Top 100 red wines of Balaton

Discover the top 100 best red wines of Balaton as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the red wines that are popular of Balaton and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Balaton

Balatonboglar (South Balaton) is one of several wine regions on the shores of Lake Balaton, in the Transdanubia region of western Hungary. Lake Balaton is a Long, thin freshwater lake measuring almost 80 kilometers (50 miles) in Length, sometimes referred to as the 'Hungarian Sea. ' It is the largest lake in Central Europe and Hungary's most popular tourist destination. A wide portfolio of the popular, internationally recognized Grape varieties are grown here, including a number of the French classics.

Balatonboglar's Sparkling wines are increasingly successful, many of which are based on the classic Champagne recipe of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region also produces a range of ripe, Fruity reds, mostly from Gamay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah grapes. Dry whites from Balatonboglar are likely to be based on Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Muscat Blanc, which are also popular on the western side of the lake. The lake also plays a vital role in moderating the Climate in western Hungary.

It is largely due to the presence of the lake (as well as Lake Neusiedl, or the Neusiedlersee) that high quality viticulture is possible here. Without the moderating influence of these two bodies of water, the climate would be more continental, with soaring summer temperatures and very cold winters. The significance of the lake is reflected in the fact that Balaton is referenced in many of the names of the regions, towns and villages in the area. The two other winemaking regions in the area are named Balatonfured-Csopa and Balaton Felvidek.

Discover the grape variety: Furmint

Furmint is a very old Hungarian grape variety. It arrived in France in the 1800s. The bunches of Furmint are of medium size. They are compact and cylindrical. The berries are also of medium size. They are either short elliptical or rounded. Their thick skin changes from greenish white to reddish once the fruit is mature. This grape variety is known throughout the world for being part of the composition of the Hungarian Tokaj vintage. Robust, rich in alcohol and acidity, it needs light soil and a warm, dry climate to be fertile. It must also be pruned short and its budding takes place 7 days after the Chasselas. As for its maturity, it is of the second late period. This grape variety fears grey rot and erinosis. When vinified dry, Furmint produces a very fragrant, fine and highly alcoholic white wine.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Balaton

red wines from the region of Balaton go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or pork such as recipes of roast beef casserole, lamb keftas or lentils and morteau sausages.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Balaton

On the nose in the region of Balaton often reveals types of flavors of cherry, spices or dried fruit and sometimes also flavors of tree fruit, microbio or oaky. In the mouth in the region of Balaton is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.

News from the vineyard of Balaton

Platinum: The 97 point wines of DWWA 2022

The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...

Platinum: The 97 point wines of DWWA 2022

The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...

London’s wine club 67 Pall Mall to release documentary film on sommelier Gérard Basset

Titled A Life in Wine: Gérard Basset, the World’s Favourite Sommelier, the one hour-long film is produced by leading London wine club 67 Pall Mall’s on-site 67pallmall.tv studio and production team. ‘I was introduced to [Basset’s wife] Nina and [son] Romané in October 2021 where we sat and discussed a potential tribute, lovingly made by those closest to him, that would inspire people and tell the story of his incredible life,’ said 67 Pall Mall producer Kiki Hopkins. ‘We worked on a list of trea ...