Hungarian wines: the best kept secret in Central Europe

Hungarian wine in numbers:

1,000 years of wine culture | 6 wine regions | 22 wine districts | 65,000 hectares of wine grapes

Around 270 million litres of wine produced every year | 37,000 producers, each of them individual

wine grapes in hungary

What sets Hungarian wine apart is its remarkable diversity. Internationally, Hungarian wine stands out for its rich variety of grape types, wine regions, and winemaking techniques. In Hungary, there are 223 varieties of wine grapes cultivated across 65,000 hectares of vineyards. White grapes account for approximately 70% of this area, while black grapes comprise the remaining 30%. The vineyards feature both native Hungarian varieties from the Carpathian Basin and traditional international varieties. This diversity, coupled with the winemakers' unique perspectives on their grapes and wines, results in a range of wines that offer distinct taste experiences. 

BLACK GRAPES

For black grape varieties, there are currently 45 that are authorized or temporarily authorized in Hungary, ranging from Alibernet to Zweigelt. Compared to white varieties, there is less variation in the rankings of black varieties. Kékfrankos is the most common black grape, accounting for over 12% of the country’s vineyard area. In recent years, the proportion of international, particularly French, varieties has increased. Black grapes make up 30% of the vineyard area, totaling about 19,670 hectares. The distribution of black grape varieties is more concentrated than that of white grapes, with the ten most planted black varieties constituting 96% of all planted black varieties. Both red and rosé wines are produced from these black varieties, which can also be grouped based on origin (e.g., international or Carpathian Basin varieties) and style.

white grapes

Currently, there are 114 white grape varieties authorized or temporarily authorized in Hungary, ranging from Aletta to Zöldveltelini. White grapes dominate the vineyard landscape, occupying 45,589 hectares. Many of these varieties are unique to Hungary and not grown elsewhere in the world. The varietal mix has evolved over time, with an increase in resistant varieties, while Cserszegi Fűszeres, Furmint, and Olaszrizling remain the most commonly planted traditional white varieties.  White grape varieties can be classified in several ways, such as by their parentage and origin (international vs. autochthonous/local). Additionally, wines made from white grapes can be categorized organoleptically into neutral and aromatic styles, although some varieties overlap between these categories. Notably, Hungary excels in producing aromatic white wines with many special varieties. 

Source and images come from https://winesofhungary.hu/grape-varieties-and-wine-styles. Here you can find more info about Hungarian wines. If you have other questions, please let us know: info@houseofredandwhite.com