Budapest Wine Festival 2014

The greatest gathering of winemakers in Hungary will be held between 10 and 14 September 2014 on the terraces of the Buda Castle. The theme of this year’s Wine Festival is wine and healthy lifestyle. The distinguished festival guest of the year is Italy.

Before the festival, on 8 and 9 September, a Wine University will be held. During this two-day event well-known professionals will give lectures and provide useful information to the visitors. Tasting of high-quality wines will be offered along the lectures.

Subject of the first day: clean wines – clean thoughts. In focus: bio, organic and authentic wines. Second day: Introducing the distinguished guest of the Festival, Italy. Hungarian and Italian winemakers present the rich variety of Italian wine regions.

Buda Castle

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoon wine tasting will be offered to representatives of the trade. Local winemakers will reveal trade secrets with introducing wine pairs announced in advance. Exhibitors participating in this program will provide tasting of these wine pairs between 2 PM and 7 PM at their stalls, lead by winemakers or other professionals.

This event, with presenting more than 200 wineries all over Hungary, will include practically every region and grape variety in the country. The Wine Festival this year will provide special help in finding your way among the extremely colorful presentations: specific tasting routes will be available, first of all, for foreigners less familiar with Hungarian wines and for locals who are making the first steps in learning the consumption of wine.

Almost 50 cultural and musical programs are prepared for visitors. The time spent at the Wine Festival will be enhanced by programs of the most favorable Hungarian representatives of world music, folk music, jazz and folk dance.

Hungarian craftsmen will present yesteryears’ trades along the Street of Trades, which will lead to the Wine Festival; visitors will have an opportunity to purchase the products of participating craftsmen.

On 14 September, a harvest march will be held as part of the Wine Festival. This colorful folk music and dance party will celebrate the harvest. Folk dance ensembles dressed in unique, traditional costumes, bands preserving old traditions and representatives of Wine Orders and various Friends’ of Wines will participate in the march.

In accordance with the tradition, this year the Wine Festival will offer gastronomic specialties made of high-quality, local raw materials, based on the flavors and special dishes of various region of the host country. Old recipes with new twists, artisan products, special hams and cheeses, home-made smoked goodies and busy bistro kitchens will be present side-by-side in the Buda Castle.