Hernyák Estate – Etyek Wine Region

The Hernyáks are an extraordinary family in the Etyek wine region. They are an ethnically-Hungarian family, originally from the Vojvodina region in former Yugoslavia. They immigrated to Hungary in a spur-of-the-moment decision—just with 200 Deutsche Marks in their pockets—in the early 1990s to avoid the bloody wars in Yugoslavia. Valéria and Laci Hernyák founded their winery in 1993, and their son Tomi now works with them as a winemaker.

They initially started their business in Etyek as a distillery, as they had already worked with making palinka back in Yugoslavia. They quickly fell in love with the terroir in Etyek, and got into the winemaking business. Their winery (which is also their home) has steadily grown over the years, and they now have 17 hectares of vineyards.

They grow Pinot Noir, Zöldveltelini, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Their true love is methode traditionelle sparkling wine, and they are big advocates for the region’s potential in this area. Their lovely estate also includes a greenhouse (where they hold small events), their distillery, and tasting rooms. The Hernyák’s hospitality and love for their region and vineyards comes through clearly in their wines.