28 March 2022 / Sue Tolson
On the first weekend in April, stay in Budapest and head out to Budafok to visit some of its renowned sparkling wine producers and wineries. As it’s the first Saturday of the month, you can take advantage of the shuttle bus service departing from Városház Square, which stops at wineries and other attractions, where you can enjoy guided cellar tours, concerts and other cultural activities.
Enjoy the magnificent surroundings of the Stefánia Palota close to the City Park in Budapest, where Borjour are organising their annual Tokaj tasting. The walkaround tasting will feature over Tokaj wineries showing their latest dry Furmints, Hárslevelűs, sparkling wines and sweet wines. Get there early before the crowds build up!
If you’ve never been to a traditional Hungarian cellar village, then you should visit Hajós on this ‘Cellar Saturday’, when the local cellars will be throwing open their doors from 2-10 pm. Stroll along the atmospheric cellar rows and enjoy local wines, homemade treats and the famed hospitality of the Hajós inhabitants.
The leading wineries and winemakers of the Badacsony Wine District will showcase their wines at the region’s annual tasting at the New York Palace Hotel. This walkaround tasting event gives you the chance to meet the winemakers from 40 wineries and taste 160 wines from this volcanic wine district next to the Balaton. The slogan for this year’s event, celebrating spring, renewal and the easing of restrictions, is ‘Let’s live. There are also two masterclasses to attend.
Jump on the bus to Etyek and enjoy the quarterly ‘Etyek Picnic’, apparently in a new format. Details yet to come! Where you can enjoy gastronomic, vinous and cultural activities throughout the weekend along the Etyek cellar rows. The focus is clearly on the kids though, as the title is ‘There’s cordial too’, and the event will include children’s concerts and family e-bike tours.
Another ‘picnic’, but this time in Szépasszonyvölgy, or ‘Valley of the Beautiful Woman’ in Eger. The event will showcase Hungary’s renowned ‘Hungarikums’ – the gastronomic specialities, handicrafts and cultural achievements of the Hungarians. And, as it’s in Eger, there’s sure to be some Egri Bikavér, also a registered Hungarikum. Moreover, a street of Local Tastes will allow you to discover the gastronomic specialties of the Eger region.
Natural wine lovers should not miss the walkaround tasting at the Haris Park Ballroom in Buda near the Millenáris Park. Demijohn are presenting their spring portfolio. There will be over 20 natural wineries presenting their wines as well as masterclasses on indigenous variety Bakator, pét-nat and orange wine.
Another opportunity for some natural wine tasting at the Püspöki Palota (Bishop’s Palace) in Sümeg. Organised for the second time by Márk Egly and other local winemakers, the event will showcase Hungary’s best natural and biodynamic wineries as well as guest wineries from abroad. You can also learn more about amphora wines, pét-nat and biodynamics during three masterclasses.
Get some fresh air and enjoy a walk on a wineyard of St Andrea Vineyards and Winery in Egerszalók. St Andrea wines will be paired with dishes specially created by the invited chefs. The price includes a visit to the cellars, gallery and estate.
Lovers of wild garlic, or medvehagyma in Hungarian, should head to Orfű close to Pécs to enjoy a day full of wild garlic delights, with delicious dishes made from the pungent leaves as well as an exhibition on the ingredient. There will also be jazz and world music concerts and no doubt also some wine from the Pécs Wine District to taste.
If you are a jazz fan, why not combine some wine and jazz at the wine tasting at Budapest Jazz Club organised in tandem with a concert by the Gáspár Kárdy Trió. Wine lovers meet jazz!
Head to the Villány Wine District on the final weekend of the month for the ‘Villány Wine Jamboree’, when the town’s cellars and courtyards will be filled with music, dancing and other programmes, including concerts, craft workshops and kids’ activities. Expect vineyard and cellar tours – on foot, by bike and even on tractor – as well as wine tastings and delicious snacks.
The Eger wine bus runs every Saturday, with two schedules alternating each weekend. This circular service, with fixed stops at wineries, functions like a hop on, hop off bus, so you can visit several wineries in one day and get to know the local wine culture better. There are stops in the city centre, Egerszalók, various wineries and restaurants. The day ticket also gives you coupons for discounted wine tastings and bottles of wine. So hop on and discover Eger. Details about the service can be found at: Egri Bor Busz - Egri Bor Most.
