8 great wine events for the first half of summer

As school gates close for the summer holidays, it is worth taking a closer look at the attractive, colourful and tasty wine experiences taking place all over the country.

Here are 8 events for the first half of the summer that we recommend to mark in your diary for June and July. Of course, they all revolve around Hungarian wines, completed by cultural, gastronomic, active and even children's activities, so that you can take a family trip to our wine regions.

1. Bogács - XXIX. Bükkkalja Wine Festival and International Wine Competition – 22-25 June

For most Hungarians, the first thing that comes to mind about Bogács is probably not wine, rather the thermal bath of the village. However, it is worth slowly adding wine to the name of this settlement to be found in the Bükk Wine District… It's worth heading for Northern Hungary, as the Bükk Wine Festival and International Wine Competition will take place in Bogács on the last weekend of June, from Thursday to Sunday, at the cellar row on Cserépi Road, the Community House, the Event Park - practically all over the village.

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2. Villány – Gördülő Dűlők – 24 June

For more sporty wine lovers, the Gördülő Dűlők (literally translates as Rolling Vineyards) programme is the ideal way to discover the country's southernmost wine region, with cycling and hiking tours of the Villány Wine District. Various hiking trails, renowned wineries waiting to be discovered, a tasting at Siklós Castle of the wine region's community wine called REDy, all guarantee that everyone will find what they are looking for this Saturday.

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3. Tállya – Tali Tállyán – 30 June-2 July

The festival having a charmingly alliterative name (meaning let’s meet in Tállya) is relatively new, and will be held for only the fourth time in the village of Tállya, part of the Tokaj Wine District. At the turn of the month, all eyes will be on the geometrical centre of Europe (!), Tállya, and musicians, artisanal food producers, craftsmen and of course the local winemakers themselves prepare to add to the experience with their refreshing, refreshing wines. When else should we discover Tállya if not during Tali Tállya?

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4. Kőszeg – Donat’s Day Wine Tour – 1 July

Kőszeg, part of the Sopron Wine District, has been slowly becoming a buzzword with more and more attractive wine-focused programmes in recent years. The Donat's Day Wine Tour is yet another event based on cooperation and respect for each other and nature, which takes participants on an easy 4.5 km hike to discover the beauty of the Királyvölgy - Napostető - Kálvária Hill area, while the 10 cellars open will ensure that no one is left without fresh wine and delicious snacks.

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5. Budapest – Borszerda / Fény és árnyék (Wine Wednesday / Light and shadow) – 05 July

One of the sweetest fruits of the meeting of art and wine culture is the Wine Wednesday programmes series at the Hungarian National Gallery. 5 July is just the first in a series of upcoming Wednesdays, when we can indulge our passion for fine art in an evening of guided tours* and fine Hungarian wines in the hall, thanks to the exhibiting wineries. If it's Wednesday, then head to the Castle District! (* Please note that the tours are in Hungarian, but the exhibition can be visited by anyone joining the programme.)

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6. Eger – Egri Wine Festival – 06-09 July

Eger will once again host one of the biggest wine festivals in the country, the Egri Wine Festival. Popular performers in various musical genres, a parade of tractors and vintage vehicles, a wine knight ceremony, and concerts in the evening in the Érsekkert. Be prepared for a varied programme on the Egri Bikavér and Egri Csillag stages, so you just will have to choose the right wine for the performances.

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7. Villány – Rosé Festival of Villány – 07-08 July

Time to get out the rose men's shirts and the pink dress you never wore before, because at the Rosé Festival of Villány, a dress, wig or any other accessory in any shade of pink is almost mandatory. The cavalcade celebrating the rosé wine style includes the Rozé Marathon party run, concerts and the inevitable Rozé beauty contest and costume show...

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8. Veszprém – Rosé, Riesling and Jazz Days – 07-16 July

Veszprém is always a good choice for a longer or shorter break, but between 07-16 July it is definitely a great destination, as the city's most colourful gastronomic and cultural event takes place on Óváros Square. The Rosé, Riesling and Jazz Days will feature a selection of wineries from the Balaton Wine Region, as well as artists from the Hungarian jazz scene. On the same dates, a myriad of music events in the framework of VeszprémFest will offer a further colourful palette in the Historia Kert for those who prefer to wander into the world of classical music, opera, world music or pop with a wine glass in hand.

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A wine-focused weekend programme should be complemented by staying at a winery that also offers accommodation. All you need to do is tick the wine region or wine district you want to visit on the Winery Directory page and select "accommodation" from the list of services.