What do you think of when you hear the word “wine”? Piedmont and Veneto in Italy… the Champagne regions of France. Some even think of California and its bold wines. But who would ever think of… Hungary? Yet it’s right here in Budapest that—usually in September, but generally in autumn—a special festival dedicated to New Wine takes place. It’s often labeled “New Wine Cheese Festival”, other times just a wine festival… but it’s definitely worth attending! And if you weren’t able to enjoy the 2025 festival, don’t worry. In Budapest (the capital’s airport is Budapest – BUD) you’ll always find excellent wineries where you can “recover” local new wine. And excellent private transfers will help you get there!
The New Wine Festival
The New Wine Festival (with or without cheese!) is the occasion where Hungarian winemakers present their best creations. Wine is usually paired with cheese because the latter enhances the flavors, but this isn’t an absolute must. The festival doesn’t have a specific period… it’s been held between September and November since the 19th century, initially as a “fair,” but today it’s a real gourmet event.
The exceptional location for this event is Vajdahunyad Castle, a building that blends various architectural styles, offering Hungarian beauty combined with the flavors of local products.
Hungary is evolving as a nation of great cuisine, and in recent times its dishes, traditional or not, are becoming must-try. The most renowned—besides the classic goulash—are the vegetable and fish soups. Among the highlights are also pork-stuffed cabbage leaves and paprika-flavored chicken.
Where to enjoy the best wine
The Hungarian capital has always been blessed with the fertile soils of the Buda hills. Places such as Szentendre and Budatétény have long lived off the produce of their vineyards. The finest wines can still be found in the suburbs of Budafok, whose underground cellars are housed in an incredible net of limestone tunnels. It is almost 100 km long!
Among the most famous cellars in Budapest is undoubtedly the one at Buda Castle. Equally noteworthy are the cellars at Kadarka Bar, Galeria 12, and Torley Pezsgopinceszet. Outside Budapest, visit the underground cellars of Tokaj-Oremus, the tiny ones in the village of Hercegkut, the sophisticated ones in Eger, and the romantic ones along the Danube river in the Neszmély region.
Hungarian Cheese Tour
The best way to enjoy Hungarian cheeses (and the equally worthy local cured meats!) is to book a dinner at the capital’s delightful bistros. Budapest now rivals Paris in offering charming taverns where old and new blend harmoniously. And where excellent wines can be enjoyed alongside dishes and platters of local delicacies.
If you don’t want to stay just in the capital, the ideal experience is a farm stay in the wine regions. Here you can taste locally produced cured meats and cheeses, paired with the finest recipes of Hungarian cuisine.
What to see
Between one tasting and another, of course, Budapest awaits. A tour of the ancient, unified cities of Pest and Buda includes stops at St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament Building with the gardens of Szabadság Square, the bridges over the Danube, and then a trip to Buda to admire Matthias Church with its soaring Gothic bell tower, the Royal Palace, the Fisherman’s Bastion, and the St. Lukács Baths.
And more: dozens of museums covering every topic (from history to science to sports), extravagant monuments like Shoes on the Shore or the Wheel of Time, and Vajdahunyad Castle. If you’re a foodie, however, you can’t miss a visit to the magnificent Market Hall, the jewel in the crown of the capital’s historic quarters and home to a thousand delicacies. Less than a two-hour drive west of Budapest, you can also enjoy the unique views of the “Hungarian Sea,” the vast Lake Balaton, where the town of Siofok stands out as the center of local seaside tourism.
