Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Among the best vintners in Villány is József Bock, whose Royal Cuvée is a special blend
of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Other names to watch out for are Márton Mayer
and Alajos Wunderlich. Wines to try from this region include Attila Gere's elegant and com-
plex Cabernet Sauvignon or his Solus Merlot as well as Ede and Zsolt Tiffán's elegant and
complex Blauer Portugieser and Cabernet Franc.
Two excellent tomes on Hungarian wine are the rather, er, soberThe Wines of Hungaryby
Alex Liddell and the much flashier and more colourfulHungary: Its Fine Wines & Wine-
makersby David Copp. Both books look not just at wines but at the whole wine-making
process.
Eger
Flanked by two of Northern Hungary's most beautiful ranges of hills, Eger is the home of
the celebrated Egri Bikavér (Eger Bull's Blood), a blend of Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch)
mixed with other reds, sometimes Kadarka. Bikavér producers to watch out for are Tibor
Gál and István Toth; the latter's Bikavér easily compares to any of the 'big' reds from
Villány. Look out for Kékfrankos and Merlot from János Bolyki.
Eger's signature grape is Pinot Noir; try Tibor Gál
fils
' version, which is on par with the
premiers crus
from Burgundy. You'll also find several decent whites in Eger, including
Leányka (Little Girl), Olaszrizling (Italian Riesling) and Hárslevelű from Debrő.
