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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