The Advent Fair’s was rich with exhibitors arriving to Budapest from the region of Lake Balaton!
The event organizers at the Capital welcomed with a special surprise for the invited guests by a technology giant 10 meter length ice frozen Lake Balaton silhouette at the City Park – Ice Rink. Here this day, you could skate around the lake as a Olympics champ within minutes. (By-the-way, the original size of the Lake Balaton is impressive … 78 km long in length, widest point in the north and the south coast 14 kilometers apart, and in total of 592 square kilometers. So in Hungary stands Europe’s largest freshwater lake. Locals referred to it as the “Hungarian Sea”, no wonder because centuries-and-centuries ago this area actually was covered with water of the sea.)
The Lake Balaton circle’s wineries brought their particularly fine unique wines to Budapest to build a spectacular Xmas tree in the middle of the ice rink, whereas the skaters were addressed through the loudspeaker to skate to the Xmas tree and have a taste of the wines from the area of the Hungarian Sea. Dr. Ádám Ruszinkó, Assistant Secretary of State for Tourism opened the event by saying this is the first Lake-Saloon and Wine Xmas tree that reminds us of the beauty full year around of Lake Balaton and especially drawing attention to the coming season’s holiday, as the “Best gift for Xmas is the Lake Balaton”. In other words, the organizers aim was to offer for the Lake Balaton lovers the experience to spend time in the shortly coming season holiday, having a wellness week-end during the New Year’s Eve by the lakeside and/or take a wine tour, pick up some gifts, or craft at one of the fine winemaker’s winery introduced at this event. Also said, of course, the list is long of those wineries from the Region of Lake Balaton whom were not present at the set up of the Wine Xmas tree and to have had the possibility to taste their superb wines. Anyway, in the meantime, indeed worthwhile to learn about the opportunities here on the spot offered by the region’s producers and find that special taste you are looking for. At the event all the products were available to purchase.
Exhibitors. Wine makers: Bezerics, Bújdosó, Istvándy, Konyari; Laposa, Légli, Palffy, St. Donát, Szeremley, VáliBor, Villa Tolnay. No surprize when talking about wine regions in Hungary to have our eyes at the same time their local gastronomy, special delights. Here the Balatonízlelő craft delicatessen, Bergmann Confectionery, delicatessen Gurman, Gabor Pach fruit pálinka, Kistücsök Restaurant delicatessen products, Balaton Uplands National Park craft products were on the spot to taste and purchase some goodies to serve at the coming event. That evening the Hungarian National Tourist Office represented one of the most cosy hotel’s at the northern area of Lake Balaton, the Bonvino Badacsony Hotel.
The event’s guest of honor was by the presence of Kreinbacher and Tornai from the Somlói wine region.
This fall, have launched the Lake Balaton wines quality assurance system. The best lakeside producers were here from the wine region. The tender was out in designing the unified label. In addition, been initiated to introduction the trademark of quality wines from Lake Balaton and to ensure to be more successful in the communication area.
Gábor Kardos – president of the Lake Circle, the idea to host the event said … Quote: „”The regional branding is globally a successful model and we also see it here in our Homeland the importance to show, offer and introduce to Europe’s major cities the Lake Balaton region’s wine makers presenting “Best of Lake Balaton” as well. „
The Vocational Service of Hungary Water Rescue supported the event by joining the event with a mascot dressed in red . The bearded, wearing cool sunglasses “hipster” was an image of a loose, casually youthful Santa Claus around the Lake Balaton.
Added to the advent wreath, the lifeguards brought rescue rings and wine bottles with candles placed inside highlighted the magical mood on Advent’s Silver Sunday.
In addition to the wines Xmas tree, the wine makers lit along with the other exhibitors the advent wreath candles placed on a ship’s rescue belt. What an awesome way to celebrate an Advent Fair venue, bringing, showing wine makers to the Capital at City Park’s Ice Rink.
After having fun out on the ice rink, inside the assembly hall the tasting-party continued with the delicious wines and having typically Hungarian Xmas sweets, cakes and all that sweet tooth lovers eyes and senses can imagen. Just whispering … I got madly in love with the heavenly taste of the 100% of white grape juice from the Istvándy winery.
Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 