Hungarian Wine
In recent years, Hungary is probably the most successful of Eastern Europe's wine making countries, largely helped by the coveted and delicious dessert wine Tokaji. Once enjoyed in royal courts across Europe, Hungarian wine, particularly Tokaji, took a fall from grace under Soviet leadership in 1945. The wines lost their quality and became quantity driven instead. Fortunately, the Hungarian's managed to keep a number of vineyards in private hands so they could rebuild their reputation more quickly. Indeed, wine is intrinsic in Hungarian society with many families making their own wine from mini vineyards in their gardens. As far as Eastern European wine goes, Hungary is on top.
What To Know About Hungarian Wines
Besides the obvious Tokaji which has seen a great revival for occassions like Christmas, Hungary makes all manner of wines from international varieties as well as grapes you have probably never heard of. Hungary offers truly excellent value for money with skilled winemakers but lower costs than a lot of Europe and you'll find every good wine bar with a few Hungarian wines and unknown grapes to try. If you do see them, try them!
Hungary has 22 wine regions making all manner of reds and whites from hundreds of different grape varieties. You aren't expected to know or try them all, but the top 4 regions are Eger, Tokaj, Villány and Nagy Somló.
Eger is best known for Egri Bikavér red blends (known as Bull's Blood) and Egri Csillag white blends (known as Star of Eger). The Bull's Blood wines are rich in tannin and spice, typically made with Kékfrankos as the main grape. The Star of Eger wines are a native blend of at least 4 grapes, usually these are Leányka, Királyleányka, Furmint (used in Tokaji), Hárslevelü (also in Tokaji), Zengö and Zenit. They tend to be aromatic with tropical fruit notes.
For Tokaji, click the link to see our page and learn all about the wines and making process.
Villany is a warm region in the South of Hungary that makes red wines from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Kekfrankos. They are juicy, fruity and well structured and similar to good Bordeaux wines.
Nagy Somló is very small at just 300 hectares, situated on an extinct volcanic butte. As a result, the wines are extraordinary! Smoky and fiery, they embody the soil they are grown in like no other. The most special wine here is known as Juhfark which is wines only grown on the volcanic soils of Somló, they most obviously display the volcanic characteristics with lemon, smoke, ash, spice, wheat and strong minerality.
Other areas to watch: Lake Balaton, Szekszard, Upper Pannon, Neszmély, Mór, Pannonhalma.