Wine in Mád, Tokaj

Royal Tokaji ★ 4.8

Founded in 1990 by Hugh Johnson and partners, Royal Tokaji pioneered the post-1989 private revival of single-vineyard Tokaj Aszú from Mád's historic dűlők.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment at the Mád winery; contact via website.

Signature wines: royal-tokaji-mezes-maly-aszu-6-puttonyos, royal-tokaji-nyulaszo-aszu-6-puttonyos, royal-tokaji-szt-tamas-aszu-6-puttonyos, royal-tokaji-aszu-5-puttonyos

Tip: The Mézes Mály single-vineyard Aszú is the estate's flagship sweet expression; book the cellar visit through the estate website.

Szepsy ★ 4.9

The Szepsy family estate in Mád is the original force behind the single-vineyard Tokaj revival; meticulous work in the historic dűlők of Mád defines the dry Furmint movement.

Tasting: Visits by appointment only.

Signature wines: szepsy-furmint, szepsy-uradja-furmint, szepsy-aszu-6-puttonyos

Tip: Visits are strictly by prior arrangement; plan months ahead for harvest-season appointments.

Holdvölgy ★ 4.5

Set in central Mád in a 500-year-old cellar running almost 2 km underground, Holdvölgy produces precise single-vineyard dry Furmint and Aszú wines from the premier dűlők of the Mád basin.

Tasting: Open Sun-Thu 10:00-15:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-17:00; online booking via website.

Signature wines: holdvolgy-notabene-furmint, holdvolgy-aszu-6-puttonyos

Tip: The underground cellar tour is atmospheric; book the tasting package in advance.

Barta Winery ★ 4.4

Barta Winery in Mád crafts single-vineyard Furmint from the historic Öreg Király dűlő and structured Aszú from meticulously tended volcanic hillside plots above the village.

Tasting: Wine shop and cellar tastings at Rákóczi utca 83, Mád; book via email or phone.

Signature wines: barta-oreg-kiraly-furmint, barta-aszu-6-puttonyos

Tip: The Rákóczi utca wine shop doubles as the tasting room; the Öreg Király (Old King) Furmint is the estate's signature white.

Demeter Zoltán ★ 4.3

Zoltán Demeter is a boutique Mád producer making concentrated single-vineyard Furmint and precise Aszú from tiny parcels on the volcanic slopes above the village.

Tasting: Visits by prior appointment only.

Signature wines: demeter-zoltan-furmint, demeter-zoltan-aszu-6-puttonyos

Tip: Production is very small; wines are primarily available through specialist importers and local Mád tasting rooms.

Jäger Pince ★ 4.0

Jäger Pince is a boutique family estate in Mád focusing on single-parcel Furmint and small-volume Aszú from the village's historic volcanic clay and rhyolite tuff soils.

Tasting: Cellar visits by appointment in Mád.

Signature wines: jager-pince-furmint-dry, jager-pince-aszu-5-puttonyos

Tip: In a village of many cellars, Jäger Pince offers an unhurried, personal tasting experience.

Tokaj Hétszőlő ★ 4.1

Tokaj Hétszőlő, now part of the Grand Tokaj family, takes its name from one of Mád's historically documented vineyard sites, producing Aszú from clay-volcanic soils documented since the 17th century.

Tasting: Part of the Grand Tokaj group; visits by arrangement via Grand Tokaj.

Signature wines: tokaj-hetszolos-furmint, tokaj-hetszolos-aszu

Tip: The Hétszőlő name (seven vineyards) appears in historical Tokaj documents from the early 1600s; the estate carries the weight of the region's long documented viticultural history.

Szepsy Jr Pince ★ 4.7

István Szepsy Jr. continues the Szepsy family tradition at the Mád estate, producing single-vineyard Furmint and Aszú with the same rigorous approach to dűlő selection that defined the original Szepsy revival.

Tasting: Visits by appointment only in Mád.

Signature wines: szepsy-jr-furmint-nyulaszo, szepsy-jr-aszu-6-puttonyos

Tip: The father-and-son succession at Szepsy is one of the clearest examples of generational knowledge transfer in Tokaj winemaking.

Malatinszky Tokaj ★ 4.0

Malatinszky Tokaj produces mineral dry Furmint from Mád-area plots, complementing the same estate family known for reds from Villány; a rare dual-appellation Hungarian producer.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; estate also produces at Villány.

Signature wines: malatinszky-tokaj-furmint, malatinszky-tokaj-aszu

Tip: A useful comparative tasting when combined with Villány reds to understand the span of Hungarian wine from volcanic north to limestone south.

Holdvölgy Pincészet Tasting Cellar ★ 4.8

One of the longest cellar systems in the region, sections dating to the 16th century. Multiple tasting formats including a vertical Aszú tasting and a Treasure Hunt cellar exploration; winner of Best Cellar Visit in Hungary two consecutive years.

Royal Tokaji Cellar and Tasting Room ★ 4.7

State-of-the-art winery designed by Csaba Bodonyi, opening 2010, with 13th-century cellars beneath. Tasting programmes cover single-vineyard Furmint and Aszú from the estate's first- and second-growth plots: Mézes Mály, Nyulászó, Betsek, among others.

Mad Wine Tasting and Cellar Visit ★ 4.3

Smallholder collective based in Mád, working with local farming families on 20 ha of volcanic soil. Guided vineyard walk followed by cellar visit focusing on Furmint and Hárslevelű; chemical-free viticulture highlighted.

Szepsy Winery Cellar Visit ★ 4.9

The Szepsy family's historic cellars in Mád, with winemaking roots to the 16th century and the origins of Aszú production. Appointment-only visits covering the vineyards, historic cellar, and a seated tasting of single-vineyard cuvées.

Percze Élményközpont Mád ★ 4.6

Wine experience centre and restaurant in Mád with full-height windows overlooking the village and vineyards. Comprehensive Szepsy wine list and modern Hungarian cuisine; various modes of exploring the estate's vineyards available.

Percze Élményközpont Wine Bar ★ 4.6

Wine bar and experience centre in Mád with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the vineyards. List focuses on Szepsy single-vineyard Furmints and Aszú, with small plates and seasonal specials.

The list: Comprehensive Szepsy wine list with 20-plus cuvées; modern Hungarian small plates; vineyard views

Barta Pince Wine Shop ★ 4.4

Wine shop run by Barta Winery in Mád with a curated multi-producer list from the Tokaj-Hegyalja. Estate wines include organic Furmint cuvées; adjacent to the Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion guesthouse.

The list: Barta estate wines plus curated Mád producer selection; retail and glass pours

Percze Étterem ★ 4.6

Restaurant and wine experience centre in Mád with panoramic vineyard views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Partnered with Szepsy winery; comprehensive Szepsy wine list with modern Hungarian dishes from fresh local produce.

Barta Pince Restaurant ★ 4.3

Restaurant associated with Barta Winery and the Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion in Mád. Estate wines including organic Furmint cuvées are paired with traditional Zemplén dishes; accommodation in the historic 17th-century mansion.

Royal Tokaji Cellar Door Shop ★ 4.5

Cellar door shop at Royal Tokaji's Mád winery. Stocks the full portfolio from dry Furmint to Eszencia; cellar visits available by appointment; export to over 30 countries.

Barta Pince Wine Shop ★ 4.4

Retail shop at Barta Winery in Mád carrying the estate's organic Furmint range and a curated multi-producer selection from Tokaj-Hegyalja. Staff can advise on local cellar visits and accommodation.

Mad Wine Shop ★ 4.2

On-site shop for Mad Wine, the co-operative working with Mád farming families on 20 ha of volcanic-soil vineyards. Chemical-free range including dry Furmint and late-harvest styles.

Holdvölgy Aszú Tasting Academy ★ 4.8

Producer-led tasting education at Holdvölgy in Mád, rated Best Cellar Visit in Hungary two consecutive years by Vince wine magazine. Structured programmes from 6-wine cellar exploration to a seated vertical Aszú tasting over 6 vintages; 12 degrees Celsius cellar setting.

Royal Tokaji Structured Tasting Programme ★ 4.6

Producer-led educational tastings at Royal Tokaji in Mád, covering the spectrum from dry single-vineyard Furmint to Aszú and Eszencia. Guides explain the classification system, terroir differences between the estate's four first- and second-growth plots. Curriculum spans winemaking as well.

Holdvölgy Treasure Hunt Cellar Tour ★ 4.8

Guided cellar adventure at Holdvölgy in Mád, through one of the longest cellar systems in the region. Treasure hunt format through 16th-century tunnels leads to a seated tasting; the Aszú vertical tasting of six vintages extends the experience beyond two hours.

Szepsy Single-Vineyard Pilgrimage ★ 4.9

Appointment-only visit to the Szepsy winery, whose family developed the Aszú method in the 17th century. Walks through historic cellars and well-tended vine rows in Mád, followed by a seated tasting of single-vineyard cuvées.

Mádi Bornapok (Mád Wine Days) ★ 4.7

Mád village hosts its annual wine festival on the last weekend of September, just before the Aszú harvest begins. The village's leading estates open their cellar doors simultaneously for walk-in tastings, and producer stands line the village square. The festival draws wine professionals from Budapest and international buyers who come to taste single-vineyard Furmint from the Mád terroir, including the Nyulászó, Betsek and Szt. Tamás vineyard sites.

Tip: Arrive on Saturday morning for the best access to small producers before the afternoon crowd. Mád has only a handful of accommodation options; book months ahead.

Barta Pince Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion Suites ★ 4.5

Three luxurious period-furnished suites in the first floor of the 17th-century Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion in Mád, operated by Barta Winery. Immersive Mád wine village location adjacent to the winery; estate wine programme and village cellar access.

The list: Direct access to Barta Winery organic Furmint range; Mád village cellar walk; estate tasting by arrangement

Barta Pince Vendégház ★ 4.3

Renovated three-room peasant house with veranda in Mád, run by Barta Winery. Accommodates up to 6 guests with option for extra beds; authentic rural setting adjacent to the winery; Mád village walking distance to Holdvölgy, Szepsy, among others.

The list: Barta estate wines available; proximity to Mád's top wineries for self-guided cellar visits

Hotel Botrytis ★ 4.3

Small boutique hotel associated with Mad Wine in Mád, with four double rooms, two single rooms, and one apartment set among the vineyards. Immersive wine village base for exploring the Mád premier cru appellations.

The list: Mad Wine estate wines from 20 ha of volcanic-soil vineyards; cellar visits; vineyard walks

Holdvölgy Aszú Vertical Tasting Experience ★ 4.8

Seated vertical tasting of six Tokaji Aszú vintages in Holdvölgy's 16th-century cellars in Mád, winner of Best Cellar Visit in Hungary two consecutive years. Guides explain how each vintage's botrytis development, harvest conditions. Curriculum spans winemaking choices shaped the evolution of the wine as well.

Royal Tokaji Private Cellar and Vineyard Tour ★ 4.8

Private appointment at Royal Tokaji covering 1.5 miles of 13th-century underground cellars and the modern Csaba Bodonyi-designed winery. Tasting covers the single-vineyard portfolio (Mézes Mály, Nyulászó, Betsek, Szent Tamás) from dry Furmint to Aszú and Eszencia.

Szepsy Single-Vineyard Pilgrimage ★ 4.9

Appointment-only visit to a historically significant Tokaj estate whose family developed the Aszú method in the 17th century. Walk through historic Mád cellars and well-tended single-vineyard blocks, followed by a seated comparison of cuvées from different parcels.

Bott Pince ★ 4.7

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

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. The estate has attracted international attention for its biodynamic-leaning practices in a region historically dominated by conventional or corporate producers.

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

Zoltán Demeter is a boutique producer in Mád working with low-intervention methods and organically farmed parcels in the village's top vineyard sites. His Furmint and Aszú releases are produced in small quantities and are consistently sought by collectors interested in the natural end of the Tokaj spectrum. The estate is a counterpoint to the larger international investors.

Tip: Demeter's small production means his wines are not widely available outside Hungary; Bortársaság in Budapest is the most reliable retail source.

Barta Pince ★ 4.5

Barta Pince is a small, family-run estate in Mád whose single-vineyard dry Furmints from the Öreg Király and Vén Király plots are regarded by local producers as serious reference points for Mád terroir expression. Below the radar of international press but well-known to Hungarian wine professionals and serious collectors.

Tip: Barta wines are available through the estate's mailing list and at Bortársaság Budapest; they are rarely seen on export markets, making them a discovery find for international visitors.

Szepsy István Winery ★ 4.9

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.

Mád village wine bar ★ 4.5

Mád's village centre has a small cluster of wine-focused bars and producer tasting rooms that stay open into the evening during the festival season and summer months. Single-vineyard dry Furmint from local producers is the focus, and the village atmosphere is intimate and local rather than touristy.

Wine focus: Single-vineyard Mád Furmint, Hárslevelü, Szamorodni édes

Tip: An authentic late-evening Mád experience is a bottle of single-vineyard Furmint shared at one of the terrace tables facing the village church; the silence after dark is a contrast to Budapest.

Royal Tokaji Mád evening events ★ 4.6

Royal Tokaji occasionally hosts evening tasting events in the Mád cellar complex for groups and premium trade visitors, combining the atmospheric stone cellar environment with curated tastings of single-vineyard bottlings and verticals. These are not regular programme items but are arranged on request for collectors and trade visitors.

Wine focus: Royal Tokaji single-vineyard Furmint, Aszú verticals, Eszencia

Tip: Contact Royal Tokaji's trade team directly to arrange an evening cellar event; the stone-arched 18th-century cellar tunnels are at their atmospheric after dark.

Royal Tokaji late harvest cellar experience ★ 4.7

Royal Tokaji's cellar complex in Mád includes a visitor hall where group tastings extend into the late afternoon and early evening in the summer season. The estate's late-harvest cellar programme combines a walk through the Furmint barrel cellar with a tasting of the single-vineyard portfolio including the Nyulászó, Szt. Tamás and Betsek vineyard bottlings.

Wine focus: Royal Tokaji single-vineyard Furmint, Aszú 5 puttonyos, Late Harvest

Tip: Book the extended cellar and vertical tasting format; it runs 2.5 hours and covers more of the estate's range than the standard 90-minute visit.

Szepsy cellar late tasting, Mád ★ 4.8

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 Nobilis Pezsgő cellar, Mád ★ 4.2

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.