According to a recent research, Olaszrizling, Szürkebarát and Kéknyelű are the most popular wines from Balaton. It seems that “wine programmes” are becoming an increasingly important part of a Balaton holiday: two thirds of respondents to an online questionnaire will go on at least one wine tasting, winery visit, wine tour or wine festival during their holiday.
Light taste and freshness – these are the two adjectives that most people think of when they think of Balaton wines, according to a recent survey by the Archbishop of Veszprém Winery. More than 1200 people filled in the questionnaire, which also included questions about the familiarity of Balaton wines, grape varieties and wine regions, and aspects of wine selection. Fifty-two per cent of them clearly see the Lake Balaton region as the home of dry wines, and about the same number mentioned the volcanic flavour as a characteristic of Balaton wines.
Of the six wine regions of the Balaton region – Badacsony, Balatonboglár, Balaton highlands Balatonfüred-Csopak, Somló and Zala – Badacsony is the most popular, with 41 percent of the survey participants preferring the wines of the wineries there. 23 percent voted for wines from the Balatonfüred-Csopak region and 15 percent for wines from the Balaton highlands.
The “ranking” of the most popular Balaton varietal wines is led by Olaszrizling – almost 70 percent of respondents enjoy drinking it – followed by Szürkebarát, Kéknyelű and Sauvignon Blanc. The majority of respondents not only buy Balaton wines, but also know the grape varieties grown in the region: 92 percent (correctly) consider Olaszrizling to be the most typical Balaton grape variety, but many also mentioned the Rhine Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, which are also grown in large areas.
What do we base our choice on among the wines from Lake Balaton?
The online survey was also interested in what customers base their choice on when choosing wines from Lake Balaton. According to the results, the most important aspect is the type of wine – whether it is white, rosé or red wine. Every second respondent prefers to choose from wines from wineries they like, for 45 percent the dryness level (sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry, dry), and for 42 percent the wine region is also an important aspect when buying.
When asked what occasions Balaton wines are best suited for, the majority of respondents mentioned gatherings with friends and family, and barbecues. Most people drink Balaton wines neat, with only four out of ten making spritzers. It seems that wine cocktails, which are becoming increasingly popular abroad, do not yet have a large fan base in Hungary, with barely 1 percent of respondents consuming such drinks.
No holiday at Lake Balaton without wine tasting?
It seems that “wine programs” are increasingly becoming an integral part of a holiday in Balaton: two-thirds of respondents enjoy participating in wine tastings, cellar visits, wine tours or festivals while on holiday, and 33 percent go to several such programs. Among the wine festivals in Balaton, most have already been to the Balatonfüred Wine Weeks, the Badacsony Wine Weeks, and the Balaton Fish and Wine Festival in Balatonfüred.
It is good news for wineries around Lake Balaton that 94 percent of respondents enjoy drinking Lake Balaton wines not only on vacation, but also at other times of the year.
About the research
More than 1,200 people filled out the online questionnaire of the Veszprém Érseki Winery in June 2023, half of them women and half of them men. 22 percent of them live in Budapest, 20 percent in Veszprém, 10 percent in Pest county, the rest of the respondents live in other counties. One third of the participants are aged 46-55, a quarter belong to the 36-45 age group, and 18 percent are 26-35 years old. Almost all of the respondents consume wine, more than 45 percent several times a week, 20 percent once a week, and 35 percent less often. 95 percent have already tasted Balaton wine, and 80 percent are familiar with the Veszprém Érseki Winery.
