Winemaking
At the crossroads of two worlds
The barrels stacked on racks, the yellow pallet jack rolling across the shiny concrete floor, and the sight of worn ankle boots always bring New World wineries to mind.
That’s what greeted us when Előd pulled open the iron door of his cellar in Etyek.
The discipline of precision
Although Etyek’s cool climate and calcareous soils fundamentally define the character of my wines, the saying “good wine is made in the vineyard” still underestimates the importance of the work done in the cellar. In truth, exceptional fruit is only the beginning.
Every step of winemaking – whether whole-cluster fermentation, wild fermentation, or lees stirring – involves a series of deliberate, thoughtful decisions aimed at expressing the vineyard, the fruit, and the vintage as clearly as possible, yet through a carefully defined style.
Doing bâtonnage on a Chardonnay barrel
Built for time
In grape growing, two plus two isn’t always equal to four. Yet by closely following the development of each wine, carefully protecting it from oxidation, and maintaining uncompromising attention to detail, it’s possible to achieve exceptional ageing potential – even with the least intervention.
This philosophy sets the standards in the cellar, and inspires those small, but decisive steps that ensure my wines – decades from now – will express the unique character of Etyek’s terroir with precision and complexity.
Fermentation of Pinot Noir in whole clusters
Making sparkling wine
Over a century of sparkling wine tradition, along with climatic and soil conditions similar to those in Champagne, were just a few of the drawcards that led me to make wine in Etyek.
From the beginning, this project has been the one that presents the greatest challenge, yet also gives the most inspiration.
The long aging on lees, the careful refinement of the reserve wine, and the continuous experimentation are the keys to crafting a sparkling wine of true distinction – one that can stand proudly, not only in Hungary, but on the world stage.
Experimental sparkling wine riddling
