Recent research: Italian Riesling is the most popular Balaton wine

Light taste and freshness – most people think of these two adjectives about Balaton wines based on recent research by the Veszprém Archdiocese Winery. More than 1,200 people filled in the questionnaire – which included questions about the popularity of Balaton wines, grape varieties and wine regions, as well as aspects of wine selection. 52 percent of them clearly see the area around Lake Balaton as the home of dry wines, and about the same number mentioned the volcanic flavor as a characteristic of Balaton wines.

Among the six wine regions of the Balaton region – Badacsonyi, Balatonboglár, Balaton-felvidéki, Balatonfüred-Csopak, Somlói and Zala – Badacsonyi is the most popular, 41 percent of the research participants prefer the wines of the wineries there the most. 23 percent voted for the wines from the Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region, and 15 percent for the wines from the Balaton highlands.

The “ranking” of the most popular Balaton varietal wines is topped by Italian Riesling – almost 70 percent of those filling in enjoy drinking it – followed by Gräyberát, Blue-necked and Sauvignon Blanc. The majority of respondents not only buy Balaton wines, but also know the grape varieties grown in the region: 92 percent of them (correctly) consider Italian Riesling to be the most typical Balaton grape variety, but many also mentioned Rhine Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, which are also grown in a large area.