Eger wine region

Eger wine region lies around the town of Eger and 19 other nearby villages. The well-known vineyards are around Eger, Egerszalók, Egerszólát, Ostoros, and Szomolya. The vineyards around Eger are sometimes very close to the center of Eger. This is why we can find many wineries close to or in the center.

One of the most striking facts about Eger is that there is another “settlement” under the city carved into the volcanic rhyolite tuff, which is the bedrock in most of the wine region. Hollows, cellars, and tunnels were cut into the soft rhyolite tuff from medieval times. Eventually, they connected, forming a more or less complete underground pavement network under the historical city. These subterranean routes play an essential role in one of the most famous Hungarian novels Egri Csillagok by Géza Gárdonyi. 

Egri Csillagok – does it ring a bell? The novel’s title gives the name of the recently created white blend brand. Along with Egri Bikavér, they define the current state of the Eger wine region.

Location and size of Eger wine region

Eger is part of the Upper Hungary wine region with neighboring regions from the west Mátra Wine Region and from the east Bükk Wine Region. They build up the Upper Hungary Wine Region, an administrative area stretching over upper Hungarian mountain ranges: Mátra, and Bükk.

Upper Hungary Wine Region borders the Tokaj wine region on the east. Both Tokaj and the sub-regions of the Upper Hungary Wine region lies next to the M3 highway, so it makes sense to combine an epic trip to these historical wine regions into one trip. Rent a car at Budapest Airport, or if you feel so, you can take a train from Budapest Nyugati (West Railway Station, Budapest).

The climate of Eger wine region

Eger is frequently referred to as the Hungarian Burgundy primarily because it lies roughly on the same latitude as Chablis. Like Burgundy, Eger is capable of producing excellent Hungarian red wines and white wines at the same time. However, the vineyards are generally warmer than Chablis since the range of Bükk mountains protects it from the cold north winds and air currents. At the same time, the southern exposure ensures that the white and red grape berries are fully ripe by the vintage season.

Climate change and Eger

Like many other wine regions, Eger also faces challenges coming from the warming climate. Eger has a cool environment; however, it is protected from the cold northern air currents by the Bükk ranges. The average precipitation is relatively low (600 mm/year), while the vineyards’ elevations range between 150 and 500 meters. It is widely accepted amongst wine experts that the cooler climate yields fruitier wines, an essential characteristic of Eger wines. The heatwaves of the 2022 summer were devastating, but the higher elevation slopes provide escape routes to the local producers to defend against threats of climate change. 

The soil and the bedrock

Eger wine region’s bedrocks vary widely, the most prominent is rhyolite tuff, but limestone, andesite, and sandstone can be dominant in specific vineyards. Tuff-based soils’ mineral content is high and rich in trace elements that could provide distinctive character to Eger wines. Rhyolite tuff is an excellent material to carve cellars to and crumbles quickly. Smaller, crumbled tuff particles mix in the top soils of the settlements of Demjén, Egerszaló, Szomolya, and Novaj, the southern part of Eger and the western part of the wine region. 

In terms of bedrock, there is one important exception amongst the vineyards. The Nagy-Eged Hill ascends on the eastern side of the city, it is built up of limestone. The Hill’s height is 527 meters. The Nagy-Eged Hill vineyard’s plantations are climbing almost to the top. These vines have the highest elevation in Hungary.

Only three producers have plantations here: Kovács Nimród Winery, St. Andrea Winery, and Bukolyi Bio Winery. All three different wines recently got awards on Decanter World Wine Award, so it must be an excellent place for vine cultivation. Remember that the vineyard on the skirts of the Hill is also called Nagy-Eged (without the Hill).

Speaking of top soils, we can see that there are many kinds, but the most defining are clay and brown forest soil mixed with sand and loess to a different extent. Clay can provide a deep cherry flavor the red grapes can benefit from the support of these soils.

Worth visiting these wineries in Eger wine region

Bukolyi Marcell Organic Wines

The winery is owned by Bukolyi Marcell and his wife Bukolyi Lilla. They have two kids – Bernát and Bíborka – and this great winery. The winery dedicated itself to producing organic (certified) wines in Eger. Marcell and Lilla harvest exclusively from their own 14-hectare plantation, the only 100% organic vineyard in the Egri wine region.

Tasting: you need to make an appointment

Phone: Bukolyi Marcell +36304815694, e-maile: hello@bukolyimarcell.hu

Must try these wines: Kisfiam Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood blend), Nature Pinot Noir and Hárs-Furmint.

Bolyki Vineyard

Bolyki winery is located ten minutes from the center of Eger, within the walls of an old quarry, just like the many wineries in Burgundy. The quarry is spread over 5 hectares in four quarry yards connected by tunnels. The estate has 9 cellars, traditional cellars dug into the stone, and a modern show cellar extended (September 2022). You can visit the real estate, including a wine tasting with a short excursion.

The winery is a venue for many musical and cultural events, often with the winemaker, János Bolyki, as DJ. 

Must tries: Egri Cabernet Franc, Öreghegy Egri Bikavér Grand Superior 2020, Meta Tema Hárslevelű.

Wine tasting: Monday to Thursday by appointment. Friday-Sunday during opening hours. For guided tastings, please make an appointment.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 4 pm, Friday: 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm, Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm

Gál Tibor Winery

Tibor Gál’s bar Fusion is located in the center of Eger. The location is a perfect combination of a cellar and a very spacious wine bar, where the bar itself can be cooled by the cool air coming from the cellar, at least in summer.

We were there in the early afternoon on a Saturday in early August 2022, before the evening rush hour. Our guide explained the cellar’s history and how the site relates to the system built over hundreds of years under Eger, which is more like a labyrinth than a cellar. The circular motif on Tibor Gál’s wines is also a tribute to this intricate cellar system.

For several years Tibor Gál has been experimenting with how to express the site as perfectly as possible, and to this end, he tries to treat wines from different vineyards in the same way. For example, all his wines are aged in 500-liter barrels.

Must tries: Szürkebarát 2018, Egri Bikavér Superior, Pajados Egri Grand Superior Bikavér, Síkhegy Egri Grand Superior Bikavér

Wine tasting requires advance booking. Price is 4900 HUF/person, including 6 wines and baguettes.

The tours start on Tuesday-Thursday: 15:00, on Friday-Saturday departure times: 15:00, 18:00

St. Andrea

St. Andrea winery is located outside Eger in Egerszalók, where there is a famous thermal bath. St. Andrea is a run Senior György Lőrincz and Junior György Lőrincz. They concentrate on red and white blends; however, you can also find single variety wines if you visit the Winery in Egerszalók or the Wine and Sky Bar and St. Andrea Restaurant in Budapest.

By the mid-2010s, the winery’s work had matured, as evidenced by the many awards their wines won. The 2018 Áldás Bikavér received the best wine of the year award from Decanter. In 2021, Nagy-Eged Dűlő Bikavér was awarded Best in Show at the Decanter Wine Awards. (97 points, Platinum). But Hangács, Igazán, and Merengő Bull’s Blood also performed very well recently.

Wine tasting: You need to make an appointment. There are various packages to choose from (6-12 wines). Phone +36 30 822 8790, +36 36 474-018 , and e-mail: kostolas@standrea.hu 

They don’t have tastings on Sundays.

Kovács Nimród Winery

The Kovács Nimród Winery is located in the northern part of Eger, a little further out of the city center, about a 15-minute walk from Tibor Gál’s cellar. Our manager at Gál’s cellar said the best thing about the Kovács Nimród Winery is that all their wines are perfect. He was right.

The winery’s namesake is a Hungarian-American businessman who moved back to Hungary in the 1990s. He retired from the TV business in 2009 and has been running his winery.

In addition to international varieties from cooler wine-producing regions such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, they also deal with traditional Hungarian varieties, Furmint and Kékfrankos.

The winery comprises 7 traditional buildings with access through the cellar row and passageways below and between the buildings.

Must try: Sky, Grand Bleu, NJK

Wine tasting: You need to make an appointment. Tel: +36 70 452 2626, orsolya@kovacsnimrodwinery.com

Particulars of Eger wine region

• Location and size: Eger wine region is located in the North-East of Hungary, situated between the Mátra and Bükk mountains, streches over 5723 hectars.
• Climate: Temperate continental climate  
• Sunshine hours: 1964 (h/year)
• Precipitation: 600 (mm/year)
• Annual temperature: 10.5°C
• Elevations: above sea level by 160–500 m, hilly
• Soil: Volcanic rhyolite, limestone, andesite, brown forest soil, clay

Eger wine region’s grape varieties (2019)

Red grapes are planted around 3700 hectares, represents 65% of the total vineyard area. The most important red grape varieties are:

• Kékfrankos 1268 hectares
• Merlot 522 hectares
• Cabernet Sauvignon 470 hectares
• Blauburger 305 hectares
• Cabernet Franc 230 hectares

White grapes are around 2000 ha, represents 35% of the total vineyard area. Main varieties:

• Olaszrizling
• Leányka
• Ottonel Muskotályos
• Hárslevelű
• Chardonnay

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(On the featured photo: Nagy-Eged Hill by St. Andrea Winery.)

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