Hungarian Wine in Budapest: Don't Just Order What You Drink at Home
You're in Hungary. You sit down at a restaurant, open the wine list and there they are: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon. You know them. You probably drink them at home.
So here's our suggestion: don't automatically order what you already know.
Hungary has a serious wine culture and plenty of grape varieties that you may rarely — or never — come across on an average restaurant wine list back home. You don't need to be a wine expert. You just need to be willing to experiment a little.
You Don't Need to Learn Hungary's Wine Regions
Tokaj. Villány. Eger. Balaton.
We could write an entire guide about Hungary's wine regions — and if you're interested in wine, they are absolutely worth exploring. But when you're sitting in a Budapest restaurant at 7pm, you probably don't want to take an exam in Hungarian wine geography. You just want a good glass of wine with dinner.
So we suggest a different approach. Don't try to memorise every wine region or winery. Remember a few Hungarian grape varieties instead.
If You Like Fresh, Aromatic Whites
Irsai Olivér
One of the easiest introductions to Hungarian wine. Irsai Olivér tends to produce aromatic, fresh and approachable wines. If you enjoy fruity, fragrant white wines, it's well worth trying.
It may not be the bottle you spend three hours analysing. But on a Budapest terrace with a light lunch or dinner? That can be exactly the point.
Cserszegi Fűszeres
First challenge: pronouncing it. 😄
Don't let that stop you. Cserszegi Fűszeres is another aromatic Hungarian variety that can produce fresh, distinctive and very approachable white wines.
If you want to order something you probably don't see every week in your local wine shop, this is a good place to start.
If You Like Dry White Wine
Olaszrizling
First, one important point: it isn't Riesling.
Despite the name, Olaszrizling is a different grape and one of Hungary's important white varieties. It can produce a wide range of wines, from simple, fresh everyday whites to much more serious, mineral and complex bottles.
If you enjoy dry white wine but don't want to venture too far into unfamiliar territory, Olaszrizling is an excellent starting point.
If You Want Something More Serious
Furmint
If you remember only one Hungarian white grape, Furmint is a very good candidate.
And let's clear up one common misconception: Furmint does not mean sweet.
Many visitors associate Tokaj with sweet wine — particularly Tokaji Aszú. And for good reason. But Furmint can also produce excellent dry wines.
They can be fresh, structured, mineral, complex and extremely food-friendly. If you normally enjoy more serious Chardonnay, Riesling or other characterful dry whites, ask about Furmint.
If You Want Something Really Different
Juhfark
It's worth trying for the name alone. It translates roughly as “sheep's tail.”
Juhfark is one of Hungary's more distinctive white grapes and is particularly associated with Somló. You won't necessarily find it in every Budapest restaurant. Which is exactly why, if you see it on the wine list, ask about it.
Kéknyelű
Another name worth remembering. Kéknyelű is a rarer Hungarian white variety particularly associated with Badacsony. If you spot it on the list, ask your waiter about it. Trying something you can't easily find elsewhere is part of the fun.
What About Red Wine?
This is where it's easy to fall back on familiar names: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir. Hungary makes very good wines from international varieties too. But while you're here, try something different at least once.
Kékfrankos
This is a name worth remembering. Kékfrankos is one of Hungary's most important red grape varieties and can appear in several different styles.
It can make lighter, fruit-driven reds as well as more structured, serious wines. And there's another reason to remember it: rosé.
Kadarka
If you're looking for a huge, powerful Cabernet-style wine, this may not be what you want. And that's exactly why Kadarka is interesting.
It can produce lighter, spicy and elegant red wines with plenty of character. Not every red wine needs to be huge, dark and heavily oaked to be good.
Yes, Try the Hungarian Rosé
Experiment with rosé while you're in Hungary.
Particularly in summer, you'll see it everywhere, and many Hungarian wineries make fresh, easy-drinking rosé. Kékfrankos is frequently used for rosé too, so if you see that combination on a wine list, give it a look.
And don't expect every Hungarian rosé to be trying to imitate Provence. That's the point. You're not in Provence.
On a warm Budapest evening, sitting on a terrace with pizza, a salad or simply having a glass before dinner, Hungarian rosé can be a great choice.
Your Best Wine Guide May Be Standing Next to Your Table
There is a much easier way to discover Hungarian wine than trying to learn everything before dinner: ask your waiter.
If you're eating at one of the restaurants recommended by Budapest Food Atlas, simply tell them what you normally enjoy and ask for a Hungarian alternative.
“I usually drink Sauvignon Blanc. Is there a Hungarian wine you would recommend instead?”
“I'd like to try a Hungarian red. Something not too heavy — what would you suggest?”
Or simply: “Which Hungarian wine would you drink with this?”
A good restaurant should be able to help. And you may end up drinking something much more interesting than the familiar name you would have chosen yourself.
Don't Automatically Look for the Most Expensive Bottle
Discovering Hungarian wine doesn't have to be an expensive experiment. If a restaurant offers several wines by the glass, take advantage of it. Order a glass of a grape you've never tried before.
Don't like it? That's fine. Now you know.
Love it? You've just discovered something you probably didn't come to Budapest expecting to find.
Budapest Food Atlas Wine Cheat Sheet
Irsai Olivér → aromatic, fresh and easy-drinking.
Cserszegi Fűszeres → aromatic, distinctive and very Hungarian.
Olaszrizling → dry white; an easy starting point, but capable of being much more serious.
Furmint → try it dry. Tokaj doesn't only mean sweet wine.
Juhfark → unusual and distinctive. If you see it, ask about it.
Kéknyelű → another rarer Hungarian speciality worth exploring.
Kékfrankos → try it as a red or a rosé.
Kadarka → lighter and spicier. Don't expect Cabernet.
Tokaji Aszú → that's another story. Order dessert. 😄
Don't Overthink It
You don't need to understand Hungarian wine. You don't need to know which vineyard sits on which hillside. And you certainly don't need to memorise twenty winery names before dinner.
If you're eating at one of the restaurants recommended by Budapest Food Atlas, ask your waiter which Hungarian wine they would drink with your food.
Tell them what you normally enjoy and let them surprise you.
Maybe it won't become your favourite. Maybe it will. Either way, you tried something that actually belongs here.
You came to Hungary. Drink something Hungarian. 🇭🇺🍷