Hungarian Wine Challenge – Maul Zsolt Pincészete, Villány
Like lots of people, I love a challenge! In September 2024, I set myself the challenge, while visiting Hungary, of travelling to multiple wine regions, tastings, festivals and other wine events in order to find some of the best wines in the country. The challenge started on 1 September and finished towards the end of the month.
Along the journey there were a number of places I visited. Among them was the Maul Zsolt Pincészete cellar in Villány.
About the winery
Villány suprised me. The quality of the wines from this region really is something else, and this is the place to drink Cabernet Franc! The wineries I visited all had their particular strengths and they were all great in different ways. From the luxury of Sauska, to the more rustic charm of Vinatus. Not to mention the numerous wineries I didn’t get chance to visit, but did sample wines from on the wine tour. But the tasting I probably enjoyed most was the one at Maul Zsolt.
First off, they don’t normally open on Sunday afternoon, but made an exception in my case. That is amazing customer service before I had even tasted a glass. It also meant I had the place to myself! And, while not every tasting is going to be a solo one, the venue was very impressive. And its even been rennovated since I visited in September 2024!
This is a winery that focuses on quality and the wines tasted absolutely reflected that. One of the amazing things about Hungary is there are some great entry level wines at very accessible prices, and then things just get better from there. I bought a bottle of Seraf from the winery which I had the pleasure of opening for Mother’s Day, and was still blown away by it. And that is a wine that retails at just £11.
The tasting on offer now is a little different to the one I did, but it includes 8 wines and is around £30, with a premium version for around £50 which includes 10 wines. For Hungary those prices are on the higher side, but, consider this… A single bottle of their Zsolt wine retails for around £250. And while that isn’t included on the tasting list, it gives you a good idea about the level of quality you’ll be tasting.
The host was very hospitable and talked to me about the wines, the winery, the owner and the methods used. He knew his stuff. The pace was nice, no rush and plenty of time to savour the wines. And these wines really deserved savouring. The atmosphere was very relaxed and despite being the only person there, I was treated really well and there was no pressure to leave.
The wine here speak for themselves. Many are blends and there is some serious alchemy that goes into making them. These guys make some awesome wines. A friend of mine who really knows her wine lists one of their wines among her favourites. And with good reason. From entry level upward they just get better and better. And the higher up the range you get, the more they make you seriously contemplate the good decisions you have made in life which led you to the Maul Zsolt winery!
There is a cellar which can be visited, but my visit was in the wine bar, so I can’t share any information about that. But I would imagine that only adds to the experience. For me this place is pitched just right. Its tastefully, even a little luxuriously decorated and furnished, but its isn’t snobby. If I lived in Villány, I think it would be a weekend treat. Although it would be hard to choose from the selection of wines.
Obviously, in my honour they have wine named David. Well, not quite in my honour, but I like to pretend it is! The owners are in fact David and Daniel, and there is a David and a Daniel wine to sample. I have to say, I’d be to put my name on the David! Its a very good blend with a nice Cabernet Franc note. And the finish on the wine (as with others in the range) goes on and on.
The alternative to a tasting is just to pop in and drink wine off the menu. Normally there would be food available as well, but with my visit being out of hours, the kitchen was closed. If they prepare their food in the same quality as the wines, it would be well worth setting aside half a day to work you way through the wines with some food to accommpany them.
Overall, I found this experience among the best I have had in Hungary. Its rare to find wines this good, and to find them alongside a great venue, a host who was so willing to share information, and to be able to taste so many wines as part of the tasting. It is very unlikely I’ll ever pass through Villány again without calling in here for a tasting.
I highly recommend Maul Zsolt, whether you want to pop in for a glass, bottle or tasting. Make sure you have plenty of empty space in your luggage for the bottles you’ll inevitably want to buy while you are there. You can book a tour / tasing – here. And if you are in Budapest, I know that Bortodoor have some Maul Zsolt wines in stock. So will you be adding this winery to your list? If you visit, let them know if this review influenced that decision. And in the meantime, keep exploring this beautiful planet we live on, one glass at a time!