This is a common question that I always get from my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. It comes in different forms: What wine is Hungary known for?; Which wine is Hungary famous for producing?; Does Hungary have any good wine?. Eventually, they want to know what sort of Hungarian wine I would recommend drinking.
By general consent, Hungary is a wine-drinker country, and most of the production is consumed internally. Also, it has one of the most significant wine-growing regions in the world – Tokaj. So you would think that everybody in the country drinks Tokaj wine and nothing is left for others. Obviously, it is an exaggeration: Hungary has many other fascinating styles and varieties worth exploring.
Many still would insist that I should point to one bottle. But how to choose the best? It depends on personal preferences and taste. If you like the lists, Decanter World Wine Award is for you, or you can see our recommended list of styles and varieties below that you can find in Hungary only or Hungary is famous for.
Update!
Are you dissatisfied with not having list of great wines? Don’t be. We have collected those Hungarian wines from the typical styles and varieties that got the highest score on Decanter World Wine Award during the last 3 years (2020-2022). We know that the sampling of Decanter is not perfect and doesn’t take into account the entire Hungarian wine scene but still we strongly believe that it is a good guidence if you want to find great Hungarian wines.
Be careful! The quality is still far from consistent, it is easy to find brilliant and horrible wines from the same class – even sometimes in the same supermarkets just a few shelves away from the other. This list consists of styles, grape varieties, and blends, so it is tough to compare; I wouldn’t be able to tell which one is better.
1. Tokaji Aszú and Szamorodni
These are sweet dessert wines from the Tokaj wine region of Hungary. They usually are blends of different varieties but are always made of wine bunches affected by noble rot. In many cases, the main variety is the Furmint (in fewer cases, Hárslevelű or Muscat Lunel), and there are rare cases when other autochthonous types play the prominent role. However it supposed to have clear distinction between Aszú and Szamorodni in case of greatest producers it is hard to tell the difference.
Anyhow, trust me: there is nothing that can compete with Aszú and Szamorodni in the sweet dessert wine category.
Similar styles: Sauternes and Trockenbeerenauslese
Good to know about Essencia, Aszú and Szamorodni!
Tokaji Aszú and Szamorodni always come in 0,5 l bottles (sometimes even smaller). Essencia filled in 0.375 bottles. If you have a bigger bottle (0.75 l) then probably you have a dry Tokaj wine.
Szamorodni has a dry version which can cause disappointment if you are looking for a sweet one. (Look for “Édes” on the wine label.)
2022 – Best Tokaj Sweet Wines (Aszú and Szamorodni) according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Derczó-Lovas Pince – Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Gróf Degenfeld – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Juliet Viktor – Édes szamorodni | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2018 | Édes Szamorodni/Noble late harvest |
| Derczó-Lovas Pince – Eszencia | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2017 | Eszencia |
| Gróf Degenfeld – Selection 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Disznókő – Hattyús 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Mad – Nyulászó Grand Cru Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Royal Tokaji – By Appointment Only Furmint | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Grand Tokaj – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2014 | Aszú |
2021 – Best Tokaj Sweet Wines (Aszú and Szamorodni) according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Grand Tokaj – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2014 | Aszú |
| Grand Tokaj – Eszencia | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2013 | Eszencia |
| Patricius – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 98 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Juliet Victor – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Royal Tokaji – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Royal Tokaji – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Balassa – Betsek Kvarc Szamorodni | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2017 | Szamorodni/Noble late harvest |
| Paangold – 5 Puttonyos Sárgamuskotály Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 1999 | Aszú |
| Pajzos – Tokaji Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Gizella – Szamorodni | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2018 | Szamorodni/Noble late harvest |
2020 – Best Tokaj Sweet Wines (Aszú and Szamorodni) according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Kern Bor és Pezsgőház – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2014 | Aszú |
| Sauska – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2017 | Aszú |
| Harsányi – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Dobogó – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2013 | Aszú |
| Juliet Victor – Édes Szamorodni | Best in Show | 97 | Tokaj | 2017 | Szamorodni/Noble late harvest |
| Barta – Öreg Király Dűlő 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Platinum | 97 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Dereszla – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Holdvölgy – Culture 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Chateau Dereszla – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2010 | Aszú |
| Carpinus – 6 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Gróf Degenfeld – 5 Puttonyos Aszú | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2016 | Aszú |
| Disznókő – 1413 Szamorodni | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2016 | Szamorodni/Noble late harvest |
Aszú and Szamorodni wines on Vinotek.hu
2. Bull’s Blood – Bikavér (Stierblut in German)
Dry, red blend produced in Eger and Szekszárd wine regions, elegant wines with vivid acidity and with medium or full body. The main variety is Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) but it must contain three other varieties in the blend (Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Merlot etc).
In Eger, Bull’s Blood title used to refer to its deep colour at the beginning of 19 century but lately the name has been indicating the highest quality red blend of the region.
Good to know about Bull’s Blood!
Bulk red wines were exported to the countries of Eastern Block before 1990 as “Bull’s Blood” from Eger (Egri Bikavér); thus, the reputation of this wine had declined. Now we have a very clear and specific regulation about Bull’s Blood Classification both in Eger and Szekszárd. To answer this article’s title question: the highest rank that a Hungarian wine got in 2021 from Decanter Magazin (till the date) came to an Egri Bikavér from St. Andrea Winery.
2022 – Best Bikavér Wines (Stierblut, Bull’s Blood) according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Vesztergombi Pince – St. László Bikavér | Silver | 90 | Szekszárd | 2017 | Szekszárdi Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Nagy-Eged Dűlő Grand Superior | Silver | 90 | Eger | 2018 | Egri Bikavér |
| Bolyki Winery – Grand Superior | Silver | 90 | Eger | 2020 | Egri Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Agapé Nagy-Eged-Hegy Grand Superior | Bronze | 89 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| Lajvér – Bikavér | Bronze | 88 | Szekszárd | 2019 | Szekszárdi Bikavér |
2021 – Best Bikavér Wines (Stierblut, Bull’s Blood) according to Decanter World Wine Awar
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| St. Andrea – Nagy-Eged Dűlő Grand Superior | Best in Show | 97 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Hangács Grand Superior | Silver | 93 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| Petrény – Big Band | Bronze | 88 | Eger | 2016 | Egri Bikavér |
| Vida Péter – Bikavér | Bronze | 88 | Szekszárd | 2017 | Szekszárdi Bikavér |
| Bukolyi Marcell – Kisfiam | Bronze | 87 | Eger | 2018 | Egri Bikavér |
2020 – Best Bikavér Wines (Stierblut, Bull’s Blood) according to Decanter World Wine Awar
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| St. Andrea – Merengő | Silver | 93 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Nagy-Eged Dűlő Grand Superior | Bronze | 89 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| Petrény – Padok Superior | Bronze | 88 | Eger | 2017 | Egri Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Igazán Grand Superior | Bronze | 88 | Eger | 2016 | Egri Bikavér |
| St. Andrea – Nagy-Eged-Hegy Dűlő Grand Superior | Bronze | 87 | Eger | 2016 | Egri Bikavér |
Egri and Szekszárdi Bull’s Blood Wines on Vinotek.hu
3. Dry Furmint
It is an indigenous variety in the Carpathian Basin. The main characteristic of dry Furmint often comes from lees stirring, which gives extra thickness, creamy and buttery texture. Reductive, dry Furmint is becoming increasingly popular among younger wines consumers.
The main producing regions are Tokaj and Somló but you can find good ones in Eger and around Balaton. Furmint was widespread across the country before filoxera. The production area shrank a lot by the beginning of 20 century.
Good to know about dry Furmint!
The main production areas spread out on volcanic soils (Tokaj and Somló), so dry Furmint is regarded as masculine, firm wine. However the volcanic character can be beautifully balanced for example in Dobogó Winery’s Dry Furmint.
2022 – Best dry Furmint wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Juliet Victor – Szent Tamás Furmint | Silver | 91 | Tokaj | 2019 | dry Furmint |
| Sauska Tokaj – Sauska Furmint Birsalmás-Dűlő | Silver | 91 | Tokaj | 2019 | dry Frumint |
| Steigler Winery – Premium Furmint | Silver | 90 | Sopron | 2020 | dry Furmint |
| Juliet Victor – Úrágya Furmint | Silver | 90 | Tokaj | 2019 | dry Furmint |
| Royal Tokaji – Taste the Difference Dry Furmint | Silver | 90 | Tokaj | 2020 | dry Frumint |
2021 – Best dry Furmint wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Prodcuer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Dobogó – Furmint | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2017 | dry Furmint |
| Juliet Victor – Király Furmint | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2018 | dry Furmint |
| Juliet Victor – Bomboly Furmint | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2018 | dry Furmint |
| Kreinbacher – Selection Furmint | Gold | 95 | Somló | 2017 | dry Furmint |
| Patricius – Sajgó-Dűlő Furmint | Silver | 93 | Tokaj | 2019 | dry Furmint |
2020 – Best dry Furmint wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Juliet Victor- Bomboly Dry Furmint | Gold | 96 | Tokaj | 2017 | dry Furmint |
| Harsányi – Kútpatka Furmint | Gold | 95 | Tokaj | 2017 | dry Furmint |
| Mad – Dry Furmint | Silver | 93 | Tokaj | 2015 | dry Furmint |
| Royal Tokaji – Dry Furmint | Silver | 93 | Tokaj | 2018 | dry Furmint |
| Juliet Victor – Dry Estate Furmint | Silver | 92 | Tokaj | 2017 | dry Furmint |
Furmint wines on Vinotek.hu
4. Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch)
Kékfrankos is the most planted grape variety and the most popular red one in Hungary. It is an essential component in Bull’s Blood blend both in Eger and Szekszárd. It can be great as a single variety bottling. In Sopron the local soil (Gneiss) gives a unique scent and longevity to the taste.
Good to know about Kékfrankos!
Producers from southern wine regions (Szekszárd és Villány) prefer to age in oak barrels for 6-12 months while you can find great unoaked Kékfrankos wines from other areas.
2022 – Best Kékfrankos wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Kovács Nimród – Grand Bleu | Bronze | 87 | Eger | 2015 |
| Lajvér Borház – Kékfrankos Limited Edition | Bronze | 86 | Szekszárd | 2019 |
| Vida Péter – HIdaspetre Kékfrankos | Bronze | 86 | Szekszárd | 2018 |
2021 – Best Kékfrankos wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Almagyari Érseki Szőlőbirtok – Grand Superior Kékfrankos | Silver | 92 | Eger | 2019 |
| Riczu Tamás – Kékfrankos | Bronze | 89 | Villány | 2018 |
| Kovács Nimród – Grand Bleu | Bronze | 88 | Eger | 2013 |
2020 – Best Kékfrankos wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Maul Zsolt Premium Winery – Creátor Kékfrankos | Gold | 95 | Villány | 2018 |
| Sauska – Kékfrankos | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2017 |
| Tóth Ferenc – Grand Superior Kékfrankos | Silver | 90 | Eger | 2017 |
| Kristinus – Kékfrankos | Bronze | 89 | Balatonboglár | 2017 |
| Etyeki Kúria – Kékfrankos | Bronze | 89 | Etyek-Buda | 2015 |
Kékfrankos wines on Vinotek.hu
5. Cabernet Franc and Villányi Franc (Cabernet Franc from Villány)
Why is Villányi Franc so unique that we need to mention? While Cabernet Franc is grown in many wine-growing regions in the world, it is rarely bottled as a single variety. Villányi Franc became famous internationally when Michael Broadbent wrote that “Cabernet Franc has found its natural home in Villány.” in Decanter Magazin (2000). Many international drinkers, writers, and testers acknowledge this statement. Also other Hungarian wine-regions try to benefit from the success of Villányi Franc – you can see that on Decanter World Wine Award the Hungarian Cabernet Franc segment was dominated by Villány but in 2022 other regions became prominent too.
Villányi Franc is a firmly structured wine, with a fuller body, high tannin, and vivid acidity, the alcohol is generally on a higher level, the flavor is quite intense. They are elegant, complex wines. The flavors are very ripe black (black cherry, black plum, blueberry) and red berry fruits (sour cherry, ripe strawberry and red current, hip). Significant use of oak barrels results in black pepper flavor combined with earthy character and sweet spices, dark chocolate, and tobacco. Cabernet Franc wines from the northern regions (Eger and Pannonhalma) have the distinctive pencil graphite and paprika smell.
Good to know about Villányi Franc!
Villány Franc doesn’t mean that it is a different Franc, it is still the good old Cabernet Franc variety.
2022 – Best Hungarian Cabernet Franc and Villányi Franc wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Babarczi – Marianum | Silver | 92 | Pannonhalma | 2019 |
| Sauska – Siklós Cabernet Franc | Silver | 92 | Villány | 2017 |
| Tűzkő Birtok – Tűzkő Cabernet Franc | Silver | 90 | Tolna | 2019 |
| Takler Borbirtok – Szenta-Hegyi Cabernet Franc | Silver | 90 | Szekszárd | 2018 |
| Vylyan – Mandulás | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2017 |
2021 – Best Hungarian Cabernet Franc and Villányi Franc wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Sauska – Siklós Cabernet Franc | Silver | 92 | Villány | 2017 |
| Bock – Pince | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2015 |
| Vylyan – Mandolás | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2016 |
| Csányi Pincészet – Chateau Teleki | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2017 |
2020 – Best Hungarian Cabernet Franc and Villányi Franc wines according to Decanter World Wine Award
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Almagyar Érseki Szőlőbirtok – Grand Superior Cabernet Franc | Silver | 92 | Eger | 2018 |
| Csányi Pincészet – Kővilla Válogatás Villányi Franc | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2015 |
| Riczu Tamás – Villányi Franc | Silver | 90 | Villány | 2017 |
| Maul Zsolt Pérmium Winery – Lator Cabernet Franc | Bronze | 89 | Villány | 2017 |
| Vylyan – Villányi Franc | Bronze | 89 | Villány | 2017 |
Villányi Franc wines on Vinotek.hu
6. Olaszrizling (Welschriesling)
The most popular Hungarian white variety is known as Grasevina, Welschriesling, Laski Rizling, Ryzling Vlasky or Riesling Italico in the neighbouring countries.
In general the flavour characteristic is: lemon, grapefruit seeds, green & white apple, peach, white Rezeda flowers and almond. Especially around the Lake Balaton in Füred-Csopak, Badacsony and Somló wine regions and some part of the Eger wine region, where the Volcanic soil has a significant effect on the grape, wines have a steely, stony, flinty mineral notes.
It is a country-wide variety, both reductive and oaky styles are common. The reductive style provides fresh, crispy, easy-to-drink, semi-neutral style wines, while the oak age (usually 500L or larger sized used oak) gives depth and an extra layer to the wine.
Good to know about Olaszrizling!
Olaszrizling is the basis of Hungarian “Fröccs” (Gespritzte) culture, particularly during the hot summer. People tend to consume drinks more moderate in alcohol, so the wine is mixed with sparkling water.
2022 Best Hungarian Olaszrizling wines according to Decanter World Wine Awards
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Zelna – Olaszrizling | Platinum, Value | 97 | Balatonfüred-Csopak | 2021 |
| Fodorvin – Aszófői Olaszrizling | Silver | 90 | Balatonfüred-Csopak | 2021 |
| Almagyar Érseki Szőlőbirtok – Egri Olaszrizling Grand Superior | Bronze | 87 | Eger | 2021 |
| Tornai Pincészet – Szent-Ilona Olaszrizling | Bronze | 86 | Nagy-Somló | 2020 |
2021 Best Hungarian Olaszrizling wines according to Decanter World Wine Awards
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage |
| Figula – Gella | Bronze | 88 | Balatonfüred-Csopak | 2017 |
2020 best Hungarian Olaszrizling wines according to Decanter World Wine Awards
| Producer and name of the wine | Award | Score | Region | Vintage | Style |
| Varga – Jégbor Olaszrizling | Gold | 96 | Badacsony | 2010 | Icewine |
| Dubicz – Superior Olaszrizling | Bronze | 89 | Mátra | 2017 | dry Olaszrizling |
| Varga – Aranymetszés Olaszrizling | Bronze | 89 | Badacsony | 2017 | dry Olaszrizling |
| Figula – Hetedik Olszrizling | Bronze | 88 | Balatonfüred-Csopak | 2018 | dry Olaszrizling |
| Figula – Gella Olaszrizling | Bronze | 88 | Balatonfüred-Csopak | 2018 | dry Olaszrizling |
Olaszrizling wines on Vinotek.hu
Featured photo: DWWA 2021 Awarded wines from Vinotek.hu selection