Lake Balaton Wine Region
Lake Balaton is primarily a summer holiday destination, but the people who come to laze on the beach often overlook the fact that they are surrounded by some excellent winegrowing country. Four wine producing regions share the shores of the lake, Balatonfelvidék (the Balaton uplands), Balatonfüred-Csopak and Badacsony on the hilly north shore, and Balatonboglár to the flatter south.
The table-top volcano of Badacsony offers a number of delicious white wines to go with the spectacular views of Lake Balaton. Huba Szeremley, a local estate owner, has contributed a great deal to the region, making it his mission to produce affordable, high-quality table wines. The fruits of these labours can be enjoyed in his cellars (Badacsonytomaj, Fő út 51-53), open during the summer at weekends from noon to 8pm on Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 6pm on Sunday. The Szent Orbán Restaurant and Wine Cellar is the place to go for fine food, wine and hillside views.
The undulating Balatonfelvidék region, is a renowned white wine region, specialising in Italian Riesling, as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The landscape is littered with hundreds of cellars and press houses, reflecting a winemaking tradition stretching back two millennia. Visitors can find out how wine is made and sample some for themselves at the Szakálvin Winery near Kővágóörs.Balatonfüred-Csopak lies on the north eastern shore of the lake and includes the beautiful Tihany peninsula. The soil around Csopak has a rich, deep red colour, imparting a unique flavour to the local wines. The wine produced in each vineyard varies greatly depending on the angle of the slope and the proximity to the lake, which keeps the ground warm at night and creates pockets of sub-Mediterranean climate. It is worthwhile to take the time to explore the region, wines can vary hugely from one vineyard to the next. Highlights include the Figula winery in Balatonfüred, celebrated for its outstanding Pinot Gris, Italian Rieslings Chardonnays. The Jásdi Pince in Csopak also welcomes visitors.
In the area near Balatonboglár is a large wine region on the southern shores of Lake Balaton. Despite the old joke that the best thing about this flatter side of the lake is the view to the north, some very good wines are grown here. The Légli Winery welcomes visitors for sampling and offers accommodation in the adjoining manor house. There is also an official wine route that makes it easy to try the wines of a number of different wine growers in a single day.
Other vineyards:
Chapel Hill Winery
Konyári Winery
Garamvári Vineyard
