Sárospatak castle cellar late tasting ★ 4.4
Sárospatak
The Sárospatak castle cellar operates extended evening tasting sessions during festival periods and summer tourism season. The cellar's historical connection to the Rákóczi family wine trade makes it a uniquely atmospheric venue for a late-evening Aszú tasting, pairing heritage context with the produced wine.
Wine focus: Rákóczi-adjacent Aszú and Szamorodni from Sárospatak-area producers
Tip: Check the castle's event calendar for scheduled late-evening cellar sessions; these are more common in July, August and during festival weekends in September and October.
Oremus cellar late tasting, Tolcsva ★ 4.6
Tolcsva
Oremus offers extended late-afternoon and early-evening group tastings in the Tolcsva cellar complex, culminating in a walk through the barrel ageing halls where Aszú matures in small Hungarian oak casks. The Vega Sicilia connection gives the evening programme a distinct character, and the cellar explanation compares Aszú oak maturation with the Ribera del Duero barriques from the parent estate.
Wine focus: Oremus Aszú vertical, Mandolás Furmint, Szamorodni
Tip: The Oremus late tasting programme is best suited to visitors who appreciate the Vega Sicilia connection and want to understand Hungarian oak vs. French oak in a Tokaj context.
Szepsy cellar late tasting, Mád ★ 4.8
Mád
The Szepsy estate in Mád, known for single-vineyard Furmint from the Úrágya and Betsek parcels, offers extended evening cellar tastings for pre-booked groups. The cellar environment in Mád's volcanic tuff provides a naturally cool and atmospheric setting, and the Szepsy tasting programme covers the full progression from dry Furmint through Szamorodni to Aszú.
Wine focus: Szepsy single-vineyard Furmint, Aszú, Szamorodni száraz
Tip: Szepsy is one of the Mád estates with a structured tasting programme available to collectors and trade visitors; book well in advance as allocation is limited.
Tokaj Pezsgő producer cellar visit ★ 4.2
Tokaj wine region
Tokaj Pezsgő (Tokaj sparkling wine) is produced by a small number of estates using Furmint as the base variety, typically in a traditional-method format. The sparkling wines showcase the high natural acidity of Furmint in a lively, citrus-focused style. Visits to the Tokaj Pezsgő producers, including the Nobilis and Balassa estates, offer the sparkling-room equivalent of the region's otherwise still-wine identity.
Wine focus: Traditional-method Tokaj Pezsgő from Furmint and Hárslevelü
Tip: Tokaj sparkling wine is still a niche category; ask specifically for Pezsgő at cellar doors and wine bars in the region. The style is an excellent aperitif alongside the Hegyalja regional cuisine.
Balassa Pince Pezsgő, Tokaj ★ 4.3
Tokaj wine region
Balassa Pince is one of the small producers in the Tokaj region experimenting with traditional-method Furmint sparkling wine. The estate produces Pezsgő in very limited quantities from their Furmint parcels, with the high natural acidity of the grape providing the ideal base for a traditional-method secondary fermentation. The result is a wine of good freshness and mineral precision.
Wine focus: Balassa traditional-method Furmint Pezsgő
Tip: Balassa Pezsgő is available in very small quantities and primarily at cellar door; contact the estate directly to confirm current availability.
Tokaj Nobilis Pezsgő cellar, Mád ★ 4.2
Mád
Tokaj Nobilis produces traditional-method Furmint Pezsgő from their Mád vineyard parcels, offering the sparkling wine alongside their still Furmint and Aszú range. The cellar in Mád includes a tasting room where the sparkling wine can be tasted alongside the still wines, providing a complete overview of Furmint's versatility from dry still to Pezsgő to Aszú.
Wine focus: Tokaj Nobilis traditional-method Furmint Pezsgő, dry Furmint still
Tip: Tasting Tokaj Nobilis Pezsgő alongside their dry Furmint still is a useful way to understand how the same grape expresses differently in sparkling and still format from the same Mád terroir.