Hungary
Hungary's climate is ideal for growing vines; it is esentially a continental climate, with hot summers, long mild autumns, and cold winters, with temperature extremes moderated by the influence of the Carpatheans. Annual rainfall is around 5-600mm depending on the region. Wine has been made in Hungary since antiquity, and the Romans made use of the excellent conditions and planted vines in what is today Transdanubia. After the adoption of Christianity, wine was made by many monasteries and Hungary became one of the most important wine producers in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. In modern times, Phylloxera devastated vineyards and after WW1 the economy was unable to support the industry very well. Collectivisation during communist times post-WW2 drove production quantities up, but very much at the expense of quality. It is only now, in the early years of the 21st century, that we are beginning to see the renaissance of Hungary as a wine producing country. Our initial range is small, but contains some cracking good wines. Our selections are very much quality-oriented. Prices are slightly lower than, for example, neighbouring Austria.