Badacsony Italian Riesling 2024

Hungary’s most popular white wine is Badacsony Olaszrizling.

Although it is not the most widely cultivated white grape variety in Hungary, for many people the “most Hungarian white wine” is the Italian Riesling. Wine has always been a mainstay of Hungarian history and culture, not to mention its role in Hungarian gastronomy, which has been cemented over the centuries.

Tastes, aromas and flavours, culture and art. It’s all connected to wine. …and where does wine go? To Badacsony, of course, one of the most beautiful witness hills of the Balaton highlands and Hungary, our justly famous wine-producing region. Many poets and writers have written about this region, including Sándor Kisfaludy, who wrote about it:

“Tí, Balaton’ area. Nice Nature Players!

The volcanic soil is particularly favourable for the development of the Olaszrizling grape. The flavours of Badacsony Olaszrizling are enriched by the diversity of local grape varieties, which is why it is worth pairing with a variety of dishes.

Tí for fairy Badacsony. A delightful memory!”

It came to our country from France in the middle of the 19th century. It was planted to replace vines destroyed by the great phylloxera epidemic. Italian Riesling can be complex, elegant and rich in nuances, especially when grown on volcanic soils, because it likes mineral-rich soils to really develop its flavour and aromas. This is no different in this region, where the soil has been shaped by millions of years of volcanic movement, which has contributed to the potential of this terroir for both viticulture and winemaking.

How is Olaszrizling made? First, the white grapes are harvested, sorted, the clusters are picked and the skins and seeds are removed from the grapes. The must begins fermentation without the skins, which is stopped before all the sugars have fermented. This is followed by the must purification, i.e. the clarification process, which makes the wine crystal clear, or in wine-making parlance, mirror-like. It is then matured for a short period in tanks or barrels. Finally, they are bottled.

Grown on the magnesium-rich basalt soils of the Badacsony wine region, Olaszrizling is a soft-acid, full-bodied, high-extract dry white wine. The nose is dominated by yellow fleshy fruits and flowers, and the taste is irresistible with its aromas of apple, peach and herbs. Its minerality reflects the characteristics of the Badacsony soil.

It’s great with fish, whether it’s grilled trout or smoked salmon, but it’s also great with veal dishes, grilled chicken and lemon salads. For desserts, it can also be served with apple cobbler and almond cakes.

Alcohol content 12,5%