Archive for the ‘Wine around Hungary’ Category

“Autumn in the Krúdy Quarter” – Óbudai Társaskör „The Budensis social circle” 2015.

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Reaching the Season of Autumn, the September’s programs closing the events at Óbuda (Budensis) was connected to the harvest and fine wines namely: “Autumn in the Krúdy Quarter” at the Óbudai Társaskör „The Budensis social circle”, District, III., 7. Kiskorona street – Budapest, on September, 26.2015. Was an evening of mingles with literature, music and wine tasting programs. Within the program was featuring, literary wine tasting with Tamás Dúzsi – winemaker of the year 2014, Csaba Zöld – actor, Attila Dóka – guitar and Donát Tépő – verse sound performance. The evening’s artistic director was Attila Zoltán Szabó – writer, poet – editor in chief of the Nyugat Plus (West Plus). This and other gatherings are in Hungarian language.

About the venue … the Óbudai Társaskör „The Budensis social circle”, is located in the old center of Óbuda near the neighborhood of the Royal Palace. The area’s  surrounding holds buildings dating back to the turn of the century and many have had been restored to its original appeal. The Óbudai Társaskör has partnered with the Museum of Hungarian Trade and Tourism, Kéhli and Mókus Restaurant. Mária Harsányi – director’s words: „Culture and gastronomy, our goal is to serve as an authentic venue for Krúdy programs since Gyula Krúdy (novelist Gyula Krúdy born 135 and died 80 years ago) lived in the building that is now the Museum and frequented Kéhli Restaurant and the coffee shop which was part of the building that is now the veneue of the Óbudai Társaskör „The Budensis social circle”.

Update and snaps Aggie Reiter

Óbuda (Budensis) Cultural Center presents III. Fall’s Wine Festival – 2015.

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III. Fall’s Wine Festival – Óbuda (Budensis)  – District, III. Főtér – Main Square – Budapest.

September, 26 and 27. 2015

Participate at these programs during this week-end free of charge!

It is good thing that our country is not only  in winemaking successful, but having the input to the wine  consumption  culture!

During the week-end, the audience have an opportunity to get to know, taste some of the famous wine regions offers, while taking part, enjoying high-level shows and performances by music bands. In-and-around the Főtér – Main Square,  at the wooden houses excellent Wines and Jolly Good Rhythm awaits for a gathering of friends, offering also exciting culinary delicacies.

Hungary’s best wine makers on the spot, and their wines you might have not yet tasted, but by the end of the day your going to love it.

The Óbuda (Budensis) Wine Festival is awaiting everyone who are less in favor to the quantity, but rather choose the quality wines.

Here at the wine festival are introduce, a  couple of wines from different wine regions. Beside tasting throughout the two days on the main stage … Music programs will fill the air: Saturday, September 26,  2 p.m.  Bela Rák Jazz Band,  4p.m.  Bin Jip,  6 p.m. Blue Rabbit Hammond Trio, 8 p.m.  Hot Jazz Band. Sunday, September 27,  2 p.m. Group’n’Swing, 5 p.m. Myrtill and SWINGUISTIQUE  and  7p.m. Budapest Band.

Just to highlight two wine makers on the spot: The Tarjányi winery – Region of Eger. The winery is considered as the youngest producers, but already reaching step-by-step their high-quality wines. The proof of their good wines by the visitors was easy to see with busy hands in serving the curious visitors. Yes,  one of their specialities is the Sparkling wine the White and Red. These wines are kept in barrel aging, and are made in the traditional way, as it should be in the large walnut tree barrels. Their venue as they told lays at a perfect surrounding, and just to relax sipping the wines under the vine arbor,  or sitting out on their bench overlooking the sunset is something which you just cannot find everywhere.  Of course when the season come to do so. They also hold wine tasting for groups of minimum 10 person, serving two types of wine snacks and oven-baked hot food. The tasting cellar can receive up to 35 people and at the arbor maximum 25 people. Prior appointment required through tarjanyikft@gmail.com They also produce grape jams. Szentpéteri Wine Cellar – Kunsági Region need not have to be introduced, already at a previously update can be followed here  www.rollinginbudapest.com. The Szentpéteri family own wine cellar collect,  produces from the best located areas their own raw materials from Kiskőrös and Soltvadkert. Due to geographical attributes having youthful vigor, light, fresh and extremely fruity, high-quality wines their wines are known and popular by the locals and had also already having awarded wines at Grand Wine Festivals.  The varieties of grapes reflects on the palette of wines. They are using traditional manner in collecting the grapes by hand and in use of modern technologies to form the white, Rose-, reds wines, which are characteristic of the region hungaricums.

Other wineries on the spot: Vincze Winery (Eger), Takler Wine Estate (Szekszárd), Psenyeczky – Fruit wines (Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County), Laposa – Wine Estate (Badacsonyi), Gombai- Wine estate and champagne cellars (Etyek), Demeter – Winery (Eger), Csobánc – Wine Manufactory (Badacsonyi), Bernát – Winery (Tolna), Nyolcas és Fiai – Wine House (Eger)

Update and snaps  Aggie Reiter

XIII. Harvest time at Kiskőrös and Slovak National Days

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Celebrating the XIII. harvest of grapes a 3 days festival was held at Kiskőrös together with the Slovakian Days. Was fine time to get together and exchange the mutual commons and have a taste at  the  Kiskőrös – “Lowland” – plain area wines in Hungary. The invitation was upon by the Szentpéteri and the Vass winery.

The wine region of this territory is called the Danube lowland or the plain wine region. This region holds 109.760 hectares, namely the „Kunság wines”.  The wine culture here goes back in time recorded  of the wines of the „Golden Sand”. Also the records says the vineyard were already popular known during the Roman emperor in the III. century.  Mostly known from this area are the  wines named: „Kövidinka” – “Ezerjó” – “Gold Sárfehér” (Gold muddy white)” and the  “Kadarka”.

Upon arrival a short presentation was held at the Wine house of  Attila Szentpéter and Mária Pivárcsi Ms. Vass who both talked about their wine house.  Then after the invitation to a fine local lunch was introduced and  tasted the wines that goes perfectly well to the dishes.

Attila Szentpéteri, originally an agricultural engineer, became slowly in love with the thought of having a winery. His winery is  at the „Old grapes wine cellar carved into the sandy hill”. His number one wine the „Nero” – specially made as a rosé was promoted at national and international competitions. As he added, to have quality wine you need quality grapes. and here at Kiskőrös the unique circumstances bring special wines. Even though this area has been  for ages producing wines said Attila Szentpéteri,  they are still looking for to find their unique connection expressing their wines the „face of the region” … just like other wine regions have connected their wines to their area, culture or past history events.

Mária Pivárcsi Ms. Vass, the owners and producer of the Vass winery said, it  is a family run business since 1998. Their wines are made from their own harvest grapes and some grapes brought from  the surrounding area. The wine cellar provides 3500 hl. The storage space, handling and storage of wines takes place in 25 to 100 hl steel tanks. She added being happy to say the Vass winery’s wines has been in row standing  for the 5th year as the city’s white wine produced by her winery.

Even though this area has been  for ages producing wines said Attila Szentpéteri,  they are still looking for to find their unique connection expressing their wines the „face of the region” … just like other wine regions have connected their wines to their area, culture or past history events.

During the three days programs, beside tasting at the booth the rich in flavor wines, were also rich in urban traditional culture events and food. High number of  audience visited the traditional folklore programs. Even a large number of  Finnish tourists were waving their national flags to show the locals their present, enjoying their stay and awaiting to see on the main stage the local folklore singers and dancers.  There were the  series of  viticulture lectures whereas the  „Kiskőrösi Gondűző Wine Knight Order”, invited guests and professional wine makers were present.  The presentations where mainly about the Danube and Tisza area grape cultivation history. The wine makers of Kiskőrös back-and-forth were changing experiences on speaking of ideas how to stop, prevent the grapes attacked by phyiloxera  that mainly destroys, hits the „Bianca” grapes while making Bianca wines.

As the end of the lectures came the wine knights parade started. More than a dozen wine knights were present and as they rolled on the main street of Kiskőrös  the people welcomed them with cheers. Reaching the main stage awards were handed over for the-best-of-the best wine makers.

Just an extra thought … many things goes through the mind when it come to Kiskőrös,  for example … Hungary’s great poet „Sándor Petőfi’’ hometown, several museums, monuments and city events.

Mentioning also widely known in Europe, that Kiskőrös is the land of famous thermal spa. Not just the locals, but a couple of  foreigner countries citizens  who have already relaxed and recharge themselves come back to enjoy nature’s gift. Also at this area, a large number of Slovakian individuals live and they are keeping their national traditional within programs and delicious home-made kitchen.

Smaller and large wineries welcome their visitors for wine tasting, giving by professional and knowledgeable service. So it is worthy to visit this area in having a wine tour and enjoying the sights as well.

The citizens of  Kiskőrös have become more-and-more to know their lowland wine makers. Not yet,  a high number, but hopefully from around the nation and foreigners will get to know more about the Kiskőrös wines as being on wine map of Hungary.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

Final results of the Nation’s Cheese Competition – Budapest – 2015.

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 The SZEGA Foods this year organized its III. Cheese Nations competition, having  17 countries race.One Hungarian and 16 internationally acclaimed cheese manufacturing countries competed in the traditional specialties.  Namely the competition was to select, vote for “Hungary’s favorite cheese” .

The qualifying round was held between  August, 24. 2015 until September, 8. At the SZEGA  market, district II.,  121 Erzsébet Ave. – Budapest  those folks interested to taste  fine cheese  could have voted on the spot or  may have shown their favorite cheese by visiting the store’s internet site. Was kind of challenge to really choose and vote for their favorites  from the 17 countries cheese.

After the first round the voting continued between  September, 9 to 13. By then many local and foreigner individuals selected  their kind of cheese. So the competition kept on running to receive  the title of best, most tasteful cheese of 2015 in Hungary. Day-by-day at the SZEGA Market the climbing up votes appeared  at the local display screen and followed on the internet.  The winner(s) were announced at  the venue of the 24th Wine Festival – Royal Castle on September, 13. 2015., The competition ended with an award ceremony.

Here are the result of the competition receiving  awards: 1st Pater – Hungary, 2nd Sartori Merlo  – USA , 3rd Provolone – Italy,  4th Comté – France, 5th Dubliner – Ireland.  6th Belgium –  Hervé La Bière, 7th Switzerland  –  Appenzeller .

This year for the first time, the United States of America,  as a guest nation,  also entered the Nation’s Cheese competition and the voter showed  surely their appreciation of the fine „Sartori Merlot„ cheese.

Unfortunately, even though the nations cheese were very flavorful,  yet excluded from the award, but still the audience very much enjoyed their cheese … Spain – Idiazabal,  Netherlands  –  Edam Balls, Portugal  –  Sao Jorge, Estonia – Forte Classico, UK -Leicester Red, Denmark –  Danbo, Germany  – Limburger, Greece –  Kefalotiri,  Austria – Mölltaler Almkäse,  Czech Republic – Zlata Praha.

Well it seems like for a year to the completion 2016 had come to an end, but for those who missed to taste these delicious cheese during the period in time, may not have to be down, because all year around at the SZEGA Market these Nation’s Cheese can be purchased.

Update and snaps Aggie Reiter