The Wines of the Presidency

A key operative goal of the Hungarian Presidency is to present Hungarian viniculture and gastronomy. Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary will host approximately 260 EU meetings and workshops; with Hungarian wines served to guests from EU member states at each event. For this purpose, a jury of acclaimed professionals selected wines from each wine region.

Holding it’s first-ever Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary seeks to present its major values at an international level, including viniculture, and to introduce the best Hungarian wines to EU countries.

The winners were chosen from a list of wines between 9 and 11 November 2010. The jury selected high quality wines and sparkling wines for buffet receptions and official dinners, and top quality beverages, for informal ministerial meetings and other high level events. The two former types were only opened to wineries, which had already presented their products and earned at least a medal at an international wine contest in or outside Hungary. The category of top quality wines and sparkling wines was restricted to holders of the titles “Winemaker of the Year” and “Winery of the Year”. (The Presidency invited producers from wine regions without a “Winemaker of the Year” or “Winery of the Year” on recommendation from Vindependent.)

The wines at the Hungary Presidency’s events will be presented by Helga Gál, Sommelier of the Presidency.

Wines for key events were selected region by region. The jury honoured the merits of the wineries Törley, Maurus, Weininger and Etyeki Kúria from the Pannonia Superior wine region. Wines by the cellars Árvay, Thummerer, Szepsy, Gál Tibor Jr. and Mátyás Szőke were chosen from North Hungary. The winners from the Great Plain include the winery of the Frittman brothers, Gál Cellar from Szigetcsép and Koch Cellar. The Balaton region will enrich the Presidency’s dining tables with products from the wineries Garamvári, Légli, Györgykovács, Sándor Tóth, Szeremley, Laposa and Figula. South Pannonia will be represented by the cellars of Attila Gere, Malatinszky, Tiffán, Hárs, Takler and Tűzkő Estate. An essential selection criterion was to evaluate wines not only in “technical”, but also in gastronomic terms (i.e. the extent to which they could match the dishes and menus). Catering will reflect the characteristics of Hungarian cuisine. Menus will be composed with the assistance of master chef László Ruprecht.

Hungarian wines will also be served in Brussels during the term of the Presidency. Some evening functions will even offer top quality Hungarian pálinka.