Wine Tour to Somló & Balaton

Small-group tours to Lake Balaton & Somló are available on Sundays. On other days of the week, small-group wine tours run to different regions. Private tours can be arranged on any day of the week to any wine region!

The volcanic soil in these two nearby regions means that some of the country’s most unique and interesting white wines are produced here. The tour includes a visit to a winery on the northern side of Lake Balaton, affectionately known as the “Hungarian Sea.” The rolling hills above the lake (which seemingly changes color from every angle) are covered with a patchwork of grapevines, fields of lavender, chunks of limestone, and scenic cellars.

From there you’ll head to the Somló region, which consists of the vineyards covering just one pretty hill, which is an extinct volcano. It’s Hungary’s smallest wine region—like a secret garden full of untouched vineyards and crumbling old houses. A fortified castle is perched on top of the hill, and there are three Medieval churches. Visiting Somló is a distinctly un-touristy experience with plenty rewards, and some new tastes.

The main wines produced here are from the native Hungarian varietals of Furmint, Olaszrizling, Hárslevelu, and Juhfark. Juhfark—a grapes which grows almost nowhere else—is the region’s signature wine (also known as “wedding night wine”). Once you try a wine from Somló, the saying goes, you will forever recognize the taste of them. They tend to be elegant, high in alcohol, acidic, and with lots of minerality. They are meant to be aged. We are pretty sure that tasting these unusual wines in these magical regions will blow you away.

Hungary’s emerging wine regions are being increasingly recognized internationally … but you still won’t find many of the country’s most interesting wines outside of the borders! Join us to experience Hungarian wine country and we’ll take you to some stunningly beautiful places, taste some truly unique wines, and meet some talented winemakers. The wineries you visit will be a mix of the traditional, the experimental, and the modern. We’ll visit the production areas, wander in the vineyards, and tour the ageing cellars (ranging from 500-year-old ancient hand-carved ones to the ultra-modern). Often you’ll meet the winemakers themselves. Your guide will tell you the story of Hungarian wine so you can put it in context with the greater world of wine. The tour includes a platter of local cheese or charcuterie with one of the tastings and a slow lunch—either homemade at a winery or at a winery-owned restaurant—where you’ll see how the regional food matches with the wine. By the end of the tour, we hope your thirst for Hungarian wine will have grown and you continue to seek it out!