The best wines from Sopron in Hungary

Sopron, on the border with the Austrian Burgenland, is an important Hungarian wine district for red wines. The vineyards are located on the shores of Lake Neusiedl and at the foot of the Alps. The Kékfrankos grape is the showpiece. This grape has put Sopron back on the wine map after a century of radio silence.

In addition to Kékfrankos, you will find Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot in Sopron. White grapes are in the minority. The most important are Grüner Veltliner, Irsai Olivér, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, and Királyleányka.

Sopron has a history as a wine region that goes back centuries. Viticulture was probably introduced by the Celts in the 3rd century BC. In the 14th century, it was already one of the most important wine regions in Central Europe. The wines from Sopron were exported deep into Europe.

In the course of the 19th century, there was another huge revival for the winegrowers from the district. Their wines ended up on the tables of various European royal houses. They were even sold in the United States. The proud inhabitants of the town of the same name protected their precious appellation with strict legislation, sales permits and excise duties.

The golden years were unfortunately short-lived. The phylloxera epidemic that ravaged European vineyards at the end of the 19th century caused severe damage to the centuries-old vineyards of Sopron in western Hungary. The vineyards were replanted. White grapes made way for blue ones, mainly for Kékfrankos.