming in from the Mór wine region. The Velence Winery has been an important player in the local winemaking scene for close to ten years. Their breakthrough only came this year: the winery’s use of the playful otter on their wine bottles was a resounding success.

The wines of the Velence Winery, similarly to the aquatic mammals, are vibrant, light-hearted and cheerful. At the same time they are characterized by a high quality and full taste. By drinking “otter wines”, you also help the environment, as the winery spends a part of its revenues on local environmental protection. Look for the fun and exciting Lake Velence wines at booth 68, and spin the wheel of Velence for valuable, eco-friendly prizes!

Bezerics Winery

How is it possible to create something memorable in a bottle? Fill it with wine in which every drop enhances the special characteristics of a land, and this way proudly represents it. According to Bezerics Winery, the answer lies within their wine and its several components; faith, the quality of the vineyards, the well adjusting varieties, a good year, and the team that carries out the work. This complex list of “ingredients” come together very well in Berezics Winery’s products. They’ll introduce their specialties to you at Rosalia Festival. Bringing quality wine to Budapest from their picturesque Keszthely (situated between Lake Balaton and Bakony) headquarters, the winery adds a hint of tradition and local history to their alcoholic drinks. Their motto is: Da Bibere (Give me something to drink – a text of a jug found in a first century Celtic grave), which they fancy hearing from their guests. Cheers!

Koch Winery

Koch Winery, located in the Hajós-Bajai wine region of Hungary, has been producing wines for ten generations now, starting from the 1746 arrival of patriarch József Koch. The modern winery manages 140 ha with a production of 800,000 bottles per year in 27 varieties. In 2014 the Koch Winery won the Winery of the Year award from the Hungarian Wine Academy. Its wide range of outstanding wines include Cserszegi Fűszeres, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Kadarka and Rosé.  The family has established the Vin Art Winery in the Villány wine region to expand its selection of fine wines. Find booth 38 and give last year’s palatable rosés a try; the raspberry-flavoured Frisch Rosé Cuvée; the sweet and spicy Néró Rosé; the strawberry-coloured elegant Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé; the fragrant and exploding Rosé Cuvée; the mineral-rich, fruity blend of Villányi Cabernet Sauvignon-Kékfrankos-Merlot Rosé.

How about visiting the “nursery of vino” this spring? For the 8th time, Miskolc’s historic wine cellars (situated in the city centre) will open to curious visitors between 9-11 May, as part of the country’s special wine & gastronomy festival called Avasi Borangolás. Organized by civil society associations, the event aims to revitalize Miskolc’s wine cellar culture. The lovely streets and tarnished wine cellars of the Avas Hills provide a picturesque location to the 3-day festival where quality wine and outstanding gastronomy will be in the spotlight.

On the first day, winemakers and other professionals will give special lectures on viniculture, while on Friday and Saturday all of the wine cellars and houses in the given area will be awaiting visitors, from Kisavas to Nagyavas. It’s a special occasion when admirers, local manufacturers and winemakers known all around the country get together to discuss everything wine.

For those who are interested in prose, we highle recommend Avasi Cellarium’s podium talk with Soma Mamagésa and psychiatrist Dr. Imre Csernus. Children will be in for a treat too: many entertaining performances, creative activities and a fun tour called Bandukló are waiting for them. The latter is a 6-stop sticker- collecting adventure, in which kids will get a special surprise at the end. (For details, please check Borangoló, the event’s program booklet.)

Now let’s turn towards gastronomy! Among others, Pizza Kávé Világbéke, Rossita Kisvendéglő, and zip’s Brewhouse (plus well-known chefs József Bernáth and Zoltán Pauli) will be there to trigger your hunger hormones at special gastro workshops, evoking the city’s traditional, 150-year-old culinary past. And as there’s no sunshine without rain, there can be no festival without music and other fun programs either. Free-to-attend concerts are to take place on multiple stages: look out for Tóth Vera Quartet and Kalmus Felicián’s performance held at Avasi Calvinist church, or listen to the music of Old Boys, Soma és a Vanavan, Muzsik és Volkova, Bálint Gájer, Ruby Harlem, Petruska, and the Roy & Ádám Trió.

For further information, please check out the festival’s Facebook page!

Laposa Wine Estate

Dedicated to high-quality gastronomy, Laposa family welcomes wine lovers all year on its Badacsony-based farm with an iconic wine terrace that offers a never-before-seen panorama. Apart from fine wines, you can also opt for a cold cuts selection made with local produces. The icing on the cake that makes the gastronomic experience at Laposa Wine Estate perfect is the attentive service.

8261 Badacsony, Bogyay Lajos utca 1.

Borbély Family Winery

Borbély family winery lies on a 23-hectare territory in the Badacsony wine region, where both modern and traditional technologies are used to create fresh and unique taste harmonies. Its exceptional, award-winning wines are available all year at the winery, and its guests tired of tasting wines can recharge their batteries at the winterized guesthouse. The winery’s mission is to introduce the versatility of the different vineyard sites in its quality products. The family’s motto “Fiery wine, volcanic taste” is inspired their special wine selection.

8258 Badacsonytomaj, Káptalantóti út 19.

St. Orban Restaurant

The Laposa family-run St. Orban Restaurant is located in the heart of Badacsony Mountain, offering a breathtaking view over the Hungarian Sea. Although in winter we can only dream about having a lunch on the outdoor terrace surrounded by lush greenery, the restaurant’s homely interior design, seasonal offers, and Badacsony wines totally make up for it.

8261 Badacsony, Kisfaludy Sándor utca 5.

Kristinus Wine Estate

Kristinus Wine Estate is conscious about the fact that its activity affects gravely our environment; on this end, it pays special attention to environment protection. Located at the south shores of Lake Balaton, surrounded by hills and forests, the winery is in a privileged position: the sunshine hours and microclimate of the area creates favourable conditions that add to the flavours and maturity of Kristinus grapes.

The priceless solar energy is used to create electricity that is needed to run the wine estate, which reduces its ecological footprint. An electric car charging station is about to open and mechanical cultivation tools are often used. Kristinus Wine Estate aims to constantly reprocess, and to use as many organic products from sustainable sources as possible during the working process.

Green goals of the wine estate:

• To improve its system to an extent that it becomes able to cover the whole energy consumption of the estate
• To decrease the chemical substances on the vineyards and in the cellars, and their natural or biological transformation
• To minimize spraying and the engagement of tractors in the work as much as possible
• The introduction of a modern and efficient heating technique for low energy consumption.

8713 Kéthely, Hunyadi utca 99.

Válibor

Located in the heart of Badacsony, Péter Váli’s family winery is truly one of the loveliest venues to spend your time at. The Badacsonyörs-based winery welcomes visitors every weekend in the winter with a long list of in- and outdoor programs to choose from, including traditional pig slaughter and hiking trips. You can even try yourself at rolling up the strudel dough, but the complete culinary experience is guaranteed by oven baked delicacies, and cheese & wine tasting events. Don’t worry about the cold, warm yourself up at the lovely guest house!

8257 Badacsonyörs, Major út 46.

Ikon Winery

Surrounded by the hills of the southern shores of Lake Balaton, not far from Balatonlelle, you’ll find Rádpuszta, IKON Winery’s HQ. The 39-hectare area once belonged to Tihany Abbey, but the tradition of viniculture and wine making has been carried on by the winery since 2007. In the wine cellar high-quality wines are made that can be purchased on-site at a reasonable price, and premium wines are also available due to the unique location of the vineyards. Additionally, IKON Winery offers wine tastings and wine cellar tours all year in a picturesque environment.

8681 Látrány, Szent Borbála utca 1.

2HA Szőlőbirtok és Pincészet

The boutique-winery’s white and red wines are aged exclusively in wood barrels, with special attention to natural winemaking. Their grape varieties include a true specialty, sangiovese grosso, or as it is called in Toscana the clone of Brunello, which is the base of Tabunello.

8265 Tapolca

Kislaki Borkert

Everyone who is interested in all things wine and vinery is welcome at Kislaki Wine Garden in Szőlőkislak, 3 kilometres from Balatonboglár. In the autumn/winter season you have to make an appointment to visit the winery, and to take part in an exclusive wine tasting and vineyard tour led by winemaker Légli Géza. Kislaki wines can also be purchased outside of Szőlőkislak, at three different wine shops in Budapest.

8691 Balatonboglár-Szőlőskislak, Fő utca 44.