3 Nov

Part 2. Autumn Festivals of Museums in Hungary – 2022.

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Part 2. Continuing our tour day program, visited the permanent display of the life of the Camaldolese Priory at Oroszlány – Majk Camaldolese Hermitage monastery, that lays in the western part Hungary. Was built from the donations of the Eszterházy  and other famous aristocratic families in the 18th-century as a monastery complex. Recently had been renovated in-and-outside and it is considered a true rarity and unique in Europe. Previously noble families gave financial support for the construction of each hermitage, the church tower and the former monastery. The building of the Eszterházy Castle preserves the memory of the monks who once lived there. The monks lived by the Camaldolese order “silent friends”. Strove for spiritual perfection, for this purpose they lived alone praying, combining communal, monastic and hermit life as their daily lives in their cell houses based on strict regulatory principles. Each of them had Officium Rákóczianum prayer book named after Ferenc I. Rákóczi. Their prayer book was written in Latin but had a translation in Hungarian. The monastery built in U-shaped forester  surrounded by high walls. We were invited to have a look inside the 6th and 7th building out of the 17 hermitages. The house size are all same 80 m2 which has a garden size also 80 m2, here the monks grew their own vegetables/herbs. The rooms were all furnished just the way was in use by the monks. Furniture, personal items and cloths were exhibited. The house had a living room, a chapel, a workshop, a woodshed, and an anteroom. A huge mass vestments made of leather was also on display covered by a huge glass. They had strict rules to keep: fasting, physical work, self-restraint, chanting, and obedience. The camaldolian monks of today living in Bielany, near Krrakkó – Poland.

The Tatabánya Museum, located in the Agora of Vértes, presented a tour back to way back the past, visiting the archaeological monuments out on display seens the discovered in the area. Also introduced the modern and recent monuments found during the excavations. At the Tata Castle, bearing the architectural features of six centuries, has been home to the Kuny Domokos Museum since 1954, which currently has five permanent and four temporary exhibitions and all year around can be visited.

Some visited breathtaking venues and exhibition pictures can be viewed by taking a look at the slideshow.

Riport to be continued in PART 3.

Riport and snaps by Aggie Reiter

3 Nov

Laurent Baffie: Case-Case … Or How The Cube Bounce?

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TOK-TOK orlai production

Comedy play is on at the Belvárosi Theater from Saturday, November, 5. 2022.

A ground-breaking comedy that was a big hit both on stage and film!

Summary … Let’s take a group of unknown people, put them in a room – in our case, the hall of a world-famous psychiatrist – and close the door on them. Sooner or later it will be revealed that each of them has their own fun hep…

Our heroes stubbornly cling to their life belts, with which they can stay afloat in everyday life, and while they wait, one life belt appears after another. Real acrobatics, with which they bravely avoid each other’s life belts and try to become a real team. The stakes are not small: will they find the rules of the game, with which they can win together and separately?

Laurent Baffie’s license was mediated by SACD (France) and Hofra Ltd.

The performance is recommended for audience with Hungarian language knowledge and individuals over the age of 14.

Actors: VINCENT – taxi driver: Schruff Milán, FRED – parrot breeder: Ferenc Pataki, BLANCHE – laboratory assistant: Mónika Ullmann, LILI – fitness trainer: László Lili, MARIE – holy pot: Zsuzsa Járó, BOB – technical draftsman: Barnabás Rohonyi, ASSISTANT: Judit Cseh.

Director: Béla Paczolay … Author: Laurent Baffie … Translator: Gergely Zöldi … Set designer: Khell Csörsz … Costume designer: Györgyi Fekete … Composer: Péter Furák … The director’s collaborator: Dorka Dicő …Producer: Tibor Orlai.

Ticket can be purchased at the Theater’s ticket office.

Source: Belvárosi Theater – Budapest

Recommendation by: Aggie Reiter

2 Nov

“A Glass of Wine” With Winemaker Endre Szászi @ Endre Szászi Jr.

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Conservation beside “A Glass of Wine” with Endre Szászi and his son at the Scruton Pub – Budapest by Anna Demeter – Magazine Hungarian chronicle. Elder Szászi said they moved to the Szent György Mountain, cause the dream was to live in an environment the same way as the old winemakers are near to their wine yards, rise together with the grapes and go to bed with a glass of wine. At first he ran a wine shop at Szigliget and did not give up his wish and slowly came true, began with planting on 1.8 hectares around their house. His plan was to build an organic farm.
Kabócás(cicada )Italian Reisling grown on the Saint Antal  mountain aside near Szigliget. Szászi Jr. join him after felling in love with the nature soundings, there is something in the air which gives the Mediterranean feeling as when the semolina plays the leading role on the scene and he brought up a memorial as when the Titanic sank the musicians were the last to have leaf the ship, the semolina retiring for the winter. Their first success was followed a year later by the second one. Because of cicada was not harvested for 8 years long. The autumn rain and mist settle in and gave difficulty. The forest have had been cut out and vines have replaced the old ones. The breeze helped the plantation not to dry out but that was not all to be cheerful about cause then the wild boar appeared and caused a huge damage at the vines. Thereafter crops were harvested in 2015 and 2018.
Endre Szászi said, he believes in the wine is an imprint of the vintage and the secret to their wines lay where the soil is basalt. Added it is difficult to stay on the market without having your own plantations. So after his wine shop, bought grapes, made wine, came catering, and accommodation was already organically connected to this. Thereafter, small press houses were bought and the venue transformed into quarters bearing the hallmarks of village tourism.

The father said he won’t bother if his son will not follow process to growing grapes and be a winemaker, but if he stays as trade and marketing that will be just fine. At the vineyard the family members are the co-workers there is a good and bad to it. Closed the conversation with: “children have to keep in mind they do not inherit the “Golden Egg” but the hen needs to be taken care of.

Riport Aggie Reiter

2 Nov

Budapest’s Central Theater – “A WEEK AGO” – Magyartenger (Hungarian Sea) Premiere

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Coming up in a just couple of days, on November, 5. – 7:30 P.M. a first full-length independent play by Bence Bíró on stage at the Central Theater Budapest. The contemporary drama takes place over 24 hours in a holiday home at Lake Balaton. The scene is a typical family holiday depicted in an unusual way. Kinda comedy with six male and four female characters. Sceen … gathering stormy clouds on the shores of the lake … chats are going on about politics adding comments here-and-there, surrounding five pounds of love and armed garden gnomes. Great actors such as Móni Balsai, Tibor Fehér and Zoltán Schmied take the stage in the main roles with also other actors such as: Eszter Földes, Éva Szabó, Kata Pálfy, Ódor Krostóf, János Papp and Bálint Rada. The show’s director and set designer is Róbert Alföldi, who said earlier “No matter how hard the times are, family is family and Lake Balaton is Balaton. And skeletons can tumble out of the cupboards, there can be all kinds of spoken or unspoken problems and sorrows … Lake Balaton is still Balaton … and the family is just family … that’s why it comes difficult sometimes … but love is still love. In the meantime, many may have a smile during the play in recognizing their own selves.

During the play, may see how the audience and the actors find joy in the play.

The scenery was designed by Robert Alföldi, and the costume designer was Eszter Kálmán.

The presentation is in Hungarian language.

Recommender Aggie Reiter

1 Nov

Part 1. Autumn Festival of Museums in Hungary – 2022.

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Part 1. On a full day study tour which was organized for the written and online media representatives by the Hungarian Tourist Agency and the Open-Air Museum of Ethnography – Museum Education and Methodology Center – Szentendre (MOKK)  in presenting the coming up events related to the Autumn Festival of Museums.  The visiting venues were at Tatabánya – Tata –  Oroszlány  – Majk Museum  which are in the region of Central Transdanubian.

Arrived to the venue by bus from Budapest organized by the (MOKK).  Arriving to our first stop at Tatabánya  … the seat of Komárom-Esztergom county …  the media representative were welcomed by – Gabriella A. Pál …  at Majk – Zsuzsanna Éva Kovács and  Tata director Richard Schmidtmayer. Our host talked about their programs,  main goal to shed light on the museums’ role in the natural, intellectual and social fields, clarify the concept of sustainability and to draw attention to the museum’s rich activities related to the Autumn Festival of Museums.Visited two superb museum institutions

In the Tatabánya Museum, was introduced the archaeological monuments discovered in the area, as well as the new and recent monuments. We could have a view of their latest project from a bird’s eye view through  VR glasses which was the topic about garbage collection around the Turul monument. As mentioned, this was made for educational purposes in a playful way to make children aware of the importance of rubbish collection collection.

There are plenty of cultural tourism opportunities in Hungary  … be a guest – visitor at one of them.

Still at Tatabánya visited the Mining and Industria Skanzen with its member institution. This venue is also unique in every sense and most probably in an international context as well. We visited the entire building complexes of the Mine and saw the miners’six-door houses, where we could see age-old tools and equipment, the furnished offices, walking outdoor saw the smaller and giant machines and among them the tools and equipment which looked as an outer space land, and in the meantime went down to the old XV shaft.

Riport to be continued in PART 2.

Riport and snaps by  Aggie Reiter

19 Oct

At the Tornai Winery – 7th Somló “Juhfark” Festival 2022

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Venue: Tornai Winery – Somlójenő – Somló Hill – Hungary

Lately visited Somló upon invitation to get to know the 17 wineries bringing 27 Juhfark delights at the Somló Juhfark Festival.

The representative presentation of Juhfark – (Sheep Tail) was organized for the seventh time with the co-operation of winemakers from Somló, where the public could participate in tasting the best batches of the past years wines and get to know the winemakers personally, ask questions, talk about their techniques of wine making, the characteristics of the wines, taste and taste again.

The Somló Juhfark (“Sheep Tail” – in English) – (staying with the original Hungarian name from now one) Holiday, was organized a special walking tasting event in many ways in providing a special experience for the wine-loving public. At the Festival one of the most popular wineries were present at the same time with their best wines. We were introduced to know the characteristics of the wine region. We could also follow the handiwork from the winemaker within tasting their items. These wines were completely different types and characters of Juhfark.

In brief back in time long the way to to-day’s Somló Winery … Endre Tornai after returning home from the war, he restarted the family farm. Instead of the grapes he lost in Badacsony, he bought an outdated plantation in Somló, barely two months old … began his small cellar the Tornai cellar. It is one of the oldest of this kind on a 0.7 ha wine-land, today expanded 50 ha. The 450 ha lands on the hill side are now cultivated by 3000 landowners becoming small plots. For the first time it has been introduced here. The process …the juice is left to stay in contact with the grapes skin for approx. 7 – 14 hours.Then yielding a brightly color, full-bodies white wine with charastic acidic-mineral taste mixed elegantly with fresh, fruity fragrance. Several grapes varietals are planted in the field … Riesling, Juhfarok, Szürkebarát, Furmint, Hárslevelű, Zeus, Zenit and Pinot Blanc. The Hárslevelű 2011 earned great gold medal at the international wine competition in Verona. In 2003 received a gold medal in Montreal and Düsseldorf and several other countries.

The wine of Somló and the Tornai winery has for ages been known … taken as medicine … In the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and beyond the Somló wines were claimed to possess medicinal qualities. Many healing powers were recorded. The wine was in favor in the court of Habsburgs, as drinking Somló wine on the royal wedding night was believed to increase the chance to conceive a male child. So along the way from 1990 and today it became, known as the “wedding night wine”

Back to highlight the festival … Juhfark and Somló is a special pairing with a mineral flavor, inimitable wine. The unique volcanic character of the mountain can best be seen … tasted … in the bottles of Juhfark wines.

Participating wineries were: 5 Ház Wine Estate, Barcza Winery, Bogdán Estate, Csetvei Winery, Csordás-Fodor Winery, Dobosi Winery, Fekete Pince, Hegedűs-Szabó Winery, Kolonics Winery, Kőfejtő Cellar, Kreinbacher Estate, Somlói Vándor Cellar, Szabó Winery, Szalai Cellar, Tomcsányi Family Estate, Tornai Winery, Zzirai Winery

At the Tornai winery can not only enjoyed the wines, but also beauty of the varied golden field of “Grapeville” at Somló.
In addition to the walking tasting, we could participate in additional programs. One workshop was a ride on a special little bus coming to pick us up just for this occasion, rolling up-and-down Somló hilly side on the vineyard tour titled “Journey around Somló”. During our ride ongoing tasting was held.

We were also able to take part in a special museum-cellap, where the history of generations in winemakers of the Tornai’s family tree and now rare wine making tools were introduced.

At another workshop, we got to know more about the Somló’s vineyards … also tasting excellent wines, older vintages and famous wines from this great wine regions, comparing them with each batch of Juhfark. Was told that the Somló Juhfark wine has crossed the Ocean to the States and there it goes through a web auction … maybe a collect or a deeply wine lover has already cherished a bottle of Juhfark.

Riport and snaps Aggie Reiter

14 Oct

Be in Japan! Japanese Garden @ 14th District Budapest – Hungary

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Now a little trip to Japan, without flying around 11 hours within the distance of 8923kms/5544MI to gain an insight into the nature fields of Japan … i.e. the Japanese Garden in Budapest/Hungary … To Be In Japan.

Upon invitation from the Cardex Ltd Hungary held a press conference. Their aim is to supports an even greener environment within their green bag campaign. Cardex officially presented its new product, its environmentally friendly gift bags and wrapping paper made of grass paper. As was told: “Every third tree can be saved by using grass paper!” The meeting point to the media representatives and interested parties was at the Japanese Garden – District XIV. Angol Street at the Márton Varga Horticultural and Land Surveying Technical School. The press meeting was held open-air in the superb environment having the lush vegetation which are already leaning towards the Fall. We toured the garden with horticultural engineer Dóra Leber-Mogyorósi. At first passing through the typical torii gate at the most famous corner of the Japanese garden. The Japanese Garden is an oasis where you can right away relaxed and recharged. Green nature is still carrying on in the mid-fall seen around the inner courtyard, where still growing Mediterranean plants.

The Japanese garden is full of symbols … water-permeable gravel pavements create a natural effect that may easily cross from one side to the other by the visitors just like any other solid road surface. The perfect harmony of the huge rocks and the beautifully designed water architectures presented the sight pleasuring for the eyes/ears. Can roll along the paths and feel the peace vibes around to the visitor. The garden built form is type of an archaic lowland tea garden formed the Muromachi period. It lays on architectural tradition the penultimate period of the millennia-long Japanese garden. These gardens are built around the tea ceremony which were meant to be in use for relaxation. The lake system built in the garden helps to slow down, turn inside/onwards.

The garden plants and trees are completely adapted to Hungary’s climatic conditions. Among the plants could see really only native to Japan, may see an ancient rosemary bush, also two beautiful ferns (Gingko biloba), a boy and a girl. In this case, the name really holds its place, because Gingko is dioecious, that is, the stamens and fertile flowers are on separate plants. In April during its season with cherry blossom are dressed in pink offering a beautiful sight and charming fragrant shrub blooms with its pleasant scent reminiscent of jasmine fill the air. Was brought to our attention among many others, the collection of peonies, which gives an amazing sight when in bloom and was told that at the same time 33 different varieties blooming. Most probably rolling along the “Bridge of Sighs” can make a wish … according to legends, their wish will come true. On the spot one of the symbols of the country the Fugi , here a mini construction surrounding rocks, pines to represent by ferns and vegetation. (Fugi is the highest mountain in the archipelago … more commonly known as Fujisan in Japan). The garden plants and trees are completely adapted to Hungary’s climatic conditions. During the tour was also told, in the garden, can see one of the oldest Sichuan mammoth pines in the country. The species was thought to be extinct for a long time, but in 1944 a small herd was found in a secluded valley in China. The school also received two seedlings from successful domestic propagation in the 1950s, one of which survived and has now grown into a huge tree. The oldest tree in the garden is an early maple native, which can be much older than 100 years, next to it stands the Japanese acacia with special shapes, the purple acacia collection includes a variety flowers around in a one-meter cluster of hanging branches.

Was mentioned during the tour, that in the 1930s, at the time being even the Japanese royal couple paid their respects here at a tea ceremony, and were so pleased that they sent plants from the Imperial Palace to the horticulture in return.

At the end of the tour, the participants were treated with vegan dishes from a food truck on the spot.

Worthwhile to pay a visit for those interested in Japanese nature and wish to find a peaceful place outside the hustle and bustle from the Capital of Hungary.

Tickets can be purchased at the school’s entrance on the Kövér Lajos street, where can also get a map to help the navigate in the garden. The garden can be visited by anyone or a group of pupils with their teachers seven days a week from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May also request professional guidance, but this must be arranged in advance. Garden management is open for events, fees for weddings and film shoots by special agreement. Further information … Japanese Garden/District XIV. Budapest

See the snaps through the slideshow taken on the media tour at Japanese Garden.

Riport and snaps Aggie Reiter

13 Oct

The 7th Somlói Juhfark (Sheep Tail) Holiday 2022.

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Saturday, October, 22. 2022.

Venue: Tornai Winery – 1242 Somló hill – Somlójenő

Somló Veszprém county, on the eastern edge of the Marcal basin, a 435-meter high volcanic mountain stands out from the plains.  Venue: Tornai Winery – 1242 Somló hill – Somlójenő. Nowonder the Juhfark and Somló are a special pair. The unique, volcanic character of the mountain can best be conveyed by Juhfark, and vice versa: the varietal traits characteristic of  Juhfark are best displayed on Somló. The result: an inimitable wine with a complex, mineral flavor. The walking tasting is a special experience, one of the most popular genres of the wine-loving public, where the best wines of several wineries are available at the same time  on the spot.

Be ready to walking tasting superb 27 Juhfark wines from 17 wineries  on October, 22. 2022. The winemakers from Somló, welcome the public  and can taste the best batches of the past years, personally presented by the winemakers. The Somlói Juhfark Holiday will be a special walking tasting in several ways: First of all: it is exclusively about Juhfark. Such a presentation focusing on a single breed can be interesting if the breed is multifaceted. Not only the characteristics of the wine region, the perception of the winemaker handwork. Can sense from the tasting batches and discover the wines of completely different types and characters. Juffark is like that. Second: at this event, not only the wines, but also their makers, the winemakers themselves, will be presented. We can get to know many authentic winemakers, ask questions, talk about the techniques of wine making, the characteristics of wines, taste and re-taste.
And finally: it will be held at Somló, where can enjoy not only the wines, but also the unique environment. Wherever their foot leads the visitors, will find diverse natural beauties, impressive panoramas, well-ordered rows of grapes, wonderful cellars and chapels.
Additional programs and workshops make the walking tasting even more interesting at the Juhfark holiday. The best way to know vineyards of Somló, older vintages and the famous wine regions of the world comparing its wines with each Juhfark wines.

The organizers also provide with the visitors tasting ticket(so called participation fee)local transfers from their personally reserved designated accommodations such as: 5Ház, Wine Estate, Hotel Kristály Ajka, Somló Nordic, Somló Kiss Estate, Varsádi Boutique Guesthouse.

The Day’s Program:
Walking/Tasting (1 p.m. – 8 p.m.) The best Juhfark items from Somló. Ticket price: 8900HUF
The walking tasting ticket entitles the participant to unlimited tastings during the entire duration of the event of the winery’s 27 wines.
Workshops: No. 1. Trip around Somló (Noon – 2 p.m.) Bus vineyard tour on the mountain. The view is something to remember to, the best wines of the wineries along the route. Ticket price: 5900HUF.

No. 2. Somló VS World (3 p.m.) Juhfark and indigenous varieties in the world’s great wine regions. How the terroir affects the variety and how it shows and the variety the strengths of the terroir? Where and what kind of wine is born from this venue? Interactive comparative tasting by Attila Fiáth (WSET). Ticket price: 7900HUF.

No. 3. Faces of the Juhfark (6 p.m.) Comparative tasting of international award-winning Tornai Juhfark of different vintages led by Tamás Tornai. Ticket price: 5900HUF.

Guided museum and cellar tour (2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) Ticket price: 1000HUF (ticket purchase on the spot)

Participating wineries and wines welcoming the visitors:
5 House Estate: Juhfark 2020, Juhfark 2019. – Baráth Wine Workshop: Juhfark 2020. – Barcza Winery: Barcza Juhfark 2020 (unfiltered), Juhfark 2019 (unfiltered) – Csetvei Winery: Juhfark 2017 – Dobosi Winery: Bio Juhfark 2021 – Fehérvár Estate: Reserve Juhfark 2020 –  Grand Reserve Juhfark 2020- Black Cellar: Juhfark 2019 – Hegedűs-Szabó Winery: Juhfark 2020, 2021 – Quarry Cellar: Juhfark 2020, Juhfark 2019, Juhfark 2018, Juhfark 2017- Kreinbacher Estate: Juhfark Selection 2020, Juhfark 2021 – Somlói Abbey Cellar: Juhfark 2020 – Somlói Vándor Cellar: Juhfark 2021 – Szabó Winery: Juhfark 2020 – Tomcsányi Family Estate: Juhfark 2021 (unfiltered) – Tornai Winery: Premium Juhfark 2021, Aranyhegy Juhfark 2020, Grófi Juhfark 2019 – Zsirai Winery: Juhfark 2020.

Transfer: From Budapest  – Back&Forth – Somló Winery. A special bus departs from Budapest to celebrate Juhfark (Sheep Tail) wines.

Bus departure: Saturday, October 22, 2022, 10 a.m. from BAH junction gas station. Return bus from Somló Saturday, October 22, 2022, 8 p.m. Tornai Winery. Round-trip ticket price: 6900HUF

Recommender: Aggie Reiter

12 Oct

Part 3. The Voice of Kékfrankos Reached Near&Far Wine and Gastronomy 2022 @ Sopron

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Part 3. Comes the local culinary specialties and continues with the day after wine tastings of the best Kékfrankoc -Blue Franc Sopron wines at  local wine cellars.

Gastronomic participants of the Day: Krois Brewery – with craft beers, Chocotrade – with chocolate fountain, Harrer Chocolat – wine chocolate presentation, Fertő-Hanság National Park – with gray beef and buffalo salami,  Deák Restaurant, ZAKAnT Restaurant, Bojtorina Vegan Kitchen, Erhardt Restaurant.

The Deák Restaurant‘s roast duck, diced cabbage and caramelized plums were great to  taste. The ZAKanT Restaurant‘s stewed beef cheeks seasoning with Kékfrankos, vegetables with sauce and bacon dumplings. Bojtorina Restaurant‘s tomato and chickpea ragout with roasted vegetables, the taste of black forest’s own recipe was a special experience, furthermore the Avocado bruschetta selection. Erhardt Restaurant‘s wild meat with crushed pumpkin and selection of oranges and Tornácos Restaurant homemade pasta, Dryager sirloin, mushroom velouté, along with new spring onions.

A load of yummies were not missing, tasting snacks, appetizers, desserts, pumkin potato pie, vegan veggie bowls, freshly made 100% hawthorn, elderberry, beetroot saps,  Harrer Chocolat‘s the chocolates were mouthwatering especially pairing with wine&chocolates.

The local artisan Krois beer brought a palette of their rich in flavors in  the Black Unicorn beer, which is a great clean stout, black beer good dark flavor, good hops with a pleasantly coffee, dry finish.

As  getting closer to the nightfall the Four Corners Orchester and the Blue Cafe Band gave a grand music concert.

Spent an overnight resting in the heart of the subalpine climate Lővér Forest at the Hotel Fagus, a 4-star wellness which is situated in Sopron, organized for the staying group by Effix-Marketing Ltd. Civils for Fertőtájért, Sopron Fertő Tourism Development Nonprofit Ltd. Unfortunately, we were not able to spend time in the Spa world with that unique atmosphere, but I would like to highlight the wide selection of excellent buffet breakfast. I can really recommend to stay at the hotel throughout the year … and of course anytime after taking part in an active wine cellar tour.

NEXT DAY’s program was visiting two wineries. One was the HAUER Cellar – Balf. Arriving to the venue looking at the tidy attic house from the street front, no one would think that it hides a tiny winery. The Hauer Cellar is carrying about 300 years of tradition.  Hauer Erik replanted their lands in the Balf area, placing great emphasis on the main variety of the wine region, the Kékfrankos – Blue Franc. In addition to pure and characterful royal princess, they also make excellent Rosé in their cellar. Preservation of the fruitfulness and character of the growing area is mandatory for them in all cases. He said Q.:  “80 percent of what the wine will be depends on the grapes, the rest we add or spoil it.”  Now he grows six types of grapes and from them he makes ten types of wine. The group tasted Hauer Rozé (Kékfrankos) 2021, Hauer Kékfrankos Classic 2016, Hauer Kékfrankos Old Vine 2018, Hauer Királyleányka Pearl Wine 2021.The land, climate was filled in the bottle.

At the LUKA winery – Fertőrákos were step-by-step  tasting of four wines: Zweigelt 2020, Merlot 2020, Kékfrankos 2020, Cabernet sauvignon 2018. We filled a small tasting room, but it was designed in such a manner that on one side, through a large glass wall, can see the barrel aging area and on the other side see a picturesque view of the Lake Fertő.  She spoke about their family tree back to 1560, their coat of arms decorating the snow-white house wall replaces the letter “U” in their name. Enikő doesn’t want to be the biggest, the coolest, the richest, she just wants their name to be well-known everywhere, a guarantee of assured quality. She does not want to produce in large quantities. In the weak year of 2010, six thousand to five hundred bottles were filled, but in better years no more than eight to nine thousand are made. Her wine territory is a total 2.7 hectares. The zweigelt is nearby in Újhegy. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Kékfrankos can be found between  the route of Balf and Fertőrákos.

Riport and snaps Aggie Reiter

11 Oct

Part 2. The Voice of Kékfrankos Reached Near&Far 2022 – Wine and Gastronomy @ Sopron

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Part .2  Kékfrankos Wine and Gastronomy Experience 2022 Festival’s day continuing with ongoing tasting, also at Ferenc Liszt Conference and Cultural Center, organized by Effix-Marketing Ltd. Civils for Fertőtájért, Sopron Fertő Tourism Development Nonprofit Ltd. By many known as Sopron Wine Region is home to the largest Kékfrankos plantation in the country. An area of about 1000 hectares covering two-thirds of the wine region. The most beautiful wines of the Sopron Wine Region were presented by 33 exhibitors, including 20 wineries with 70 featured items offering to taste and giving an insight by the winemakers into the treasures of this region . It was impossible to taste all the excellent items (maybe next time) so everyone gave a try in tasting some varieties. Participating Winemakers were: Bónis-Reitter Winery, Bruckner Winery, Etyeki Kúria Borgazdaság Sopron wines, Fényes Cellar, Gangl Winery, Hauer Cellar, Hermann Cellar, Horváth Wine, Iváncsics Cellar, Jandl Cellar, Lővér Cellar, Luka Winery, Pfneiszl Estate, Steigler Cellar, Stubenwoll Cellar, Taschner Wine and Champagne House, Töltl Winery, Vincellér Wine Estate, Winelife Winery, Zachár Wine. Horváth Imre Winery … Is a small family winery in Sopron has been engaged in ecological, organic viticulture for 10 years. Wines matured in traditional oak, acacia barrels and stainless steel tanks and are bottled – sold as draft wine.  Produce: Furmint, Yellow Muscovy, Viognier, other white wines. Red wines: Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Kékfrankos, Merlot, Pinot noir, Syrah, Zweigelt, Rosé. Red wines: Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Kékfrankos, Merlot, Pinot noir, Syrah, Zweigelt, Rosé. Cannot deny, favorite of mine was the Sopron Syrah – 2017  which had an almost black appearance with the smell of blackberry and cherry, being big-bodied wine with well-balanced tannin and the spiciness of black pepper. Bónis-Reitter Winery … Red wine ZOAN – 2019 … as was said: “We have been waiting for this vintage for years to make the flagship wine of our cellar, a large-structured, thick-textured Kékfrankos.” Bánfalva was recorded as settlements as early as the 13th century. This Kékfrankos wine has medium-intensity plum and black cherry aromas, bright acidity and medium tannin. Taschner Wine and Champagne House … Why/When/Where named Kékfrankos? The answer is simple . This grape variety is so closely associated with the wine region that the locals even keep an anecdote namely Kékfrankos. According to the legend … “When the new war of Napoleonic France and the Habsburg Empire broke out on April 10, 1809. Napoleon’s soldiers marched towards Győr in 1809 and they also occupied Sopron. Although no major battles took place, the soldiers lingered here for five months. The daily ration they received from the city was half a lime wine, which meant 3.5-4 deciliters, but this was not enough for the majority. And if someone wanted more, they had to pay for it. Soldiers had two types of notes, the less valuable red franc and the more valuable blue franc. The resourceful wine farmers of Sopron, the Poncichters, of course only accepted in exchange only the blue franc for their wine, hence the name Kékfrankos – Blue Franc. Latest wine from Taschner Soproni Kékfrankos 2020/2021 is the flagship wine of the Sopron region. According to research,  its grapes originates from the Caspian Sea region, and which were brought by our conquerors. It is extremely widespread in the Carpathian basin and owes its popularity to its reliability and characterful wine. Its wine is characterized by a rich tannin acid content and has a deep ruby ​​red color. Vincellér Wine Estate – Tasting Vincellér Fizzi Miska 2021, semi-sweet sparkling wine and Vincellér Late Zenith 2018 was top on my taste. The winery is owned by three families namely: Molnár, Pieler and Sásdi. The winery made its first two wines in 1986, from the Kékfrankos installed in 1972 and from a Zweigelt made in 1979. In 1996 they had bought the Széchenyi Cellar at Fertőboz. Their basic (Vincellér) and selected (Molnártiti Selection) wines are popular. Steigler Cellar is located in the heart of Sopron’s poncichter district on Balfi Road, built centuries ago, under the dwelling houses. Was told by Tamás Varga winemaker on the spot that even before Roman times, the unmistakable soil and micro climate encouraged the people who settled here to plant grapes and make wine. According to written records, the Celts were the first to taste the wines of the Fertő region. No wonder known by many Steigler Cellar located in Hungary they are the oldest wine region and carries on the millennia-old traditions in creating organic wines.The plantation has green veltelín, zweigelt, kékfrankos, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon varieties. Anyone who has delved even a little into the history of the Sopron wine region already knows that the farmers did not build their cellars in the vineyards, but down floor in their houses. That is why Sopron’s downtown and the farmer’s quarter hide many interesting cellars and cellar systems. The vineyards located in beautiful surroundings are therefore out of sight of the guests. Some farmers recognized this, which is why they organize special and exciting adventure tours to their wine region. The purpose of the adventure tour is to discover the Sopron wine region, bring nature and vineyards closer, admire the landscape, and see where the Sopron Kékfrankos is growing today.

The locals of Sopron says: “If you go home from Sopron without tasting Kékfrankos, it’s as if you haven’t been here”… agree!

Riport and snaps: Aggie Reiter

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