Szepsy István Winery ★ 4.9
Tokaj PDOFurmint, HárslevelüIstván SzepsyORGANIC CERTIFIEDMád
István Szepsy's estate at Mád is the originating point of the dry Furmint revolution in Tokaj. His single-vineyard Betsek, Úrágya, Nyulászó and Mézes Mály bottlings are key reference points for vineyard-specific Furmint in Tokaj. Allocations are limited and international demand is high, but the estate does accept appointments.
Tip: Contact Szepsy months in advance for an appointment tasting; his cellar visits are conducted personally and offer direct insight into the thinking behind Tokaj's dry Furmint philosophy.
Tokaj PDOFurmint, Hárslevelü, Sárga MuskotályTokaj town
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.
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.
Bott Pince ★ 4.7
Tokaj PDOFurmint, HárslevelüORGANIC CERTIFIEDNaturalMád
Bott Pince in Mád is Tokaj's natural wine reference point, producing unfiltered, low-sulfite Furmint and Aszú from organically farmed parcels. Small allocations move quickly to natural wine bars in Budapest, London and Paris.
Tip: Bott Pince does not have a formal tasting room open to walk-ins; contact directly for appointment-only cellar visits. Their wines appear on the list at Bortársaság Budapest.
Pendits ★ 4.7
Tokaj PDOFurmint, HárslevelüMara BerryBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDNaturalMád
Pendits is one of the few female-led estates in the Tokaj wine region. Mara Berry farms biodynamically and produces low-intervention Furmint and Aszú in very small quantities.
Tip: Pendits wines appear in a small number of natural wine specialist shops in Budapest and London; contact the estate directly for cellar visits, which are by appointment only.
Demeter Zoltán Winery ★ 4.6
Tokaj PDOFurmint, HárslevelüZoltán DemeterORGANIC CERTIFIEDNaturalMád
Zoltán Demeter is a boutique producer in Mád working with low-intervention methods and organically farmed parcels in the village's top vineyard sites.
Tip: Demeter's small production means his wines are not widely available outside Hungary; Bortársaság in Budapest is the most reliable retail source.
Gizella Pince ★ 4.4
Tokaj PDOFurmint, Hárslevelü, Sárga MuskotályTolcsva
Gizella Pince is a small family estate at Tolcsva, one of the lesser-visited villages in the eastern Hegyalja. Their dry Furmint and Szamorodni productions are regarded locally as reliable reference points for the Tolcsva terroir, which produces a slightly broader and richer Furmint than the more austere Mád village style.
Tip: Tolcsva is a 20-minute drive east of Tokaj town along the Bodrog valley road; the village rewards exploration as one of the quieter settlements in the region.
