Hungarian Wine

Balaton

In Badacsony and Somló the slopes of the volcanic mountains are covered with basaltic Pannonian sand, Pannonian clay, or loess at certain points, which can also be found in Balatonfelvidék, though together with various soils. In Balatonfüred-Csopak, rendzina soils may also be found formed on red Permian sandstone, limestone or dolomite. Whilst in Balatonboglár, where the character of the soil is more gentle, brown forest soils form on typical loess. It's similar in Zala, however, where barren areas may be found quite frequently on the eroded slopes.

Mediterranean-submediterranean effects are particularly detectable near Balaton, with the lake exerting a balancing impact. Somewhat different is Somló, which is very windy, thus moderately warm, but with favourably irradiated slopes. Perhaps this is our only wine district where vineyards are also typical on the north facing slopes. The vineyards of Zala are found further from the lake, and it has a mild, well-balanced, wet climate.

White grapes dominate everywhere, although red grapes, especially Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, play an increasing role in Balatonboglár and Balatonfüred-Csopak. At their best, they can and do compete with the red wines of Szekszárd and Villány. With 3,000 hectares, Olaszrizling constitutes about 27% of total production and is particularly renowned in Csopak, where it is known as rizling, as well as Badacsony and Somló. Szürkebarát is also a prominent grape in Badacsony, Balatonfelvidék and Balatonfüred-Csopak.

Lake Balaton is the true home of a pair of indegenous varieties: Kéknyelű in Badacsony and Juhfark in Somló - which both give strong masculine wines, emphasizing the mineral characteristics of the volcanic soil. Somló also has indegenous Hungarian Furmint and Hárslevelű.