Hungarian Wines Shine at Expo 2025 Osaka – A Strong Start for Wines of Hungary

Just two days into the four-day showcase, it's clear that the debut of the Wines of Hungary community wine brand in Japan is a resounding success. Hosted in the Hungarian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, the event has been met with enthusiastic feedback from professionals across the hospitality and wine trade sectors.

Day One: Empowering Women in Wine – “Harmonizing Heritage”

The event series opened on June 4th with an inspiring roundtable discussion titled “Harmonizing Heritage”, co-organized by SAKURA Awards, Expo 2025 Hungary, and Wines of Hungary and held in the magical Women’s Pavilion. The conversation focused on women’s growing influence in the wine industry, featuring the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards, led by Yumi Tanabe, as a central theme.

Five female industry professionals shared their insights and experiences: Kazumi Inose, a Japanese sommelier, and Kanako Takeuchi, a wine store manager, were joined by three Hungarian winemakers who traveled to Osaka for the occasion – Csilla Sebestyén, Zsófia Kövesdi, and Sarolta Bárdos. Their stories of overcoming challenges and thriving in a traditionally male-dominated field resonated deeply with the audience, while their suggestions for promoting Hungarian wines in the Japanese market sparked vivid interest.

The evening concluded with a relaxed professional wine tasting at Miska Kitchen & Bar – a perfect setting to continue the conversations in a more informal atmosphere. And this was just the beginning.

Day Two: Spotlight on Hospitality

On June 5th, the Hungarian Pavilion welcomed sommeliers, restaurant managers, hotel buyers, and hospitality professionals for a day tailored to the HoReCa sector. The curated tastings and business-focused meetings allowed guests to explore Hungary’s diverse wine styles firsthand. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: attendees praised the wines for their distinctive character and exceptional quality-to-price ratio, with several participants expressing interest in future partnerships.

Focusing on trade

The event continued on June 6th with a dedicated day for wine importers and distributors. B2B meetings and expert-led presentations offered a platform for establishing new trade relationships and supporting Hungarian wines’ entry into the Japanese market.

One More Day of Discovery Ahead

The closing day, June 7th, will focus on wine tourism and media. Journalists, travel professionals, and influencers will discover the rich experiences Hungary offers as a wine destination – from breathtaking landscapes and historic wine regions to local gastronomy and heartfelt hospitality.

Hungary’s participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is already proving to be more than a symbolic presence – it's an impactful opportunity for real business development and long-term positioning of Hungarian wines in the Asian market.