The Hungarian Wine Academy awards the title and prize called ‘Winemaker of the
Year’ every year since 1991. The prize is based on the number of years of outstanding
professional performance, on providing consistently exceptional quality and on domestic
and foreign achievements of his /her wines. This title may be used by the winner without
time limit, however, one year past the election it can be used only with displaying the
year of election. Our winners in chronological order:
Winners of the prize: ‘Winemaker of the Year’:
Ede Tiffán
Year: 1991 Region: Villany-Siklos
His vineyards are located in the Villány region where he grows varieties of kékoportó,
kékfrankos, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Until 1991 he acted as a small-
plot farmer, then, started his own business. Success story: 1991 Sunday Times Wine
Club: gold medal, 1993 Amsterdam: gold medal, 1995 Bruxelles Mondial: silver medal.
Range of wines: Kékfrankos Rosé, Cabernet Franc Rosé, Kékoportó, Kékfrankos Cuvée,
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tibor Báthori †
Year: 1992 Region: Etyek-Buda
His vineyards are located in the Etyek region, where he grows chardonnay, sauvignon
blanc, szürkebarát and juhfark. His Planet Chardonnay won bronze medal in 1996,
in Monaco. Range of available wines: Chardonnay from Öreghegy, Etyek Cuvée,
Sauvignon Blanc. He played a crucial role to make Etyek as a recognized region in 1989;
since Etyek is included in the the list of distinguished wine regions of the country.
Ferenc Vesztergombi
Year: 1993 Region: Szekszard
He is producing wine in a family enterprise in the outskirts of Szekszárd, where he grows
chardonnay, kékfrankos, merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. He received a
certificate of recognition in 1995, in Brussels. Range of available wines: Chardonnay,
Kadarka, Bikavér, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kékfrankos and Kékfrankos Rosé.
Attila Gere
Year: 1994 Region: Villany-Siklos
His vineyards are located in the surroundings of Villány where he grows olaszriesling,
kékoportó, kékfrankos, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. In 1996, on the
Foodapest trade fair he won the Champion Prize, in 1993, on Vinitaly he won a Grand
Golden and in 1994 and 1995 bronze medals. In 1995 he won a silver and in ’96 a golden
and a silver medal in Brussels. Range of available wines: Olaszriesling, Kékfrankos
Rosé, Kékoportó, Cuvée and Cabernet Sauvignon Barrique.
Vilmos Thummerer
Year: 1995 Region: Eger
His vineyards are located in the Eger region. He is engaged in growing the following
varieties: chardonnay, leányka, királyleányka, pinot blanc, pinot gris, olaszriesling,
kékfrankos, cabernet sauvignon, kékoportó and merlot. The harvest of these vines is aged
in a 100-year-old tuff cellar in Noszvaj, under perfect climatic conditions. His range of
wines: Chardonnay, Leányka, Királyleányka, Olaszriesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Bikavér.
Zoltán Polgár
Year: 1996 Region: Villany-Siklos
He established his own business, Polgár Pince Kft. (Polgár Cellar Ltd.) in 1990 not only
with vineyards in the Villány-Siklós region, but also with properties in Szekszárd and
Tokaj, growing wide variety of grapes: hárslevelű, olaszriesling, furmint, chardonnay,
ottonel, muskotály, kadarka, kékfrankos, kékoportó, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. He
won gold medals at the 1992, ’94 and ’96 “Foodapest” trade fairs. In 1994 Zoltán brought
home a silver medal from Bordeaux. His range of wines: Chardonnay from Máriagyüd,
Olaszriesling from Kisharsány, Cuvée from Villánysiklós, Villány Cuvée Elixír, Kadarka
from Szekszárd and the Villány Collection: Aranyhárs, Hárslevelű, Olaszriesling, Rosé,
Kékoportó, Kékfrankos, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
József Bock
Year: 1997 Region: Villany-Siklos
His 15 hectare vineyard is located in Villány. Several of his wines won national or
international prizes at different wine contests since 1992. Besides his Bock Cuvée, Royal
Cuvée, Kékoportó and Cabernet Sauvignon, his Kékoportó this season’s wine named
Saint Martin and his oportó-based Remete Cuvée are the favorites of wine lovers.
Tibor Gál †
Year: 1998 Region: Eger
He was the winery manager at the company Ornellaia, located in one of the best and most
famous wine regions of Italy, Toscana, since 1989. G.I.A. Co. Ltd., established in the
Eger Region, has been committed to producing and selling quality wines. His wine cellar
in Eger produces Chardonnay, Leányka, Kékfrankos, Cabernet and Bikavér.
Ákos Kamocsay
Year: 1999 Region: Aszar-Neszmely
The work of Ákos Kamocsay had been awarded ‘Winemaker of the Year 1997″, in
England. A year later, the 1997 vintage of Cserszegi Fűszeres of Hilltop Neszmély
declared to be the best at the very same place, competing against 7500 wines. The
favorite drink of the Winemaker of the Year (1999) is Sauvignon Blanc, which is a spiny,
fresh wine with the scent of elderflower.
Mihály Figula †
Year: 2000 Region: Balatonfured-Csopak
The vast majority of his vineyards is located in Balatonszőlős, some of them in
Balatonfüred. As far the construction of his cellar is concerned, it is a traditional one,
but it satisfies all modern technical and infrastructural requirements. Among his vine
varieties Olaszriesling is the most common, which is the dominant variety of this region.
Szürkebarát, a traditional variety, is also included in his range, whilst his Muscat Ottonel,
a dry white wine, is a curiosity from Balatonszőlős. Among today’s trendy varieties he
offers the following selection: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, each of them
grown in areas with outstanding soil characteristics and on good terrain. He introduced
new, seemingly interesting Cuvée wines (Olaszriesling, Sauvignon, Chardonnay,
Semillon), or the barrique-aged type of a few other variations.
István Szepsy
Year: 2001 Region: Tokaj-Hegyalja
István Szepsy is growing grapes on his own vineyard in Hegyalja since 1993, where he
produces his unique wines, which represent curiosities sought after even by connoisseurs.
He is focusing exclusively on the wine typical to this region: Aszú. He concentrates on
quality in each stage of the wine making technology. Once he confessed the secret of
his delicious drinks: ‘The best quality grapes must be grown on the best fields. Not only
the aszú grapes, but also the grapes providing the base-wine should be hand-picked. It is
terribly work-consuming and the yield is very modest. To attract the world’s attention to
the quality of this negligible volume of wine is my actual goal. Aszú is considered a rare
top wine, a fact reflected in its price.’
Ernő Malya
Year: 2002 Region: Etyek-Buda
In the turn of 1997-98 Ernő Malya discovered this property in Tök, located in the western
part of the region, including the adjacent wine cellar. In accordance with the traditions of
the region, he started to grow white grape varieties on a 110 ha field, only 25 km from the
capital. As a result of the combination of soil high in calcium and rich in other minerals,
the area with not too steep slopes and with pretty good exposure, unique microclimate of
the surrounding area and proper amount of sunshine, let alone skilled hands, the cellar
produced white wines with good scent and fresh flavor – Irsai Olivér, Chardonnay, Pinot
gris (Szürkebarát) and Sauvignon Blanc. The early professional success within Hungary
was followed by international recognition in England, in 2002, at one of the biggest wine
contest of Europe, at the International Wine Challenge of the Wine Magazine, held in
London, where “Buda Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2001″ from Cellar Nyakas won a gold
medal.
János Árvay
Year: 2003 Region: Tokaj-hegyalja
He was born in 1956 in Rátka, in the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja. His family, like most of
the families living in the neighborhood, owned small plots and a cellar. Wines distributed
under his name from the middle of the 90s brought more and more success; they
gradually got into well-known and famous wine shops, restaurants and hotels in Hungary.
In addition, they became more and more appreciated abroad (Russia, United States,
Sweden, Italy). His work is hallmarked by successes like the 6-star Aszú of 1993, which
toured the world with victories: after the gold medal at the Bordeaux Vinexpo, it won
the Critics Choice Award at the New York Wine Experience in 1999. From the spring
of 2000 he has been managing only his own enterprise, the Árvay Wine Cellar. His
objective – shared by his partner, who is also committed to the propagation of wines from
Tokaj – remained the same: to know and letting others to know the outstanding features
of Hegyalja, to improve the quantity and quality of vine growing and the promotion of
Tokaji wines. János Árvay is a member of the Hungarian Wine Academy and the Pannon
Wine Crafting Guild. He was awarded the Tokaj-Hegyalja Region’s Winemaker of
the Year 2000 by his fellow-winemakers and the members of the Mountain County. In
addition, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Republic. In 2003 he was
awarded the Prize of Hungarians for Europe, followed by the title of ‘Winemaker of the
Year 2003’.
Ferenc Takler
Year: 2004 Region: Szekszard
Ferenc Takler and his sons are working hard for a long time and produce good wines
steadily. Their property is of medium size, operated by Ferenc Takler and his two sons,
András and Ferenc, the so-called ‘Takler Trio’. They are making only and exclusively
red wines, using modern technology and matching big 500 l gantry barrels. Using the
barrique method is getting less and less attention. They have a quite wide range of
products: the most important varieties are: Kékfrankos, Kadarka, Cabernet franc and
Merlot. In addition to these, they have Cuvée wines, among them the Kékfrankos-
based Trio and the beautiful and elegant Bikavér (Bull’s Blood). Expert writers have
been singing odes about Primarius, an extremely full and rich Merlot. The success of
the Takler Cellar is clearly proven by the fact that their wines are present on the most
reputable New York restaurants’ wine card over a long period of time.
Béla Vincze
Year: 2005 Region: Eger
Following several years of large-scale wine growing and gaining experience, Béla
Vincze established his own family wine cellar in 1994. His winery is equipped with the
latest machinery required for grape processing and modern wine making. Furthermore,
his winery puts strong emphasis on following the Eger-tradition: long and patient
fermentation in oak barrels.
The high level of his wine growing expertise is proven by the wines of the first Vintage
of 1994. The international jury at the ‘Challenge International du Vin’ contest in 1997,
held in Bordeaux, awarded gold and bronze medals to Béla Vincze’s Cabernet Franc
and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some years later the 2000-vintage Cabernet Franc repeated the
same success (Challenge International du Vin, 2002, gold medal) and on the National
Wine Contest it won the Champion prize. Besides the above-mentioned recognitions,
several national and international prizes prove the wine grower’s efforts.
Vencel Garamvári
Year: 2006 Region: Balatonboglar
The Garamvári Vineyard is a family enterprise based on the Master’s Degree in
Viniculture (engineering) and several decades of experience in wine growing gained by
the head of the family, Vencel Garamvári. Their nice, fragrant white wines and fruity,
mild, spicy red wines – preserving the warmth of summer sunshine and the soft caress
of the Balaton region – are born on the southern coast. Their champagnes, made with
traditional methods, aged in bottles, feature fine acid content, bitter savory bouquet and
high carbonic acid level. Their novelty, presented for the Mozart-anniversary, is the Don
Giovanni.
János Frittmann
Year: 2007 Region: Kunsag
This grower comes from the Kunság region. So far he was included in those who
received the highest number of votes (five times) from the profession, but won the
honored title for the first time only this year. Even before, thanks to the work of many
talented young winemakers, more and more prize-winner wines came from this region.
According to János Frittmann, as a result of the extreme weather this year, to be a good
wine grower is much more important today. If somebody did not muck up something
significant last year – which could cause big trouble anyway – good wines turned up
almost by themselves! This year, however, selecting the time of harvest, the vintage and
the treatment of must (grape juice) demanded serious care and attention. According to
the Winemaker of the Year, the above fact is proved by the white and rosé wines of the
Kunság region: they are clearly very nice.
János Konyári
Year: 2008 Region: Balatonboglar
János Konyári graduated at the Horticultural University in 1974. He started to work
at the Balatonboglár State Farm until 1990, occupying different positions. He gained
international experience in Germany, Australia and South Africa. Later he quit his
position of Chief Winemaker at the State Farm and started his private enterprise. In
Hungary he was one of the firsts who used barrique ageing. He introduced with his own
bottled wines to the market first time in the early 1990s. Together with his son, Dániel,
who is also a Winemaker, they cultivate 30 hectares in Balatonlelle, which is the home
of their wine cellar too. At wine contests their wines achieve one success after the other.
Besides expensive top wines, they produce table wines for everyday use at reliable, high
level.
György Lőrincz
Year: 2009 Region: Eger
György Lőrincz graduated in 1991 as a canning industry engineer, at the University of
Horticulture and Food Industry. Within the framework of his PhD, he graduated as a
Winemaker at the Viniculture Department of the same university. In addition, he obtained
a Ph.D. degree in chemical sciences. He began his professional career at Egervin, then
moved to Ital Co. Ltd. where he reached the position of Shift Manager. Later he worked
as a Technical and Product Development Manager at Egervin Winery Ltd. Since 2002 he
holds the position the General Manager of the family-based St. Andrea Co. Ltd. Among
others, he was selected the “Man of the Year” in Poland. In 2007 he was awarded the
Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Republic. Later he was elected to be the “Winemaker of
Winemakers” and the “Winemaker of the Year” in Eger.
Ottó Légli
Year: 2010 Region: Balatonboglar
At present Otto cultivates 31 hectares. 90% of his 1200 hectoliter/year production is
consumed by Hungarian wine lovers, the rest goes to England, to the United States and to
Slovenia.
His favorite wine is the Banyászó (Witch-hunter) Olasz riesling, but Gesztenyés Rajnai
Riesling is also the apple of his eye, just like the Sauvignon blanc from János-hegy. Since
his one and only daughter just commenced her studies at the Corvinus University, she
will most probably follow the family tradition and will inherit the winery.
This Winemaker from the Balaton region recommends to everyone to use the following
varieties ripened in the beautiful terrain of the so-called Hungarian Sea: his best
childhood friend, the Olasz riesling, his caressed, precious family heritage, the Sauvignon
blanc, and the littlest prodigy, which promises a great future, the Rajnai riesling. His
advise to wine lovers: ‘Taste a lot and carefully, and most of all: trust your own opinion.’
Péter Vida
Year: 2011 Region: Szekszard
In 1995 he decided to establish his own enterprise, the Vida Family Ranch, where his
three children are also taking part in the daily work. He believes that the most important
thing is to supervise the harvest of as many nice and special vintages as possible. He
would like to make this wine region and its wines known to as many people as possible.
He is committed to live in harmony with Nature as much as possible.
For the next ten years he plans to develop and re-plant of the existing areas on an ongoing
basis, as well as to establish additional vineyards. In addition to improve the technology
used in his Family Ranch all the time, he would like to provide excellent hospitality
service.
