2 hidden gems worth the trip across Hungary, editor-ranked by Cork & Curve. All Hungary guides.
Rákóczi Cellar, Sárospatak ★ 4.5 · Tokaj
Sárospatak · Sárospatak, Tokaj wine region, Hungary
The historic Rákóczi Cellar beneath the castle in Sárospatak is a heritage cellar, deeply connected to the 17th-century wine trade that made Tokaj the wine of European courts. Aszú and Szamorodni produced from the surrounding vineyard plots are available for tasting in the centuries-old cellar chambers.
Tip: Sárospatak's castle and cellar together provide one of the strongest single-site immersions in Tokaj heritage; combine the cellar visit with a tour of the Rákóczi Castle above it.
Tokaj Kereskedőház (Tokaj Trade House) ★ 4.2 · Tokaj
Tokaj town · Tokaj town, Tokaj wine region, Hungary
The Tokaj Trade House is the state-affiliated producer and merchant in Tokaj town, operating the historic Rákóczi Cellar beneath the town centre and maintaining a range of Aszú and Szamorodni at accessible price points. Less glamorous than the Western-owned estates but historically significant as the successor institution to the Soviet-era Borkombinát and a keeper of the pre-privatisation cellars.
Tip: The Rákóczi Cellar beneath Tokaj town is the most accessible candlelit cellar experience in the region and requires no advance booking during opening hours; the walk through the 18th-century tunnels is the an atmospheric introduction to the region.