Hungary Wine

Hungary has 22 unique wine regions. Each region has its own special climate and soil. Official descriptions of Hungary’s wine regions are available on the Hungarian Wine Interprofessional Council website.

Let’s look at four well-known wine regions: Tokaj, Eger, Villány, and Balaton. Each of these regions has its own special features and charm.

Tokaj is in Northern Hungary and is known as Hungary’s most famous wine region. This area has a special microclimate that is great for making Tokaji Aszú, a very sweet wine loved around the world. The sweet taste comes from “noble rot,” which is a mold that gives the wine a rich sweetness and complex flavors.

• Tokaji: This wine can be dry or very sweet. It has flavors of apricot, honey, and spice.
• Furmint: A flexible white grape that makes both dry and sweet wines. It has high acidity and smells like green apple and pear.
• Hárslevelű: This grape adds fullness and floral scents to wine blends. It also makes tasty wines when it’s the only grape used.

Tokaj’s global cultural and historical significance is recognized in its UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Eger is in north-eastern Hungary. This area has a rich history and is known for its unique volcanic soils. Eger is famous for its wine, especially the well-known Egri Bikavér, or “Bull’s Blood.” This is a full-bodied red wine with spicy notes, deep dark fruit tastes, and smooth tannins.

• Egri Bikavér: This wine mainly uses Kékfrankos. It also adds International types like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This mix gives it complex flavors and a refined feel.
• Egri Csillag: Known as “Star of Eger,” this white wine typically has Leányka, Királyleányka, and other local grapes. It creates a crisp wine with fruity and floral scents.

You can learn more about local winemaking traditions on the official Eger Tourism wine page.

Located in Southern Hungary, Villány has a warm, Mediterranean climate. This weather is great for making excellent red wines. The area’s limestone and clay soils are perfect for Bordeaux varieties.

• Cabernet Franc: This variety grows well in Villány. It produces wines with strong black fruit scents, a touch of spice, and a smooth feel.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: This type makes bold reds with rich fruit flavors, strong tannins, and the ability to age well. Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Villány show off their local character.
• Merlot: Known for adding smoothness and style to blends, Merlot also stands out as a single-varietal wine in this place.

You can learn more about local winemaking traditions on the official Villány wine region page.

Home to the largest lake in Central Europe, the Balaton region is great for wine lovers. This area is famous for its white wine but also makes some good red wines.

• Olaszrizling: This is the most common grape in the region. Olaszrizling makes crisp, dry white wines that taste of citrus and minerals.
• Sauvignon Blanc: Grown in the area’s volcanic soil, Balaton Sauvignon Blanc has a lively acidity. It often features grassy notes and a touch of flinty mineral flavor.
• Pinot Noir: This grape does well in the cooler spots of the region. It grows in volcanic soil and produces lighter red wines. These wines have delicate fruit flavors and earthy hints.

In general, Balaton wines are usually lighter than other Hungarian wines and have a refreshing taste and bright fruit flavors.

Hungary has many unique grapes that are not just famous around the world. These grapes add special flavors and scents to the wines of the country. Let’s look at some important Hungarian grapes that should get attention for their quality and unique nature.

Red Grapes

Kékfrankos is the main part of Egri Bikavér. Known as Blaufränkisch in Austria, it makes wines that have bright acidity, smell like red fruits, and taste of spicy pepper and earthy notes.

Kadarka was once common but is now harder to find. Still, it is worth looking for because of its stylish taste. It has bright acidity, flavors of red cherries and plums, and light spice hints.

White Grapes

Furmint is known as the king of Hungarian grapes. This white grape ripens late and is famous for making Tokaji wines. It loves noble rot. However, Furmint is also great when made into a dry wine. It shows its bright acidity, complex minerality, and great aromas.

• Dry Furmint: This wine has bright acidity and complex aromas like green apple, pear, and quince. It can also have a smoky, mineral taste.
• Late Harvest Furmint: These wines give you a taste of Tokaji’s magic but are not too sweet. You can expect aromas of dried apricot, honey, and spice, along with bright acidity.

Hárslevelű, which means “linden leaf,” is an important white grape from Hungary. It adds depth and flavor to blends, especially in sweet Tokaji wines. Hárslevelű can also stand alone as a single-varietal wine. It delights the taste buds with floral scents, sweet honey notes, and a refreshing taste.