THE BEST ITALIAN RIZLINGS WERE HERE!

Report from welovebalaton.hu.

The best Italian Rieslings were here! - We went to a walking tasting in Csopak

The best Italian Rieslings were here! - We went to a walking tasting in Csopak
Tünde Szekrényes

Fans of Italian Riesling already marked the weekend in their calendar months ago, when Csopak is flooded with winemakers in the region, waiting for enthusiastic tasters to circle around their items. This is shown by the fact that this year's Italian Riesling event took place again on February 10 with a full house and great success. We've been there too, and it's already certain: we'll be there next year too!

At 1 p.m., the first guests cautiously enter the Jásdi Wine Terrace, survey the grounds, then stop at a friendly winery and wait for the winemaker's recommendation. This is how we do it, discreetly, although based on the meetings before the event, we already know that we will spend this day with kind and open people. The glasses are filled, the winemakers tell stories: about challenges, successes, past and plans. The room slowly fills up with interested people, a healthy buzz develops, small and large groups stand in front of the representatives of the individual wineries.

BUT WHAT IS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT MODERN CSOPAKI?
The Italian Riesling grape was probably first grown in the 19th century. appeared in Csopak in the first half of the century, with Austrian mediation, before the phylloxera disease that appeared in the second half of the century completely wiped out the vineyards in the area. During the vineyard reconstructions following the abatement of the disease, the farmers clearly voted for the planting of Italian Riesling, which found its true home in Csopak. In addition to Italian Riesling, furmint remained in use as an acid variety used for blending. 

The XX. from the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of Csopak wine grew continuously and became known nationally. For wine connoisseurs, Csopak and the Italian Riesling from here became a concept, and Csopaki was born! (Csopaki.hu)

The organizers set the number of participants in such a way that no one has to wait in long lines with an empty glass. In other words, the event is just small enough to be personal, but just big enough not to be intimate. At the same time, the event is not only for the tasters, but also an important meeting opportunity for the winemakers, who participated in a private dinner before the open programs and discussed the issues that are of most interest to the profession at the moment. Of course, they are also happy to tell us about this, so we immediately feel a bit like an insider.

The focal point of this year's event was sustainability, more specifically: 

is organic wine sustainable from an economic point of view?

In addition, the recurrent question of how to name the variety abroad was discussed, but it was also brought up that among those interested in wine, representatives of the younger generations are increasingly being pushed out. It is likable that the organizers take the emerging problems seriously and respond to them at the level of the event: last year, for example, they introduced a new, discounted ticket type on a trial basis, which wine lovers under 35 can access.

Although we have guessed it up until now, we are now convinced that many years of work and perseverance are necessary for a person to be able to live off grapes alone. Especially since climate change is not only a rare occurrence, but a constant challenge for winemakers. There is no doubt that there is only one way to do this: with a lot of dedication and conviction that the Italian Riesling from Csopak is worth the invested work. And this enthusiasm is also transferred to the participants, and we can say from experience that it lasts long after the event!

The informal conversations reveal that the participants are very mixed: there are first-timers for whom Italian Riesling is a new, joyful discovery, there are those who are repeat guests of the wine tastings, and of course sommeliers also visit the tables. The atmosphere is direct and friendly, and while waiting for the cheese plate, we discuss whose favorite winery was, and whether we enjoyed sipping the softer or the more acidic items. There is plenty of choice: 23 wineries brought a variety of bottles, and the borders did not include only the vineyards of the Csopak wine region (that is, Csopak, Paloznak, Lovas, Alsóörs, Felsőörs).

Anyone who knows Olaszrizling's two stable locations, the Jásdi Wine Terrace and Szent Donát Borkúria, can guess that they contributed a lot to the experience: we can imagine few better things than enjoying the early spring sunshine and Lake Balaton while sipping a delicious wine. view from a vineyard. This is what the event meant to us, and we can't wait to participate in it again! Fortunately, the organizers have also dropped some information about an event starting in May, at which both international and domestic winemakers will present their Italian Rieslings, but it's no shame if we can't wait until then: some wineries welcome visitors even during the year, but to be safe, we can even order also some bottles of our favorites!

The exhibiting wineries:

2HA Vineyard and Winery, Bussay Winery, Csendes Dűlő Vineyard, Dobosi Estate, Figula Winery, Gál Lajos Winery, Gilvesy Winery, Guden Kisbirtok, Gyukli Cellar, Homola Winery, Istvándy Estate, Jásdi Cellar, Karner Fanni, Káli Kövek Winery, Kislaki Wine Factory, Pálffy Cellar, Petrányi Cellar, Skrabski Cellar, Somlói Vándor, Szent Donát Winery, Villa Gyetvai Wine Estate, Villa Tolnay, Zelna Winery

Photos: Miklós Szabó