Budapest's 2nd wine festival
Budapest, April 7 (MTI) - Budapest's second annual Spring Wine Festival opened on Saturday at Budapest's City Hall park and will continue throughout the Easter weekend.
Budapest deputy mayor Miklos Hagyo, opening the 30-million-forint event supported by the city council, said, "viticulture is an inalienable part of Hungary's cultural treasure, and however many times it starts to decline, it does so in tandem with the weakening of Hungarian culture; but when it really takes off again, like today, it presages a new flowering of the nation." Thirty winemakers are represented at the festival, which also includes food and cultural events. Entrance to the festival grounds is free of charge. At the opening, winemakers were given awards in three categories, as well as a special Palinka prize. (Palinka is Hungary's eau-de-vie). In the red wine category, Meszaros Cellar's 2003 Bodzasi Kekfrankos (Blue Frank) won first prize. For white, Valejjo Haraszthy Cellar's 2006 Zenit Kiralyleanyka (a local grape) was considered the best while in the desert stable, Arvay and Partners' 2003 Sweet Life Cuvee was feted. Marton and Daughters' 2006 Irsai Oliver grape palinka got the top trophy. Last year 28,000 people visited the festival and this year the organisers expect 35,000-40,000 foreign and Hungarian visitors to turn up. Chairman of the Hungarian Wine Academy Jozsef Sumegi told MTI that annual wine consumption in Hungary is around 3 million hectolitres and exports total 500-600,000 hectolitres. The producer price of wine averages at 150-200 forints per bottle and the sector generates revenues of 70-80 billion forints per year, he added. Sumegi noted that Hungarian winemakers are facing increasing competition at home. Wine imports were estimated at 60,000 hectolitres last year, which is expected to double this year.
Budapest deputy mayor Miklos Hagyo, opening the 30-million-forint event supported by the city council, said, "viticulture is an inalienable part of Hungary's cultural treasure, and however many times it starts to decline, it does so in tandem with the weakening of Hungarian culture; but when it really takes off again, like today, it presages a new flowering of the nation." Thirty winemakers are represented at the festival, which also includes food and cultural events. Entrance to the festival grounds is free of charge. At the opening, winemakers were given awards in three categories, as well as a special Palinka prize. (Palinka is Hungary's eau-de-vie). In the red wine category, Meszaros Cellar's 2003 Bodzasi Kekfrankos (Blue Frank) won first prize. For white, Valejjo Haraszthy Cellar's 2006 Zenit Kiralyleanyka (a local grape) was considered the best while in the desert stable, Arvay and Partners' 2003 Sweet Life Cuvee was feted. Marton and Daughters' 2006 Irsai Oliver grape palinka got the top trophy. Last year 28,000 people visited the festival and this year the organisers expect 35,000-40,000 foreign and Hungarian visitors to turn up. Chairman of the Hungarian Wine Academy Jozsef Sumegi told MTI that annual wine consumption in Hungary is around 3 million hectolitres and exports total 500-600,000 hectolitres. The producer price of wine averages at 150-200 forints per bottle and the sector generates revenues of 70-80 billion forints per year, he added. Sumegi noted that Hungarian winemakers are facing increasing competition at home. Wine imports were estimated at 60,000 hectolitres last year, which is expected to double this year.
Labels: Budapest wine festival
World Congress of Vine and Wine starts in Budapest
Budapest, June 11 (MTI) - Winemaking in Hungary has a tradition of several thousand years and even the national anthem includes a reference to wine, the minister of labour said at the opening of the 30th World Congress of Vine and Wine which started in Budapest on Monday.
The sector has been fully privatised and comprehensive technological modernisation has been carried out since the change of the system in 1989, Peter Kiss said. As a result, emphasis has been shifted on quality wine-making, he added.
The congress, organised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), will include more than 300 presentations over five days and around 600 participants are expected from 40 countries.
OIV Chairman Peter Hayes said the organisation works to promote the professional development of viticulture and viniculture, as well as the exploration of new commercial opportunities.
The organisation's director Frederico Castellucci said a total of 279-287 million hectolitres of wine was produced in the world last year, 0.5-3.2 percent more than in the previous year. Nearly 70 percent of this was produced in Europe, 17 percent in America, 5 percent in Asia, 5.5 percent in Oceania and the rest in Africa. Wine consumption totalled 240 million hectolitres last year, of which 68 percent was represented by Europe, 20 percent by America, 7 percent by Asia, more than 2 percent by Africa and also around 2 percent in Oceania, he added.
Wine consumption in Hungary totals around 3 million hectolitres yearly, and exports amounted to 500-600,000 hectolitres annually in recent years, figures of the National Council of Wine Communities shows. The sector has annual revenues of 80-90 million forints (around EUR 320,000 - 360,000).
Posted by
Budapest Travel Blog |
June 12, 2007 3:39 PM
World Congress of Vine and Wine starts in Budapest
Budapest, June 11 (MTI) - Winemaking in Hungary has a tradition of several thousand years and even the national anthem includes a reference to wine, the minister of labour said at the opening of the 30th World Congress of Vine and Wine which started in Budapest on Monday.
The sector has been fully privatised and comprehensive technological modernisation has been carried out since the change of the system in 1989, Peter Kiss said. As a result, emphasis has been shifted on quality wine-making, he added.
The congress, organised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), will include more than 300 presentations over five days and around 600 participants are expected from 40 countries.
OIV Chairman Peter Hayes said the organisation works to promote the professional development of viticulture and viniculture, as well as the exploration of new commercial opportunities.
The organisation's director Frederico Castellucci said a total of 279-287 million hectolitres of wine was produced in the world last year, 0.5-3.2 percent more than in the previous year. Nearly 70 percent of this was produced in Europe, 17 percent in America, 5 percent in Asia, 5.5 percent in Oceania and the rest in Africa. Wine consumption totalled 240 million hectolitres last year, of which 68 percent was represented by Europe, 20 percent by America, 7 percent by Asia, more than 2 percent by Africa and also around 2 percent in Oceania, he added.
Wine consumption in Hungary totals around 3 million hectolitres yearly, and exports amounted to 500-600,000 hectolitres annually in recent years, figures of the National Council of Wine Communities shows. The sector has annual revenues of 80-90 million forints (around EUR 320,000 - 360,000).
Posted by
Budapest Travel Blog |
June 12, 2007 3:40 PM