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The history of the winemakers of Badacsony goes back many centuries, as viticulture and winemaking began here as early as the time of the ancient Romans. However, it was only in the 19th century that the wines of the area became truly famous. Let’s see what made and makes them great!
The Badacsony wine region
The Lake Balaton Wine Region includes the Lake Balaton Highlands, which we usually divide into three parts:
- Badacsony wine region
- Balaton-Highlands wine region
- Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region
We will now only talk about the Badacsony wine region and the Badacsony winemakers, whose wines are of course represented in our selection.
It is a geographically well-defined region. It is centred on the Badacsony mountain and includes the coastal strip from Balatonszepezd to Szigliget, but also includes the southern part of the Káli basin and the Tapolca basin.
The historic vineyards used to be cultivated right up to the tops of the basalt-volcanic hills, with grapes grown everywhere, as the area was and still is a good place to produce excellent quality wine. Renowned wineries and various catering establishments preserve the reputation of the wine-growing region, taking care to preserve its old values.
Unique wine from the hands of Badacsony winemakers
The wines produced here have their own character, determined by the Balaton climate on the one hand, and the characteristic volcanic soil of Badacsony on the other. Two very important grape varieties dominate here, complemented by two others. One is the Olaszrizling, one of the most popular Hungarian white wines, and the other is the Badacsony kéknyelű, which is unique in the world, our own variety, and therefore a Hungaricum since 2013. In our webshop you will find a truly exceptional representative!
The bluebell is named after its bluish-red coloured petioles. An ancient Hungarian grape variety, it was also called “gentleman’s grape” for a long time, as its cultivation requires special care and is rather “troublesome”, so in the old days, simple people considered it a gentleman’s whim to cultivate such a variety. This ‘hassle’ is mainly due to the fact that the bluebottle cannot self-pollinate because it only has female flowers, so it must always be paired.
The Badacsony winegrowers usually use the Buda Green or the Rose Stone varieties for pairing, which is why these are the other two varieties typical of the region.
Hungary’s favourite white wine, Olaszrizling
Although Olaszrizling is not our most widely produced white wine, this does not take anything away from its popularity. The grape variety was brought to our country from France in the 19th century, following the great phylloxera epidemic, to replace the lost grape varieties. The wine made by the winemakers of Badacsony is complex, elegant and rich in nuances. This is greatly enhanced by the local volcanic soil, rich in minerals. This is how this wine is able to express its flavour and aroma to the highest possible level.
After harvesting, the grapes are pressed with their skins removed, resulting in a soft, full-bodied white wine with a soft acidity, which is loved by so many wine connoisseurs. The nose is reminiscent of yellow fleshy fruit and the minerality expresses the characteristics of the Badacsony soil.
The Badacsony atmosphere
Throughout the year, there are programmes organised around local wines, but wine shops and winemakers from Badacsony also offer a wide selection of premium wines.
If you would like to know more about the characteristics of this great wine region, please contact us!