The Foundations
From Napa Valley to the summit of Hungarian fine dining
It all began with a bold idea – and an empty garage in Etyek…
The zero hour
As a first-generation winemaker, I started with a blank slate: I neither had to take over nor transform an existing estate. After earning my degree in viticulture and enology, my path led me to the legendary Harlan Estate in Napa Valley, where I learned the foundations of New World precision winemaking.
It was also there that I realized truly iconic wines require not only exceptional fruit, but also a mindset driven by perfection and an uncompromising attention to detail. From that realization, a philosophy was born.
Planting the first Pinot Noir parcel with Burgundy clones (2020)
The first chapter
After returning home, I faced two choices: go back to California or use the expertise I had acquired here. I hesitated for some time, but was ultimately driven by a simple human desire – to create something of my own.
In Hungary, only one wine region truly resonated with the style I envisioned: Etyek. Its cool climate, limestone soils, and deep-rooted sparkling wine tradition all pointed me there.
In January 2019, I discovered an empty garage which I renovated by harvest and equipped with the essentials so I could start that very year. For that first vintage, I harvested grapes from a 0.3-hectare plot, complemented by fruit sourced from local growers – from this, ten thousand bottles of wine were born.
2019: The first harvest
Built to grow, made to last
Demand for my wines soon outpaced supply. In 2022, a Michelin-starred restaurant acquired the entire vintage of my sparkling wine. From that moment on, success followed success – each recognition affirming that my wines could stand proudly at the highest level.
The search for outstanding sites was soon followed by new plantings, and I was able to equip the cellar with state-of-the-art technology and the finest barrels. It is no secret that I am building with the long term in mind. What I've achieved so far is only the beginning
Last refinements before pressing Pinot Noir in 2022
