The Hungarian wine industry is facing a decisive period

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 09. 11:59

This year’s extreme weather presented Hungarian wineries with serious challenges, having different effects on individual wine regions. While in Szekszárd they are hoping for rain at the end of August due to the drought, they prefer a warmer and sunnier period in the Egri wine region. Due to the record hot summer, the harvest has to start earlier, so the weather in the next few weeks will be critical for the quality of this year’s vintage.

György Lőrincz, the winemaker of St. Andrea Szőlőbirtok, told the Agrársektor that wineries faced many plant protection challenges this year, such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot and hail. The extremes of the weather, the variable rainfall distribution and the hot summer were a serious challenge for the vineyards. Older vines with more extensive root systems can withstand extreme conditions better, but in the future Hungary’s climate may no longer be ideal for growing white wines.

The weather in the coming weeks will be decisive for the quality of this year’s vintage. György Lőrincz is optimistic about the future and hopes that the quality of the fruit will be excellent. The winemakers would like a not too hot, but sunny, ripening period to follow in the coming weeks. A nice, balanced dry period would be ideal for the harvest, but they fear heavy rain.

Due to the extreme weather this year, the harvest starts earlier than usual. The St. Andrea Vineyard, for example, starts harvesting pinot noir at the beginning of September, which is normally only done in the middle of September. The white grape varieties, such as Gräikbarat, are harvested earlier, while Kékfrankos is expected to be ready for harvesting at the end of September. In general, the harvest can start 10 days or even two weeks earlier for certain varieties.