If someone is asking you to tell all the wine regions of Hungary, how many do you know? You will reply Tokaj first, maybe Eger because you had a Bull’s Blood and what else?
There is the most southern of Hungary’s wine regions called Villány that probably you have never heard of but you should! I hope after you read this article you will find a great bottle from this region and keep drinking wine from there because it will worth it, I promise you!
As I said Villány is the most southern region in the country situated on the south-east, near the city of Pécs and Villány where it got his name from. In 2006 Hungary’s first complete PDO (protected designation of origin) system has been established here and from 2014 has reworked its PDO system again and created a new brand linked to the region. This single varietal wine made from 100% Cabernet Franc of premium and super premium categories are distributed under the Villányi Franc brand name.
The region has 2500 ha under vine which most of it (81%) red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon (420 ha), Portugieser (342 ha), Cabernet Franc (333 ha), Merlot (294 ha) and Blaufrankisch (285 ha) with other red grape varietals (282 ha). The minority has some white grapes on 459 ha like Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Hárslevelű. We can see that they are focusing on red wine making but even the whites are more aromatic and lively with acidity because of the calcium in the soil specially at the Siklós area.
It has a sub – mediterranean climate with loess and clay soils rich in organic materials and lime. This region has been focusing on vine growing since the ancient Romans and even when nationalities has changed in the region time to time they all gave something to the traditions of the winemaking or new grape varieties like the Serbs brought the Kadarka grape and the German settlers the Portugieser with their famous work ethic and accuracy.
This days the international grape varieties has the majority of plantings because they really flourish in the region but every true Villányi winemaker has Kadarka and Portugieser in their line up even if it is blended.
So far I can recommend you from the region some wines with full body, high tannin and lively acidity which can be aged even for decades in some cases and belive me, I have tasted some of those! But there is an other brand here made for those who prefer Beaujolais style wines with lighter body and crisp fruitiness. If you see a wine on the shelves from Villány called Redy, this is what you can expect.
If you prefer no tannins and go for a good white wine, I would love to recommend just one next to the Villány region, near Pécs with a grape variety called Cirfandli. There is only a few hectares planted in Hungary with it and another few in Austria but I love it! A rather aromatic grape (these are my favourites) with a good acidity and longevity, can be oak aged for more complexity but really enjoyable just in the reductive style as well!
Which style would you try from this region?
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