Just on my way home for a brief trip to Eger, in Hungary. I was attending a meeting organized by agrochemical company BASF for some of their most important (viticulture) customers in Hungary.
I left at some unearthly hour from Heathrow yesterday, arriving in Eger by lunchtime. The meeting room was incredibly flash, with multiple screens and amazing audiovisual equipment. My job was to do a presentation on the prospects for Hungarian wines in European export markets, with special reference to the UK. It was a bit controversial, and prompted quite a bit of discussion, which I suppose is a good thing.
My presentation was displayed on the in Hungarian and a professional translator was doing simultaneous translation for myself and the other English language presenter, BASF’s Dr Randall Gold. The room was packed, and as well as the more formal talks, the participants played an interactive quiz using networked laptops spread throughout the room. Then it was time for dinner and a show by some very clever conceptual dancers, as well as an informal wine tasting. Of the 40 or so wines, I think I tasted most of them, missing part of dinner in the process.
I was just keen to experience more Hungarian wine. We don’t see an awful lot of it in the UK, and what we do see largely falls into two camps: very cheap supermarket wines, and Tokaji Aszu (the famous sweet wine). Recently, though, I’ve tried a substantial selection of mid/upper priced Hungarian wines imported by Cozzi and Jenkins (a write up is planned soon).
10 Comments on A brief trip to Hungary
Looking forward to the write up. Personally I am partial to the Dry Furmint but yet to see it over here.
I think there is potential for some of these wines in the UK although it will take a massive committment to educate the market.
Check out http://mephistowines.co.uk/ (Mephisto Wines) for a great selection of some of Hungary’s best.
The Wine Education Society organised a recent tasting through them which brought Csaba Malatinszky, ex-Somellier and one of Hungary’s leading Wine Makers to London last November where an excellent tasting was held.
My notes can be seen on Cellar Tracker if of interest (http://www.cellartracker.com/new/event.asp?iEvent=12514)
Gregory!
Dry Furmint in Waitrose:
http://www.waitrosewine.com/230587435/Product.aspx
Hello Greg,
Some stuff with international delivery is definitely available here:
http://bortarsasag.hu/en/
also some quality stuff here:
http://terroirclub.hu/index.php?data%5Blang%5D=eng
As February is dedicated to the furmint from this year on, I hope I can also provide some coverage on furmints in the weeks to come.
Great news, Jamie. Make sure you check out the reds from the two main wine-producing regions in the south. There is some top-shelf stuff there, I promise!
Looking forward to the write-up.
BASF? They used to make the blank cassettes I bought as a child. Wow, that takes me back…
…and yes, I looking forward to that write up, too!
all the countries don´t made good wine
saludos desde españa
Me too. Am keen to read the write up. Am I missing something as your trip/blog was a feb ’11 post and I can’t see a write up. It’s now July!!! Don’t leave us hanging Luke an emotional teenager!!!!