Hungarian Wine Culture: A Guide to Wine-Related Vocabulary

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Hungary’s wine culture is as deep and complex as its famous Tokaji Aszú. Whether you’re touring vineyards in Eger or ordering a glass in Budapest, knowing a few key terms will enrich your experience. This guide covers the vocabulary you’ll need to navigate Hungary’s wine scene like a local.

Grape Varieties and Wine Types

Furmint

/ˈfur.mint/
Hungary’s flagship white grape, used in dry wines and the legendary sweet Tokaji Aszú.

Kékfrankos

/ˈkeːk.frɒn.koʃ/

Blaufränkisch

A red grape producing spicy, medium-bodied wines, common in Sopron and Villány.

Egri Bikavér

/ˈɛɡ.ri ˈbi.kɒ.veːr/

Bull’s Blood of Eger

A robust red blend from Eger, traditionally made with Kékfrankos, Kadarka, and other varieties.

Wine Production Terms

Aszú

[ˈɒsuː]

Noble rot

Botrytised grapes used to make sweet Tokaji wines, prized for their honeyed complexity.

Puttonyos

[ˈputːoɲoʃ]
A measure of sweetness in Tokaji Aszú (3-6 puttonyos), referring to the number of baskets of aszú grapes added.

Bordó

/ˈbor.doː/

Red wine

Literally ‘claret’, but commonly used to refer to red wine in general.

Tasting and Drinking

Ízlelés

/ˈiːz.leː.leːʃ/

Tasting

The act of sampling wine, often done at pincészetek (wine cellars) during tours.

Fanyar

[ˈfɒɲɒr]

Tart

A sharp, acidic taste often found in young white wines like Olaszrizling.

Teltestű

/ˈtɛl.tɛʃ.tyː/

Full-bodied

Describes a rich, weighty wine, such as a mature Villányi Cabernet.

Where to Drink

Hungary’s wine regions each have their own specialties. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Tokaj: Home of sweet Aszú and dry Furmint.
  • Eger: Famous for Egri Bikavér and elegant whites.
  • Villány: Red wine capital, especially for full-bodied Bordeaux varieties.
Pro tip: In Budapest, visit a borozó (small wine bar) for affordable local wines by the glass. Try a fröccs (wine spritzer) on a summer evening - it’s a Hungarian staple.

Ordering Like a Local

PhraseMeaning
Egy pohár fehérbor, kéremA glass of white wine, please
Melyik a házi bor?Which is the house wine?
Száraz vagy édes?Dry or sweet?

For more on Hungarian food and drink, see our guide on discussing Hungarian cuisine.

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