Nádas Borműhely, Királyleányka, 2022

Nádas Borműhely, Etyek-Buda Region

The Királyleányka grape originated in the Transylvania region of Romania, most probably as a natural crossing (meaning without human intervention) of the Kövérszőlő and Leányka grape varieties. It was officially recognized as a Hungarian grape in 1973. Hungarian wine-lovers appreciate it as a light wine, with a floral and fruity character, a crisp acidity, and a delicately perfumed aroma. Királyleányka is most often associated with the Eger wine region, where it is one of the most planted white grapes (and also a component of the Egri Csillag blend). Of the approximately 900 producing hectares of Királyleányka, there are about 60 hectares planted in Etyek. Winemaker Szilárd Nádas sources his Királyleányka grapes from his 38-year-old vines on the Etyek wine region’s most revered slope, Öreg-hegy. This 100 percent Királyelányka was fermented in steel tanks, so as to preserve all of the wonderful aromatic qualities of this grape. But this is a somewhat atypical Királyleányka, in that the color is deeper and the usual intense elderflower perfuminess on the nose is replaced by chamomile flowers, candied fruit, watermelon Jolly Rancher, lemon curd, and gummy bear aromas. There is a lot packed in this bottle. The rich nose is followed by a lush and fairly full-body, which is enriched by a few grams per liter of residual sugar. This wine is packed with floral and fresh fruit flavors—lime, lemon, dried elderflower, and juicy mango—with a nice acidity that keeps it fresh and lively. We like this wine with rich salads (perhaps a Salad Nicoise) and Asian dishes (such as curries or Szechuan dishes). It’s also great paired with Hungarian dishes such as lángos, catfish paprikás, and with mákos tészta (poppyseed pasta). Like the label suggests, this is a happy wine. Just 980 bottles made.

Read About The Etyek-Buda Region

Nádas Borműhely 

Winemaker Szilárd Nádas and his wife, Veronika Rajnai, both horticultural engineers, are the team behind Nádas Borműhely (“Wine Workshop”). They both worked in Bordeaux, Yarra Valley, and Okanagan Valley, before starting their own winery. In 2011 they bought a crumbling 19th-century press house on Etyek’s Öreghegy (“Old Hill”), and they now have six hectares of vineyards—mainly the white varieties typical to Etyek, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris), Királyleányka, and Zöldveltelíni (Grüner Veltliner), as well as some PInot Noir. With their newest plantation (finished in 2019), they also have some rarities, such as Viktória Gyöngye (Pearl of Victoria), Pinot Meunier, and Chenin Blanc. They produce up to 14,000 bottles annually, and receive many visitors. They like to experiment with local varieties, while also showing their international grape varieties in a different light, unique to the Etyek region.