Budapest: Private Wine Tasting 7 Hungarian Varietals

What Hungarian wine tastes like, according to someone who judges it

You taste eight wines (six whites and two reds) all from indigenous Hungarian grapes, with stories from a wine journalist who knows the makers. The tasting includes a map of Hungary's wine regions, tapas, and two hours in Budapest learning why these wines are hard to find outside top restaurants in the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private wine tasting in Budapest

• Arrive at tasting location
• Learn about Hungarian wine history
• Taste 7+1 indigenous Hungarian wines
• View wine regions on large map
• Enjoy tapas plates with wine
• Hear stories from wine journalist

The experience

Most people arrive in Budapest thinking wine is something Italy and France do better. Then you sit down with someone who's tasted thousands of bottles and judged them for competitions, and you realize Hungary's been making wine for centuries while everyone else was looking the other way. This tasting runs two hours, and it covers six white wines and two reds. All indigenous grapes you won't find on a wine list back home, except maybe in a Michelin-starred kitchen in the city center.

The whites start with Furmint, the grape that built Tokaji Aszú and tastes nothing like you'd expect if you've only had the sweet version. Then there's Hárslevelű, which sounds impossible to say out loud (the host will laugh when you try), and Cserszegi fűszeres: literally "the unpronounceable grape," and yes, that's what people call it. The reds are Kékfrankos, Kadarka, and Bull's Blood, which is exactly as dramatic as it sounds and tastes nothing like the name suggests. Between pours, the host (a wine journalist and judge) tells stories about the winemakers he knows personally, the kind of details you only get when someone's been inside the industry long enough to have actual friendships with producers.

The tasting happens in Budapest, and the wines themselves are the kind you'd only otherwise encounter in top hotels or Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. A big map of Hungary's wine regions hangs nearby, so you can see where each bottle comes from, which regions produce what, and why the geography matters. Tapas arrive with the tasting: ham, sausages, cheese, olives, bread. Nothing fancy, but it's the right ballast for two hours of serious drinking. You leave knowing what Hungarian wine actually is, not what you assumed it was.

What’s included

Eight wine tastings (six white, two red) from indigenous Hungarian grape varieties, tapas plates with ham, sausages, cheese, olives and bread, a map of Hungary's wine regions, and stories about the winemakers from a wine journalist and judge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Miklós Csizmadia

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand what Hungary actually drinks instead of guessing, and who'd rather learn from someone inside the industry than from a generic wine bar. Two hours is enough time to taste properly without rushing, and the tapas keep you grounded through the pours.

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Top questions

What grapes will I taste?

Six white wines including Furmint, Hárslevelű, and Cserszegi fűszeres, plus two reds: Kékfrankos, Kadarka, and Bull's Blood.

How long is the tasting?

Two hours.

Is food included?

Yes, tapas plates with ham, sausages, cheese, olives, and bread.

Who leads the tasting?

A wine journalist and wine judge with personal connections to Hungarian winemakers.

Is this suitable for wine beginners?

Yes, the host explains the history and context of Hungarian winemaking alongside the tasting.

Are there any restrictions?

Not recommended for pregnant travelers. Service animals are allowed.