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Balaton Wine Region
Balaton Wine region
Balaton is a large wine region which presents a rather diverse picture, as the northern and southern shores differ markedly from each other, to say the least. However, it also includes the Somló and Zala wine districts, parts of which form even more distinct islands. Nevertheless, the lake is a true integrator and constitutes an independent entity also from a geographical point of view.
The Balaton wine region thus encompasses six wine districts: the Balatonboglár wine district stretches out relatively uniformly along the southern shore, while the Balatonfüred-Csopak, Balaton-felvidék and Badacsony wine districts can be found on the northern shore. The Zala wine district stretches from the western tip of the lake to the Croatian-Slovenian border, while Somló, located about 40 kilometres north of Lake Balaton, rises as an independent volcanic hill, with a completely different, unique character.
Wine consumers associate this region primarily with white wine, but this image is slowly changing. On the one hand, the characteristics of the Balatonboglár wine district make it traditionally suitable for producing serious, ageable, Bordeaux-type red wines, while the northern shore, especially Balatonfüred-Csopak, has begun to rediscover Kékfrankos in the last decade. Nevertheless, if we had to name a single variety that is most characteristic of the region, it would naturally be Olaszrizling, which thrives in all six wine districts of the region. This grape variety is so symbiotic with the Balaton that the region has built an independent brand, BalatonBor, on it.
Olaszrizling is also a perfect choice in that it can showcase the extremely heterogeneous differences in the region’s vineyards. While vineyards are planted on warm, mainly loess soils on the south shore, there are calcareous, marly soils on the north, which range from red Permian sandstone to various volcanic soils, as well as extremely varied microclimates. It is clear, therefore, that the diversity of the Balaton region also makes it one of the most exciting growing areas in Hungary.
Wine districts of the region
Events
Domestic and international wine programs