Top 100 sweet wines of Duna

Discovering the wine region of Duna

Hungary/Balaton/badacsony">Badacsony is a tiny, traditional Hungarian wine region on the northern shore of the southern end of Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake. It shares its name with both the mountain which dominates the area and a Village of around 1000 inhabitants. A wide range of red and white wines are made here from a wide portfolio of both local and eastern European speciality Grape varieties, plus more internationally popular wine grape varieties. The latter include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Muscat Ottonel.

Several wineries also produce wines (usually fairly neutral with high Acidity) from the Eastern European speciality Welschriesling (Riesling Italico). The region is the last remaining stronghold of the Aromatic white grape variety Kéknyelü. Although it has come close to extinction in the past, Badacsony Kéknyelü is now enjoying a minor revival and both wines and vines are receiving much greater care and attention. As a result, there is currently a small but growing amount of high quality Kéknyelü available on international markets.

Several other grape varieties have a connection with Badacsony. Szürkebarát is thought to be a version of Pinot Gris, which in popular legend was brought to Hungary by French monks in the 14th Century, hence its name which translates as Grey Monk. Wines made from this variety in Badacsony tend to be Rich and oily, especially when the fruit is grown on warmer sites. Juhfark (known locally as Somló in reference to the Somló hill where it originates) is as rare as Keknyelu, but is holding on in certain small pockets here.