Wondering about the best time to visit the Tokaj Wine Region? Hope this helps you choose when to come to this beautiful volcanic land of fine wines and intimate venues. […]

Advent, Aszú and artisans. Advent brings a time to look inside, be quiet and to prepare for sharing the wealth around us. What better way to explore the physical side than with local producers who create high quality products perfect for gifts and treats and taste Tokaji Aszú with the winemakers in vineyards, cellars and bistros! 2023 sees an explosion in smaller Advent events at intimate cafes and bistros as well as wineries. Crafts and handcrafts in the region seem to be booming too as people scale up from friends and family to small-scale production :) So an artisan experience too for sure!

What a wonderful Saturday! Stone Soup at the market in the morning to build – and feed – the community, then planting and painting, music and mushrooms, bikes and baskets, ceramics and slackline, cheese and cheer, horses and homemade apple juice. Joy and generations. People happy to be celebrating spring and the start of the Incredible Edible project together. Singing them into creation.

On Saturday 15 April we celebrate spring and the first First Incredible Edible Tokaj Wine Region planting into the new Sensory Herb Garden at the Gallery (Sárospataki Képtár) in the Castle District. This is a herb garden for all to discover and share – the first step of a wider project to bring more edible, medicinal and wildlife-friendly plants to the Tokaj Wine Region.

If you’d like to find out more detail about the Incredible Edible Tokaj Wine Region project and first planting event, feel free to download the draft presentation in Hungarian (with Appendix in original source languages – Hungarian, English and French).

Info about Incredible Edible Tokaj Wine Region project and first planting event here.

food to share sign with sun

A vision of fruits, nuts and vegetables growing all around the Tokaj Wine Region for all to share. The seed was planted! What an easy way to bring people closer […]

Artists and winemakers, culinary wizards and performers bring the Tokaj Wine Region alive at the great events and festival that form the calendar of events every year. Some favourites here, […]

Birthday cake for Tokaj Hegyalja Piac artisan market at Sarga Borház Restuarant on the Disznoko estate

I love markets – and broadly see a few types. The traditional farmers’ markets where local people and farmers bring their surplus to share, to sell, seasonal produce from their gardens, plots and farms nearby. Fresh eggs and milk, yoghurts and cheeses, sausages and hams. Think of the typical lively village market scene, a bustling marché in France, a mercato in Italy, a mercado in Spain. Here in Hungary, the piac, and in the Tokaj Wine Region, we still have four thriving original markets (Abaújszűntó, Sárospatak, Sátoraljaújhely, Szerencs) plus a number of small town/village market days celebrated throughout the region.

And then we have the new farmers’s markets, where modern farmers and artisans bring their wares direct to the customer. Direct contact. Communication. Often with higher levels of animal welfare, environmentally friendly philosophies, artisan closer to nature. Slower. Reinventions of the original markets. Let’s discover them.

handdrawn map / plan of Comenius school training garden and nursery

Map detailing the teacher training plots – nursery and orchards – around the original and still existing historic teacher training college in Sárospatak, 1857. Plots include a large area of asparagus and seedlings, a variety of fruit and nut trees from apple, pear and cherry, almond and peach and a botanical garden for good measure. Plus plots for the servants.

Incredible edible logo

Incredible Edible Tokaj Wine Region presented at: Slow Food – Terra Madre Day, Sárospatak; Winemakers’ tasting – Tarcal Research Institute; I Furmint Summit; tasting in Tállya. On 15 April 2023 we will transform a large empty bed in front of the Sárospataki Képtár into a herb garden for all to discover and share – the first step of a wider project to bring more edible, medicinal and wildlife-friendly plants to the Tokaj Wine Region. Fruit and nut trees and bushes, herbs and vegetables, insect and bird-friendly plants in public spaces that strengthen our link to food, nature and our environment, reinforce and develop our communities and boost the local economy.

Did you know how many interesting gardens and plant collections already exist in the Tokaj Wine Region? An incredible number already – watch this space as we discover them, collect them and bring them here so you can find them and plan your perfect garden tour! Most are private but many can be visited by prior arrangement.Here are a few places you can visit to find small patches of interesting and unusual plants, from rose and lavender gardens to collections of old grape varieties, local almond varieties and herb gardens. Plants with poems and prose next to them, immortalised in the written word. Permaculture gardens where plants live in symbiosis with their neighbours and the natural world. The list is sure to extend in coming years. As we move towards vegetable and fruit tourism!

In recent years we’ve seen several excellent books specialising in various areas of the wine region from architecture to vineyards, Furmint to food, so i thought I’d bring them together here. And I’d like to introduce you to a couple of the absolute experts in the region.
I want to bring them together in one place and recognise their unique and (often playfully, cooperatively) evolving contributions to the renaissance in the Tokaj Wine Region. They are pursuing their loves and curiosities, creating unique, niche projects that help us explore our historic wine region in various ways. To introduce approachable experts whose time (tours) and publications (print and online) can deepen your experience of this wonderful wine region.

There are a number of wonderful websites and people specialising in various areas of the Tokaj Wine Region (vineyards, wineries, wines, tastings, food, architecture, history) so i thought I’d bring them together here. And I’d like to introduce you to a couple of the absolute experts in the region. They are pursuing their loves and curiosities, creating unique, niche projects that help us explore our historic wine region in intriguing ways. Let me introduce some experts who you’re more likely to meet in person or read online to discover Tokaj to deepen your experience of this wonderful wine region.

We are priviliged that several incredible down-to-earth and head in the clouds loving artists live and work among us in Sárospatak and the wider region – many of them members of the group Patak csoport. Active in their social consciencsce and community building around performances and exhibition openings in Sárospatak over the last 20, 30, 40, 50 years. Also two enormous murals, wall art on a huge, brave scale one a nursery, one on a block residential flats in the town centre.

tokaj wine region logo

Many citizens and winemakers of the towns and villages in this historic World Heritage Tokaj Wine Region have come together to found their own local winemaking organisation, and several produce their own community village wine. These forums fostering cooperation between winemakers at a local level and are often instrumental in organising great festivals and events. Leading (winemaking) organisations in the Tokaj Wine Region include:

TOkaj World Heritage logo

Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape was inscribed among the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2002. To give you information about why and how, I thought the UNESCO site can show the wine region’s long history, a fusion of man and nature, land and landscape.. Also includes a link to the management plan (in Hungarian) which shows the direction for the Tokaj Wine Region.

tokaj-photo of hegyalja piac market birthday cake

Wow, time flies! It’s already seven years since the first Tokaj-Hegyalja Market and we arrived early to set everything up, to welcome the market goers and then see who would arrive. Who was curious about local artisans? Well, as it turned out, plenty of people! Many friends, friends of friends and other locals plus visitors to the Tokaj Wine Region

Sunset Erdőbénye, Tokaj Wine Region

Sunset over Erdőbénye.

festivals - fire picture

As summer comes to the Tokaj Wine Region, the festivals, concerts and events start in earnest! So here a couple of highlights for June

Dragon boat race on the river Bodrog. Two teams preparing for start.

May heralds the warmer weather with people are happy to be outside, to explore and meet each other at festivals, events, concerts and wine tastings.

tokaji aszu bottle

Liquid gold? Nectar of the gods? Wine of kings, king of wines? Exquisitely sweet tipple?

What do you call Tokaji Aszú? If you are lucky enough to have tried this sublime drink :) Perhaps my favourite is liquid gold, inspired by the gorgeous cellars containing these precious wines. Just look at this for beauty….

Tasting Tokaji Aszú photo of wine glasses

Our 2016 calendar of events is rapidly filling up – and the main festivals are already in the diary! So, it’s easy to plan your visit to our vibrant wine region.

A morning walk over the bridge transported me to fairy land. Where trees were painted most delicately, the waves seemingly froze before my eyes as the ice crept

logo of Aboros borbar wine bar Sárospatak

Superb range of (mainly) Tokaji wines, many BTG, regular wine tastings plus tasty nibbles. Add very friendly staff, good coffee and elegant setting – and you have a great place where it is a pleasure to savour a glass or your favourite, or discover something new!

A flying visit to taste wines of small passionate producers in Tokaj, Slovakia, some 15 km from Sátoraljaújhely. Fantastic!

Celebrating the grapes, the places and, most importantly, community in the Tokaj wine region

Nearly home! Bringing in the aszú berries during the race

Runs are becoming ever more popular in the Tokaj wine region – 2 excellent opportunities to fly through the harvest vineyards

pictures of the new Tokaji Dukát

Prominent figures in Hungarian history linked to the Tokaj wine region are depicted on the Tokaji Dukát, the new local currency

example of Tokaji Dukát cummunity currency

A new initiative linking local producers, traders and service providers, thus retaining part of the capital generated locally in the Tokaj wine region

Mád Furmint Festival logo

Founded on long-standing harvest traditions, Mád Furmint Festival is spiced with new ideas, including the top-notch Mád Circle tasting – all about Furmint

Ever since the first festival, I have cherished this August festival as an absolute highlight of the year in the Tokaj wine region, Bor, Mámor… Bénye.

herczku nikola zempleni fesztival photo

When I first arrived in Hungary – many years ago! – one of my classes was at Antenna Hungária, the main digital communications company at the time. A gift

Wine, wine, wine! Two great events at opposite end of the Tokaj wine region the weekend of 24-5th July! If you’re lucky enough to be in Sárospatak or Tállya

festivals - fire picture

Ever wondered what Sárospatak castle looks like by torchlight? Or been curious about communion bread? Perhaps you have always wanted to jump a fire? Well, you can – if you visit the castles, museums, galleries and synagogues of the Tokaj wine region for Night of the Museums (Múzeumok éjszakája) held close to St John’s eve and midsummer.

Coffee at the Rákóczi Caste, Sárospatak

Hi, Zsolt here, this is my first post on the blog. Those who know me also know that i love coffee. Perhaps a bit too much – like on the […]

Photo of cello - live music concert Tokaj wine region July 2015

As warm summer days arrive, what could be better than listening to live music with friends – and perhaps a glass of chilled Furmint – at outdoor concerts?

gigerli producers gathering photo of wine being poured

Top tips – wine, sports, historical re-enactment throughout the region on the long weekend of 23-25th May

tokaji aszu bottle

Well, a simple rule is Tokaj for the place, both the town and the Tokaj wine region. And Tokaji wines, as an adjective.

Photo of folk singer Ágnes Herczku

Music to move the body and soul – live jazz, folk, classical, rock and pop performances in early summer

Great-Tokaj-Wine-Auction-2015-auction-room-bidding-Confrerie-de-Tokaj-Szentirmai-Zsolt

International buyers keen to procure their exclusive barrel of Tokaji wine arrived for the 3rd Great Tokaj Wine Auction – final hammer price € 100 415.

Photo of bidders in auction room at the Great Tokaj Wine Auction 2014 Bakos Zoltán

Top producers offer unique barrel lots of Tokaji wines not available on the open market. At the imposing Knights’ Hall, Sárospatak castle, 25th April 2015.

Confrerie Tokaj Spring catalogue 2015

A great way to gain insight into the Tokaj wine region at intimate events with some of its most well-known winemakers and other Tokaj lovers. The three-day Tokaj Spring weekend […]

Tokaj Hegyalja piac market - photo of cutting birthday cake

Today is a day of celebration – the 3rd birthday of the much-loved Tokaj-Hegyalja market. Dreamed up and brought into being by seven women passionate about good, local food and crafts, this monthly artisan market has become a firm fixture in the wine region’s diary. A popular meeting place for locals, and a treat for visitors who discover a whole array of foods and crafts made lovingly in the Tokaj wine region.

Tokaj-Hegyalja Piac artisan market

I’m delighted our region has a whole range of markets from traditional town markets that have existed for centuries to recently established farmers’ markets and artisan gatherings, and flea/antique markets sales to a couple of producers at an event.

furmint grape

Food-friendly dry Furmint wines are catching the eyes and hearts of consumers and professionals alike. One of the six varieties allowed in Tokaji wines, Furmint produces remarkable full-flavoured wines – both sweet and dry – with sparkling acidity and legendary longevity.

An exciting moment! We share events, tips & info so you can make the most of the fantastic home of Tokaji wine. Up-dated regularly :) Let’s enjoy Tokaj!

Upcoming highlights

Here are the next 5 upcoming highlights in the Tokaj wine region. Check out the calendar for all the events in the Tokaj wine region.

Towns and villages

The Tokaj wine region includes 27 towns and villages in northeastern Hungary. Read about the most exciting settlements in this UNESCO World Heritage area.

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