5 reasons not to miss this year's Budapest Wine Festival

It is no exaggeration to say that the Budapest Wine Festival is one of the best known and most unique wine events in Hungary. The unrivalled setting of the Buda Castle and the panoramic view from here give a unique atmosphere to the event, but the excellent accompanying programmes and gastronomic exhibitors also guarantee an unforgettable experience.

So let's see why it's not worth depriving yourself of this experience.

1. Excellent wines from great wineries from all corners of Hungary and around the world

In addition to the well-known, prestigious Hungarian wineries, the presence of lesser-known but noteworthy producers (to be found at the VinAgora Felfedezettek (Discoveries) stand) is reason enough to mark the date of 7-10 September in our calendar. It is also good to know that while the All-Stars programme will feature some of the best wines from international competitions, the Premier range will feature fresh wines from this year's harvest.

2. South America will be the guest of honour at the festival

This year, all eyes will be on Latin America, with 12 overseas wineries offering wines from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. If you've always wanted to taste a Malbec from the Andes or a Tannat from the shores of the Atlantic, now's the time to grab a glass!

And to accompany your exotic wines, you'll have a choice of exotic dishes, from choritos (blue mussels), ceviche (salmon and lime vegetable ragout), to gourmet sandwiches with Chilean white sausage or Argentinian beef, which are sure to bring wine and food pairing to a new level.

3. A colourful list of gastronomic exhibitors

The wines presented by the participating winemaking companies can be paired with a wide variety of gourmet delicacies beyond the aforementioned South American culinary delights. If you're looking for a real gourmet bite, oysters, salmon and French cheeses will be on offer, but meat lovers will also have plenty of options: Angus beef, Spanish and Italian ham, to name but a few, will be served at the gastronomic exhibitors' stands. To top it all, the Chef Market Gourmet Courtyard will host Michelin-starred restaurants, while on the last day of the fair, a Sunday Brunch will offer fine dining bites, champagne and live music to enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube.

4. Fun wine cultural programmes every day

Visitors interested in wine culture and winemaking can test their knowledge at the Interactive Space, where they can test their skills by completing a wine quiz and engage all their senses to find out whether they are “rookie wine tasters”. If you already know Hungary's 22 wine districts by heart, or are an expert at recognising aromas and are familiar with different grape varieties, come and collect your gift, a charming little souvenir of the Budapest Wine Festival.

5. Entertainment in the spirit of sustainability and charity

This year, in an effort to be environmentally conscious, the wineglass holders will not be distributed automatically, but visitors who wish to receive them can simply ask for one at the stand Máltai Manufaktúra Pont (Maltese Manufactory Point). Other handmade utensils and quality delicacies made by disadvantaged communities will also be available for purchase at the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta's buffet car. Last but not least, this year again there will be a Charity Wine Auction, the donations of which will be used to support the Order of Malta Camp for Disabled Youth.

So it's worth marking your calendars for the Budapest Wine Festival from 7-10 September, so that all you have to do when arriving at the festival is to arrange the numerous stands you wish to visit in order.

Visit the website of the Budapest Wine Festival