Hungarian Chill: the Secret of Hungarian Ice Wine

Photo by Dominic Rivard via Wikipedia Commons

Few who visit Budapest and Hungary to take advantage of favourable film service production environment leave without sampling a few hard-to-find Hungarian wines. In fact, most Hungarian wines are hard to find, because the majority are produced by small and mid-sized wineries, owned by families rather than corporations.

Perhaps one of the rarest of local tipples is Hungarian ice wine. While Tokaj is famous for its dessert wines, they are at least backed by a long tradition and a world-wide reputation. But in this climate of global warming, it’s ice wine that is more difficult to find.

Just what is ice wine? As its name implies, the beverage is made from grapes that have been pressed while still frozen. Recent years have been particularly lean for the variety, as the grape should be harvested at colder than - 8 degrees Celsius, a temperature Hungary is hitting less and less frequently when the grape is at its best: late November and early December. Countries like Canada and Germany have better climates, and lead the field in ice wine production. It should be noted that the Riesling grape is typically used in Hungary for ice wines, which are known for their clean, sweet flavour.

This doesn’t mean there isn’t excellent ice wine in Hungary. Experts point to the Hajós-Baja wine region as well as the Villány region as sources of outstanding Hungarian ice wine, as well as the traditional areas for Hungarian white wine: Tokaj and north of Lake Balaton.

While this complex dessert wine is hardly Hungaricum, it does fit well on the shelf with classic Tokaj Aszú sweet wines, and particularly welcome when you want something a bit less toothsome. So, here’s to celebrating these winter months, where we make the best with what we’ve got. In this case, excellent grapes and skilled wine makers.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.