Top Flights of Hungarian Wine

Unbeknownst to even the most discriminating oenophiles, some of Europe’s oldest vineyards aren’t in France or Italy, but Hungary, whose viticulture dates back to the Roman Empire. Enriched by the contributions of Celts, Romans, Magyars, Germans and Serbs, Hungarian wines were for many centuries the toast of Europe.

Wines of quality, even of legend, come from the pockets of hillside vineyards that dot the arc of mountainous terrain stretching across the country — Villány, Szekszárd and the Lake Balaton region to the west, Eger (home of Egri Bikaver, the hearty Bull’s Blood) and the famed Tokaj in the northeast.

Finding Hungarian wines outside of the country can prove difficult, as many wines are not exported. So for wine-lovers visiting Budapest, a stop over at MÚZSA or KOLLÁZS – Brasserie & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is a must.

MÚZSA has the largest publicly available vintage Tokaji aszú collections in the world, hand-selected by Head Sommelier Gábor Becker. The oldest vintage aszú available dates back to 1912. In MÚZSA’s Treasury, a bottle of Royal Tokaji Eszencia, the most expensive wine in the world, is on display and available for sale.

KOLLÁZS is offering not only top quality international wines, it also serves red, white and sweet Hungarian wines by the glass, flight or bottle. While in KOLLÁZS, guests can take part in the Blind Date with Chef and Sommelier dining experience. The menu includes in general five-six dishes and is accompanied by a crash course on Hungary’s increasingly fabulous wines.