The town of Eger is a buzzing center of cultural and gastronomical events. It is also a town with a rich historical heritage manifested in its architecture and of course it is the hub of one of Hungary’s pre-eminent wine regions offering a multitude of wine related delights. Visitors this spring can expect a rich and colourful selection of events in gastronomy and music and various festivals. Members of Eger Wine Workshop are also hosting a number of delightful events: wine tasting, cellar visits, wine dinners and even markets.
March
Thursday, 14 March
Tóth Ferenc Winery – Wine-chocolate tasting
An evening where eight different types of chocolate are paired with eight different wines conjuring up all sorts of synergies and harmonies. Which will be the crowd’s favourite, the 2015 Kadarka matched with São Tomé dark chocolate, black sesame seed and lyophilized raspberries or the 2011 Cabernet Franc matched with Mexican dark chocolate, smoked salt and caramellized almonds? We’ll have to wait and see. The evening will be hosted by Katalin Tóth, manager of Tóth Ferenc Winery, Viktória Szeleczky Takács, founder and creative artist of Fabric Csokoládé and Adél Bernáth-Ulcz, an expert at CsokiLaBor.
Friday, 15 March
Egri Csillag Launch
A few years ago egri csillag became an overnight success and one of the favourite brands of the wine region. This white blend can be crafted into a light everyday wine but also a substantial, oak aged wine. On the day of the Hungarian National Holiday visitors can taste the new egri csillag vintage of almost twenty wineries, participate in the traditional procession of Castle Knights, enjoy concerts and join the after party.
Wednesday, 20 March
Gál Tibor Fúzió – Fúzió Wednesday | Béla Vincze’s world
This evening event at Gál Tibor Fúzió explores the world and career of Béla Vincze, but not just through his own wines but with other items which though connected to his story come from other wineries. So guests can taste wines from other domestic and foreign producers. The event is hosted by Veronika Gál.
Thursday, 21 March
Wine&Tech meetup Eger
What is the relation of the viticulturist-oenologist profession to modern technological inventions? What applications and sensors are available on the market, which are the ones worth considering for smaller and larger wineries? The panel of guests will explain how various appliances are used in the local vineyards and cellars. SmartVineyard will introduce their Vineguard device. Vinometer, a startup will introduce their wine tasting app developed for smart phones. Young Eger winemakers analyze the current Wine&Tech scene at a roundtable discussion.
Saturday, 23 March
Gál Tibor Fúzió – Slow Market
Slow Market is the modern day equivalent of traditional, good-spirited fairs. Slow Market provides visitors a chance to meet producers, artists and winemakers, to have conversations, have a look around, taste and buy products all this in the spirit of Slow Living, that is in a relaxed, unhurried way. This is a monthly, free event where visitors can expect natural, fresh, special treats, original folk and contemporary art and of course an exhilirating spring atmosphere.
Saturday-Sunday, 30-31 March
Hungarikum Picnic in Szépasszony Valley
Eger bikavér has been declared a „hungarikum”, and Szépasszony Valley is the favourite hotspot of winelovers visiting Eger. Like in previous years the town of Eger has invited again all the „hungarikums” for a common festival, to showcase in one place – Hungary’s largest and perhaps best-known historical row of cellars – all the best that Hungary has to offer at a relaxed, good-spirited culinary event. Beyond food and wine visitors can enjoy concerts, folk art and entertainment for the kids.
April
Saturday, 6 April
Thummerer Winery – Vertical vs. horizontal wine dinner at Magtár Fogadó
Magtár Fogadó focuses on presenting the flavours of the Hungarian countryside with a special emphasis on local ingredients. The varied and continuously updated menu is always based on seasonal produce. Culinary delights are not complete without wine – especially Eger wine – so on this evening the exciting and prestigious wines of Thummerer Winery are offered for those who visit Noszvaj on this Saturday.
Saturday, 13 April
Gál Tibor Fúzió – Spring Wine Show
This April Tibor Gál and his team are continuing their original and exciting series of events. Be prepared for all your senses to be thrilled at their exclusive and elegant party. Lights, sound, design, food, wine – all in shades of white. Obviously this means mainly white wines, egri csillag and some exclusive, older bottles. The guest chef prepares sushi and naturally the dress code for visitors is „white”.
Saturday, 20 April
Thummerer Winery – Easter wine dinner at Magtár Fogadó
Should you happen to spend the Easter weekend in Noszvaj, in the Eger wine region there is more than one wine event to pique your interest. Magtár Fogadó focuses on presenting the flavours of the Hungarian countryside with a special emphasis on local ingredients. The varied and continuously updated menu is always based on seasonal produce. Culinary delights are not complete without wine – especially Eger wine – so on this evening the exciting and prestigious wines of Thummerer Winery are offered.
Saturday, 20 April
Gál Tibor Fúzió – Slow Market
Slow Market is the modern day equivalent of traditional, good-spirited fairs. Slow Market provides visitors a chance to meet producers, artists and winemakers, to have conversations, have a look around, taste and buy products all this in the spirit of Slow Living, that is in a relaxed, unhurried way. This is a monthly, free event where visitors can expect natural, fresh, special treats, original folk and contemporary art and of course an exhilirating spring atmosphere.
Thursday-Sunday, 25-28 April
Egri Csillag Weekend & Food Truck Show
At the 8th Egri Csillag Weekend guests can taste and savour the latest vintage of egri csillag presented by the winemakers. Food and wine go hand in hand and the year’s first major Food Truck Show arrives in Eger at the very same weekend. The food trucks offering the best of street food will line up on Dobó Square in the historical town center of Eger. With several concerts held during the weekend wine and food lovers can enjoy all-round entertainment.
Saturday, 27 April
St. Andrea Vineyards and Winery – Gourmet Walk
Spend a pleasant day with the winemakers of St. Andrea Vineyards as your companions! In the course of the Gourmet Walk you’ll visit the most exciting restaurants of Eger’s historical town center (Macok Bistro, Senátor House, Imola Hotel Platán Restaurant), then visit St. Andrea Kedves Bistro in Szépasszony Valley, where rare and special wines are served with matching dishes conjured up by the chefs. The final stop is the Egerszalók winery where you will have a guided tour of the cellar facility and taste the latest bottlings of St. Andrea with some local cheese.
May
Wednesday, 1 May
May Day in Szépasszony Valley
May day is also celebrated in the Szépasszony Valley in Eger. At the rows of cellars various events, wine and food awaits visitors. The 2nd Hungarikum Picnic having started at the end of March is continued, make sure to make a registration.
Friday, 10 May
Tóth Ferenc Winery – Big Tasting
This multi-generation winery has been making wines for over three decades with over sixty harvests under their belt. They own and farm some of the best vineyards in Eger and so are well-suited to produce top quality wines. Their winemaking philosophy is to preserve the traditional Eger flavours while marrying the latest technology with the most traditional processes. On the first Big Tasting Tóth Ferenc Winery is going to present the outstanding, prize-winning wines they are the most proud of and only a few bottles are left of.
Thursday, 16 May
Petrény Winery – Balla Géza wine tasting
The 2018 recipient of the Winemaker of the Year award, Géza Balla visits Eger to present his wines at Petrény Völgy47 in Szépasszony Valley and will surely make this evening unforgettable. The award has directed the public’s attention not only to the excellent work being done by Géza Balla but also to the Ménes wine region that was sadly neglected for several decades but is now getting back to its best.
Saturday, 18 May
Thummerer Winery – Spring wine dinner at Magtár Fogadó
Thummerer Winery has been growing grapes and crafting wines since 1984. The wines presented at the dinner are produced from grapes planted and grown by this 90 ha Eger wine estate. Magtár Fogadó focuses on presenting the flavours of the Hungarian countryside with a special emphasis on local ingredients. The varied and continuously updated menu is always based on seasonal produce. And they are very much aware that culinary delights are not complete without wine, especially without Eger wine.
Saturday, 18 May
St. Andrea Napbor Celebration
For the Winery St. Andrea Napbor Celebration is one of the most eagerly awaited days filled with music and spiced with culinary and cultural treats. This is the 5th annual celebration and as a commemoration the winery is preparing something special. The winemakers György Lőrincz and György Lőrincz Jr will give visitors guided cellar tours every 2 hours, while in the wine bar the latest wines will be on offer with some special culinary delights.
Saturday, 25 May
Gál Tibor Fúzió – Slow Market
Slow Market is the modern day equivalent of traditional, good-spirited fairs. Slow Market provides visitors a chance to meet producers, artists and winemakers, to have conversations, have a look around, taste and buy products all this in the spirit of Slow Living, that is in a relaxed, unhurried way. This is a monthly, free event where visitors can expect natural, fresh, special treats, original folk and contemporary art and of course an exhilirating spring atmosphere.
Thursday-Saturday, 30 May–1 June
Bolyki Winery – Feszt!Eger 2019 – Can’t stop the music!
Eger, Losonczy-valley, gardens on all sides, senior citizens, small cellars, large ravines, rocks and Bolyki. Impossible to miss, proper catharsis, a space surrounded by vertical cliffs, a cellar at the bottom with great wines. Music, party, now and then silence, the annual Feszt!Eger. Easy to find, harder to leave.
To find out more, please, visit the Facebook page of Egri Bor Most: www.facebook.com/egribormost/
Featured image: Attila Busák