The Winery Sibon of Continental Region

Discovering the wine region of Continental Region

Hungary/Eger/matra">Mátra is a PDO wine region in Northern Central Hungary with Vineyards dotting the lower slopes of the Mátra mountain range, Part of the North Hungarian Mountains. The region is known for its Aromatic whites and, in smaller volumes, well structured red wines. The proncipal white Grape varieties grown here are Rizlingzilváni, Chasselas, Muscat Ottonel, Olaszriesling (Welschriesling), Chardonnay, Irsay Oliver and Tramini (Traminer). Kékfrankos dominates red wine here, having usurped Kadarka.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Zweigelt also feature. Situated close to the border with Slovakia, it is the westernmost viticultural district in a group of three with Bukk and Eger. As of 2019 there were 6,012 hectares (14,856 acres) of authorized varieties growing within the PDO borders, and about 7,500ha in all. This makes Mátra the second largest PDO wine region in Hungary - behind Pannon but above Tokaj which had 5,618ha of approved vineyards in 2019.

Much of the output in Mátra is produced by large cooperative wineries such as Nagyréde. The geology of the Mátra foothills is mainly volcanic, and most of the wine produced here is white. This is something it has in common with Rangen, Alsace's Grand Cru vineyard, where a similar portfolio of aromatic white varieties grow in black basalt-rich soils. Rangen and Mátra's main town, Gyöngyös, occupy precisely the same latitude (47.