Villány — Hungary's Red Wine Mecca

In the far south of Hungary, near the Croatian border, lies the Villány-Siklós wine region — the best red wine area in the country and one of the most exciting in all of Central Europe. The Mediterranean microclimate (the warmest region in Hungary, more sunshine hours than Bordeaux!) and the limestone soils create ideal conditions for robust red wines that have made a splash internationally in recent years.

The Wine Route of Villány

The Villányi Borút (Wine Route) connects the towns of Villány, Villánykövesd, and Palkonya over 15 km — a ribbon of wine cellars, tasting rooms, and restaurants. The cellar lane of Villánykövesd is particularly picturesque: whitewashed cellars, vine-covered entrances, stone tables under walnut trees. Here, taste and buy directly from the winemaker — a bottle of premium red wine from 2,000 HUF (5€), a tasting of 5 wines from 3,000 HUF (8€).

The Wines

Villány is famous for:

• Cabernet Franc — Villány's flagship grape variety. Elegant, spicy, with notes of red pepper and violets. The best examples rival those of the Loire.
• Portugieser (Kékoportó) — Light, fruity red wine, perfect as an introduction or for lunch. Villány's "everyday wine".
• Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon — Of world-class quality in the best locations. The Bordeaux blends from Villány have won awards at international competitions.

Recommended wineries: Gere Attila (the pioneer), Bock József (modern and innovative), Tiffán (family tradition), Sauska (architecturally impressive), and Günzer Tamás (excellent Cabernet Franc).

Siklós & Harkány

Just a few kilometers from Villány lie two more gems: Siklós with its mighty castle (one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Hungary, with hotel and restaurant) and Harkány with its thermal outdoor pool — one of the best in southern Hungary, with sulfurous water at 62°C from 50 m deep. The combination of wine, castle, and thermal bath makes the region the perfect three-day destination.