GRAPE VARIETIES
„When I go out to the vineyard and see how the rows converge at the end of the vine, I listen to some jazz music, talk to the birds – because I do that too – then it feels really good to me.”
Kékfrankos
About the grape
The Kékfrankos vine grows quickly, its bunches are medium-sized and moderately compact. The berries are medium-sized, frosted, and have thick skins. The leaves are not deeply divided and are fairly large. Its origin is still not completely clear. It is grown in many wine regions of Hungary, including Sopron, Villány, Hajós, Szekszárd, and Eger. The Kékfrankos wines from these five regions have different characteristics. In the past, it was also known as “Nagyburgundi.” In Austria, it is called Blaufränkisch, while in Slovakia and Germany, it is referred to as Lemberger. These countries host more than 75% of the world’s Kékfrankos vineyards.
Acidity: medium/high
Tannins: medium
About the wine
Generally speaking, it is a true jack-of-all-trades. It can be made into rosé, light fruity wines, or full-bodied, aromatic, rich reds. It can be produced reductively or with barrel aging. In Szekszárd and Eger, it is a key component of the Bikavér blend.
Our wines are characterized by slightly stronger acidity than average, silky, integrated tannins, a full body, and a long finish. We like to use it both as a single varietal wine and as a component in various cuvées.
Kadarka
About the grape
The Kadarka vine grows quickly, with upright, thick shoots. It is a late-blooming and late-ripening variety. Its bunches are elongated, medium-sized, and cylindrically compact. The leaves are not deeply divided, dark green, and of medium size. It is considered to have originated from Asia Minor. Due to its thin skin, it is sensitive to rot, which is why its cultivation requires great expertise and a bit of luck. For this reason, it is often compared to Pinot Noir.
In Hungary, it is widespread in the Kunság and Szekszárd wine regions, but it can also be found in Bulgaria (Gamza), North Macedonia (Skadarka), Albania, and Romania. There are approximately 1,000 hectares of Kadarka in the world.
Acidity: medium/high
Tannins: low
About the wine
Kadarka typically produces fruity, light, and thin-bodied wines, adorned with characteristic spicy aromas. Its color is pale red. In Szekszárd, it is a mandatory component of the Bikavér blend.
In our wines, we create a fuller-bodied, deeper-colored wine from this grape, with a very intense spicy and fruity character, using reductive techniques.
Cabernet Franc
About the grape
The Cabernet Franc vine has a moderately strong growth, and its flowering occurs one week before that of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is why, in certain parts of the world – especially Bordeaux – this variety is used in cooler vintages. Its bunches are small to medium-sized, frosted, and have thick skins. The leaves are divided and small. It is believed to be of French origin, although some suggest it may come from the Basque region.
In Hungary, the variety can be found in Villány, Szekszárd, Eger, and Sopron, but its true homeland is France. It is most widely grown in Bordeaux (Right Bank) and the Loire Valley (Chinon, Bourgueil, Anjou). It is also found in the United States, Chile, and South Africa.
Acidity: high
Tannins: medium
About the wine
Cabernet Franc is made in many different styles around the world, depending on soil, climatic conditions, and winemaking techniques. These range from simpler, fruity, crisp-acid versions to more complex, fuller-bodied wines with higher tannin content. It is also a good base for rosé wines.
In Hungary, we encounter it both as a single varietal wine and as a component of cuvées. In truly great vintages, it is characterized by a serious, full-bodied flavor with a long finish. With rich aromas, we love to highlight this variety as a pure, single varietal wine. The base for the wine is primarily sourced from the Görögszó area in Szekszárd.
Cabernet Sauvignon
About the grape
Cabernet Sauvignon generally prefers warmer climates. It is a vigorous-growing, late-ripening, and high-yielding variety. Its berries are small, moderately compact, and elongated in shape. The leaves are round and deeply divided. Due to its late flowering and long vegetative period, it may sometimes fail to fully ripen. It originates from Southwestern France. It is the most widespread grape variety in the world, found in its homeland France (Left Bank of Bordeaux), Chile, the United States (Napa Valley), Australia, Spain, Italy (Tuscany, Super Tuscan wines), and, of course, Hungary. In Hungary, it is found in Villány, Szekszárd, and around Eger.
Acidity: high
Tannins: high
About the wine
Premium wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon are usually deep in color. Their relatively high acidity and tannin content give them a distinctive character. They age exceptionally well in oak barrels, but are also made reductively and as rosé wines. Serious vintages can age for a very long time in the bottle.
Our Sophie wine is deep, with a very dark purple, inky hue, filled with fruity and oaky aromas, offering a long finish and a full body. We enjoy using it both as a varietal wine and we also love to use it as a key component in our blends.
Merlot
About the grape
Merlot is a moderately vigorous-growing variety, with an early bud break, making it sensitive to frost. Its leaves are full and divided. The bunches are small to medium-sized, frosted, and its berries are dark blue, with thinner skins than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is found in virtually all of the world’s blue grape-growing regions and is one of the “great” blue grape varieties. An ancient French variety, it is believed to originate from Bordeaux. Today, it is the sixth most widespread red wine grape in Hungary, with its vineyards found in the southern, hilly areas of the Szekszárd, Eger, Villány, Tolna, and Balatonboglár wine regions.
Acidity: medium
Tannins: medium
About the wine
Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot has lower acidity and fewer tannins. It is generally a relatively deep ruby color, at least in terms of quality wines. It can be made reductively or aged in barrels, and can also be used as a base for rosé. Its winemaking methods are only limited by one’s imagination. In terms of flavor, it can range from lighter fruity styles to more serious, full-bodied wines with jam-like flavors.
We like to harvest from the old-vine vineyards of the Görögszó area in Szekszárd, whenever possible. Although these old vines yield less, the grapes are more concentrated and complex. Merlot is an almost essential component of our Bordeaux-style blends.
