It has been a long road back for Hungarian wines. The Communist takeover in 1945 and the 45 years of Soviet domination that
followed battered the Hungarian wine industry, which was turned into a fountain of cheap, high-alcohol wines meant to quench the
thirst of the rest of the Soviet empire. (see more about the Soviet Troops in Hungary)
In vineyards across the country, low-yielding, quality vines were over cropped or uprooted in favor of prolific ones, and some private
cellars that were not part of the production system were either abandoned or treated disrespectfully.
followed battered the Hungarian wine industry, which was turned into a fountain of cheap, high-alcohol wines meant to quench the
thirst of the rest of the Soviet empire. (see more about the Soviet Troops in Hungary)
In vineyards across the country, low-yielding, quality vines were over cropped or uprooted in favor of prolific ones, and some private
cellars that were not part of the production system were either abandoned or treated disrespectfully.
| Hungary produces excellent, powerfull fruit brandies (pálinka): barack from appricots, cseresznye from cherries, körte from pears, alma from apples and szilva from plums. And there is Unicum, a bitter panacea made from a secret herbal recipe, the traditional bottle of the Zwack Unicum is round shape. |
l i n k s
| Wine Information |
| Hungary |
Hungary has a remarkable viticulture heritage and has long been renowned for both its fiery,
slow-maturing red wines and its rich white dessert wines. Its first national vineyard classification
took place in the 1708, earlier than such classifications in most other parts of Europe. At about
the same time, wines from Tokaj---known for both dessert and white table wines---were finding
favor in the French and other imperial courts. Throughout the 19th Century, the Hungarians were
ranked among the world’s best winemakers.
The Hungarian vineyards are situated in the Carpathian basin. The continental climate is
prevalent, while the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the southern wine districts, the
Mediterranean is also felt. The climate between regions and across years may vary a lot as a
result. Although mean annual temperature is 10.5 °C, and mean average rainfall is 600 mm,
there are significant variances. Currently there are 22 wine districts in Hungary. 3 these are
located on the Great Plain, between the Tisza and Danube rivers. These wine districts contain
45% of the vineyards of the country in terms of area. The other wine districts are in the Trans-
Danube (15) and in Northern Hungary (4). The size of the wine districts varies. The Somló and
Mór districts are the smallest, with areas below 1,000 hectares, while the Kunság wine district is
the largest, with around 38,500 hectares. Most wine districts are within the range of 1,000 and
5,000 hectares.
slow-maturing red wines and its rich white dessert wines. Its first national vineyard classification
took place in the 1708, earlier than such classifications in most other parts of Europe. At about
the same time, wines from Tokaj---known for both dessert and white table wines---were finding
favor in the French and other imperial courts. Throughout the 19th Century, the Hungarians were
ranked among the world’s best winemakers.
The Hungarian vineyards are situated in the Carpathian basin. The continental climate is
prevalent, while the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the southern wine districts, the
Mediterranean is also felt. The climate between regions and across years may vary a lot as a
result. Although mean annual temperature is 10.5 °C, and mean average rainfall is 600 mm,
there are significant variances. Currently there are 22 wine districts in Hungary. 3 these are
located on the Great Plain, between the Tisza and Danube rivers. These wine districts contain
45% of the vineyards of the country in terms of area. The other wine districts are in the Trans-
Danube (15) and in Northern Hungary (4). The size of the wine districts varies. The Somló and
Mór districts are the smallest, with areas below 1,000 hectares, while the Kunság wine district is
the largest, with around 38,500 hectares. Most wine districts are within the range of 1,000 and
5,000 hectares.
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