Magazine: What to expect from the 2014 vintage?

According to Dr Zsombor Sümegi, development director of the National Council of Wine Communities (HNT), 2014 wasn’t an easy year for Hungarian winemakers, it was full of challenges. There was quite a lot of rain last year and the summer was rather cool – this was bad for grapes’ sugar content. Still, it would be a mistake to dismiss 2014 wines as below par quality. Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes had to be harvested earlier than usual, which resulted in higher acidity and lower pH. However, these characteristics are very good if sparkling wine is made from these grapes. All in all, 30 percent less grape was harvested, but in some places the yield was 50 percent less than previously expected. Last year’s weather was good for making aszús. In general it can be said that 2014 wasn’t a great year in Hungarian wine making, but the wines made last year will be fresh – rosés, light reds and fragrant whites – and because of their characteristics they will probably appear in shops earlier than usual. It is quite likely that no great reds will come out of the 2014 vintage, but wines will probably be better than forecasted in the autumn. We can expect wines like those from the 2010 vintage. When we have tasted many of them, we will be able to tell better how challenging 2014 really was in Hungarian wine making.