Szekszárd Vintage Days is a four-day long multi-art festival, between 15 and 18 September, 2016, which offers fine programmes, exhibitions, concerts, traditional arts and crafts fair, regional cuisine and vintage parade for its guests. Participants also have opportunity to taste wines from local cellars in the Wine Court.

Perhaps the most spectacular element of the event is the vintage parade on Saturday afternoon. By watching this parade, different harvesting tools, traditions, colourful dresses and even small performances of folk dance groups are shown in a very vivid and cheerful way.

Participating wineries:
Bernát Winery, Bodri Winery, Bősz Adrián Winery, Brill Pálinka House, Dániel Winery, Danubiana, Dúzsi Tamás Winery, Eszterbauer Winery, Fekete Winery, Ferenczi Winery, Ferger-Módos Winery, Fritz Wine House, Garai Winery, Heimann Family Winery, Herr Winery, Hetényi Winery, Márkvárt János Jr, Illyés Kúria Winery, Lajvér Winery, Mészáros Winery and Cellar, Neiner Cellar, Németh János Winery, Pastor Winery, Posta Winehouse, Prantner Winery, Remete-Bor Winery, Ribling Winery, Sárosdi Winery, Savanya Pálinka House, Schieber Winery, Sebestyén Winery, Szeleshát Winery, Szent Gaál Winery, Szoboszlay Cellar, Takler Wine Estate, Tringa Winery, Tüske Winery, Tűzkő Estate, Twickel Wine Estate, Vesztergombi Cellar, Vida Family Wine Estate, Virághegyi Bor – Németh Family Winery

Wine Seminar
As a tradition, a lecture series with wine tasting called Wine Seminar is organised this year as well. The winemakers of Szekszárd offer 3 wines to taste at each lecture.

Lectures:
Friday (16 September)
5 p.m. – Twickel Wine Estate
6 p.m. – Németh János Winery
7 p.m. – Toronyi Winery

Saturday (17 September)
4 p.m. – Pastor Winery
5 p.m. – Fekete Winery
6 p.m. – Brill Pálinka House
7 p.m. – Virághegyi Bor – Németh Family Winery

Sunday (18 September)
4 p.m. – Bősz Adrián Winery
5 p.m. – Sebestyén Winery
6 p.m. – Bodri Winery

Entrance is free to the Szekszárd Vintage Days event. Prices of wine tasting and food are available at the stands. Early bird tickets for the Wine Seminar lectures are available in the Garay Élménypince (Garay Experience Cellar; Szekszárd, Garay square) and in the office of the Szekszárd Borvidék Kft. (Szekszárd, Táncsics u. 3.) from 1 September 2016, indeed, they are sold on the premises as well, before the lectures.

Ticket price: HUF 1300 per lecture
E-mail:  szekszardborvidek@tolna.net

More: www.szekszardibor.com

The more Kékfrankos in Bikavér cuvée – the more Szekszárd-like character

The compulsory ratio of Kékfrankos variety has been increased in Bikavér cuvée of Szekszárd recently. In harmony with the latest product description as a regulation, at least 50% of this red cuvée should consist of Kékfrankos and Kadarka, with the ratio of 45% and 5% at least, respectively.

The increasing ratio of Kékfrankos further highlights the unique attribute and Szekszárd-like character of the Bikavér, since there is no other similar cuvée wine in the world, which is based on Kékfrankos and Kadarka varieties. “It is widely known that Kékfrankos can be grown easily in this wine region, its excellent acid structure serves the main part, the ‘spine’ of the Bikavér cuvée, which is completed well by the playfulness and unique aromas of the Kadarka variety. This decision in the regulation unanimously moves the Bikavér of Szekszárd towards the elegant wines, which are more and more popular in Hungary as well” – says Csilla Sebestyén, international wine academic (Sebestyén Winery).

Moreover, according to the regulation the Bikavér of Szekszárd should be based on at least 4 grape varieties. The base is provided by the compulsory Kékfrankos and Kadarka varieties with the ratio of at least 45% and 5%, respectively, and the following varieties can also be used up to 40% cumulative ratio: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. As regards the remaining 10%, it is the Syrah for a premium Bikavér , while in case of the “basic” Bikavér it can be one or more out of the following grape varieties: Alibernet, Bíborkadarka, Blauburger, Malbec, Menoire, Mészikadar, Pinot Noir, Portugieser, Sagrantino, Syrah, Tannat, Turán, Virághegyi and Zweigelt.

Regardless the quality category, each Bikavér of Szekszárd should be kept and aged in barrel for one year at least, and the winemaker should pay extra attention to the chosen barrel not to add strong barrique notes to the wine. In terms of ageing, the main difference between the basic and the premium Bikavér is that premium ones are only allowed to put to the market after 31 December of the second year passed the vintage.

Besides the changes in the regulation of Bikavér wines, it is another novelty that a new division, the category of premium white wines has been introduced, too. In this group wines have to be aged at least for 6 months, which can also be done in barrels. According to the product description, due to the relative long ageing and the loess soil characteristic to the wine region, these wines are generally honey gold coloured, have significantly fuller and softer character, although they keep a balanced acid-alcohol ratio, as well as a good alcohol-sugar-glycerine balance at the same time . The new product description clearly defines the main features of white and rosé sparkling wines made with added carbon dioxide as well.

It is a great occasion for winelovers to taste a wide offer of Szekszárd wines in our coming event, the Szekszárdi Szüreti Napok (Szekszárd Vintage Days), 15-18 September, 2016, in Béla square, Szekszárd.

Facebook event of the Szekszárd Vintage Days: https://www.facebook.com/events/1029748877105451/

Facebook event of the Szekszárd Wine Seminar: https://www.facebook.com/events/273131773068249/

Facebook profile of the Szekszárd Wine Region:  https://www.facebook.com/aszekszardiborvidek/