Wine region  -  The northern Dunántúl ( Transdanubia )

The northern Dunántúli wine region


Slow sips...

Nine different wine producing areas in one region! That's a real challenge for the wine lover! The tour can start with the white wines of the Vértes and Gerecse mountains, with such traditional wines as the Ezerjó, followed by the Rieslingszilváni, and finally the wine acclaimed by international wine critics, the Királyleányka!

Then we head off to the Hungarian sea, Lake Balaton, on whose shores there are more wine varieties. On the northwest shore, the vines are on volcanic slopes, and are nourished by the special soil and a pleasant climate. Fill your glass on Szent György hill and you will find the full-bodied harmonious flavour and characteristic bouquet of the Italian Riesling balanced by a hint of bitter almonds.
In Badacsony, it's appropriate to offer a toast in a glass of Szürkebarát.
This slightly sweet, gentle wine is highly regarded and has maintained its unbroken popularity. Lovers of dry red wines will be charmed by the kéknyelű of Badacsony, with its acidic and elegant palate. Around Balatonfüred and Csopak, there are mellower wines to fill your glass. A distinctive bouquet comes from the bottles of Italian Riesling, preparing you for the pleasure of a quality wine...
The wine region around Lake Balaton has a different soil. Splendid, full wines, similar to those of Badacsony, mature in the protected climate of the Káli valley.
And finally, we head off  to Somló, the smallest yet best known of the wine hills.
Throughout the centuries, this white wine region has been the stuff of legend. Here matures the honeymooners wine... To ensure the birth of a male heir, the Hapsburg rulers ordered their wine from here for the appropriate occasion... Unbelievable, perhaps? One thing is for certain; in regards to character, the juhfark of Somló, the furmint, the Italian Riesling have a reputation for acidity, without doubt a masculine characteristic.
Also acidic are the wines of the Mór region, which grow on the southern side of the Vértes hills. The full-bodied Ezerjó with its light green colour, seems to have found its perfect home here.
Etyek, originally known for producing ingredients for sparkling wines, is considered a new wine region. Among the vines planted there, are the world famous Pinot blanc, and a new type of hybrid, the Zenith.
On the country's western border, in the hills around Lake Fertő we find the wine region of Sopron, the true home of dry red wines. With its glorious deep red colour, the kékfrankos of Sopron is a truly full-bodied wine, with a strong character, and you can count on a savour not available in other regions.
Let's finish this wine tour in the cellars of the Monastery of Pannonhalma, an ancient institution of Hungarian religious culture. Rhine Riesling and the Tramini vine grow in its grounds, its wines are full flavoured, with a strong bouquet.