In Hungary,viticulture has a thousand years old tradition that are guarded by wine growersand winemakers today. Hungarian wine growers were able to resist centuries offighting and wars. Today, thanks to better social and economic conditions,production and wine consumption are recovering after a sleep of 40 years.Viticulture covers 93,000 hectares. The wine production is 3.5 to 4.5 millionhectoliters and Hungarians consume on average 30 to 32 liters of wine per year.

The reputation ofHungarian wines extends thanks to the prices won at oenologists internationalcompetitions. In recent years, Hungarian wine growers have won several goldmedals in Bordeaux, Brussels, New York and London.

Hungary has 22 wineregions and we can find almost everywhere vineyards from the plains to the footof the Alps, through the volcanic mountains of Lake Balaton. The most importantwine regions are those of: Badacsony, Sopron, Szekszárd, Eger, Mátraalja,Tokaj-Hegyalia, Etyek-Buda, Pannonhalma-Sokoróalja, Villány and Pécs.

Badacsony
All the volcanoes and mountains (Badacsony, MontSzent-György, Mountains, Szigliget, Gulács, Csobánc, Toti, Ábrehám) emergesabove the Tapolca Basin at the north of Balaton. The shimmering water of thelake makes the region one of the most beautiful and most interesting in theworld and seduce thousands of tourists. The region produces white grapes (99%).The authorized varieties include traditional varietals (Kéknyelvű, Olaszrizling,Pinot Gris), world wide grape varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon) and newvarieties (Zénit). Thewines are full bodied, aromatic and finely acid.

Sopron
Sopron region hosts many visitors thanks to itsproximity to the Austrian border and Lake Fertő. The peculiarity of this regionis that winemakers did not built cellars in the vineyard, but equiped barrelsin their cellars, at home. If the owner had permission to run a drinkingestablishment, they had to indicate it by a sign above their portal. Thus theRoute of wines passed by the heart of cities indicated with the signs above theportals. Known for its "Kékfrankos, this red grape spreaded after theepidemic of phylloxera, has retained its importance until today. The Kékfrankosfrom Sopron dark and with a hard aroma, more bitter taste differs from theother Kékfrankos of the country.

Szekszárd
The viticulture of Szekszárd dates back to Celtictimes. "Alisca", the ancestral name of the city, has Celtic origin.The climate of the region is subméditerranéen. The main grape of the region wasonce the Kadarka, by the time of large plantations of the 1960s. The blackgrape varieties, suitable for intensive cultivation (Kékfrankos, Kékoportó,cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot) gradually replace Kadarka. Besidesthe region of Eger, only the region Szekszárd can use the mark"Bikavér" - Blood of bull. The Bikavér of Szekszárd comestraditionally by cutting the wines Kadarka, Kékfrankos and Kékoportó. The WineRoad of Szekszárd has 400 caves. The cellar village of Leányvár is a uniquebuilding where three floors of overlapping cellar, all these floors are duginto the wall. The owners of wineries welcome visitors with their wine andtheir regional specialties.

Eger
Country of one of the most famous red wines: theBikavér (Blood of Bull). The wine region of Eger welcomes guests with a richprogram, its castle, a place of pilgrimage history and its thermal baths. Atthe foot of the mountains of Bülow extend huge networks of corridors in whichthe wine of Eger patiently awaiting to be exported. During the Turkish siege ofthe 16th century, women added to the Egri Bikavér, red table wine, true bloodof bull in order to give strength to the men during the assaults...

Mátraalja
This region lies at the foot of Mátra Mountains,these mountains possess the highest peak of Hungary (1014M). The wines of thisregion are of fine acidity and excellent quality.

Tokaj-Hegyalja
Classified 'universal heritage', the name Tokaj isfamiliar to everyone. The Association of Wine Route Takaj-Hegyalja  has 112 active members, the route crosses 28 villages,among which it is possible to discover large wine companies or small domestic winecellars.

Three types of wineare produced in the region:

• The dry wines and mellowquality represent 50-60% of the production prepared according to traditionalmethods of white wines (Furmint, Hárslevelű, Sárga Muskotály)

• The Szamorodni: Itsname has polish origins "as he was born." It may be dry, softdepending on the fermentation of sugar. It is a very popular drink in Hungary.

• The Aszu: This wine thatLouis XIV named "king of wines, wine of kings" is a wine rich insugar, picked by drop during storage of grains of aszu. The essence is notwine, since it contains little alcohol because of its high sugar content, butit is part of the mysteries of Tokaj.

Etyek-Buda
The proximity of Budapest, the quality of the winesand wineries in the region attract many visitors. Apart from the excellent winecellars, a 4th century chapel and the frescoes of the church Etyek are worthvisiting. The wine route through this region, leads along a row of plane trees,scenic beauty, and passes through the arboretum of Alcsút Natural Park. Now, theplanting includes 28 varieties, the most important is the Chardonnay.

Pannonhalma-Sokoróalja
The sights of this region: Győr, Abbey Panonhalmaand beauties of Bakony are worth visiting. Bodied and perfumed wines are partof culinary programs organized according to the old tradition of Wine road,they contribute to the rediscovery of regional wines. The founding charter ofPannonhalma (1002) issued by King St Etienne is the first document referring tothe viticulture. The Italian and French settlers, religious orders, played animportant role in the spread of viticulture. Only white grape varieties aregrown in the region, the most important is "Olaszrizling." The winesare aromatic and carpentry. The "Olaszrizling" is distinguished byits beautiful appearance, different from the other varieties of the region.

Villány
The region is visited for its great red wines, theirMediterranean character, and to appreciate their well built cellars. The sightseerof the Wine Route are welcomed everywhere with exceptional vintage wine andmeals. The Museum of Wine Villány, the Castle of Siklós and the thermal bathsof Harkány are worth seeing.