The annual Drinks Business Awards have become an authoritative, internationally respected recognition of achievement in the wine and spirits industry. Drinks Business, a leading British drinks trade publication, has been recognizing and awarding the world's top drinks companies for 11 years in categories ranging from retail sector and importers, to logistics and design and marketing.

"The Drinks Business Awards are designed to recognize and reward top performers across the international drinks industry," according to the magazine. "Unveiled each year at the London Wine Fair, it is a chance for outstanding companies and individuals to win high profile recognition in front of some of the industry’s most influential representatives." Taste Hungary won in the tourism category, winning over finalists Stellenbosch Wine Routes and La Motte Wine Estate, both from South Africa.

“While the New World has long embraced wine tourism, many parts of Europe are less adept at encouraging visitors to discover their region, but this year’s winner has created a novel approach to entice tourists to the heart of the Continent,” stated Drinks Business Awards.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for our work with wine tourism in Hungary, and to have won this award, particularly among such distinguished finalists in our category," said Gábor Bánfalvi, Taste Hungary co-owner and founder. "Building this company and creating our tours, which are experiences that our guests remember for a lifetime, has been a rewarding experience for us. We are proud to work with our network of winemakers, and to have played a role in introducing Hungarian wine to so many people. We think this award is also an acknowledgement that now is the time for Hungarian wine to find its place in the world, and we hope to help the industry continue with that challenge."

Founded by Carolyn and Gábor Bánfalvi, Taste Hungary has been offering small group and private walking tours and food and wine tours since 2008. Carolyn is the author of the acclaimed books Food Wine Budapest (Little Bookroom) and The Food and Wine Lover's Guide to Hungary (Park Kiadó), and her articles regularly appear in international publications. Taste Hungary's tours are food and wine focused and are led by a network of guides who are food and wine experts and students, winemakers, food writers and bloggers, and committed gastronomes.

Taste Hungary is committed to creating authentic wine and culinary experiences in the emerging wine regions of Hungary and the region, to educating travelers about Hungarian food and wine, and to strengthening the image of the Hungarian wine industry.

Taste Hungary works with a select group of wineries, who provide memorable experiences and wines to international travelers, and act as ambassadors of Hungarian wine and gastronomy to travelers who are often unfamiliar with what Hungary has to offer. Taste Hungary's tours and services have been recommended in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Condé Nast Traveller. On June 4th Taste Hungary opened its Cellar Kitchen (Brody Sandor utca 9) in the Palace Quarter, a wine tasting room and kitchen where it plans to hold a variety of wine tastings and special culinary events.

To learn more about Taste Hungary, visit its website at: www.tastehungary.com.

To learn more about the Drinks Business Awards, see the press release unveiling the winners here