Nádas Borműhely, Sauvignon Blanc Selection, 2022

Nádas Borműhely, Etyek-Buda Region

Since the 1990s, and the rebirth of the Hungarian wine industry, the Etyek region has been focusing on international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc (as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). About 30 kilometers west of Budapest, Etyek’s limestone soil and overall colder climate make it, arguably, Hungary’s best region for growing Sauvignon Blanc, of which there are around 900 hectares planted across the country. Sauvignon Blanc is just as popular in Hungary as it is worldwide. As elsewhere, it is a grape that can show several faces. Winemaker Szilárd Nádas likes to show international varieties in a more unusual light, and this wine shows the richer and more serious side of Sauvignon Blanc. More than just a summer thirst-quencher, this wine is suitable for all seasons, and it works well with many foods. The grapes—which come from vineyards planted in 1991—were fermented and aged six months, two-thirds in stainless steel and one-third in oak barrels. This Sauvignon Blanc has a grassy and herbal character. There are delightful notes of grapefruit, gooseberry, lime, and lemongrass, as well as the captivating aroma of fresh flowers after a summer rain. This is a cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, with a richer than usual body (for this grape), and a texture that is oily, viscous, and lush. Enjoy it with salads, fish, vegetable tarts, and soft creamy cheeses (such as goat cheese). Only 746 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.