József Szentesi is a rediscoverer of old Hungarian varieties dating back to before the phylloxera plague, an advocate of non-interventionist winemaking, and a recipient of the Hungarian Winemaker of the Winemakers (Borászok Borásza) Award. As Swabians with roots in Budaörs, his ancestors had been growing grapes and making wine for centuries. The disastrous wine culture of the 1970s and 1980s separated him from the family tradition, but in 1998 he finally returned to his roots. A hobby turned into his passion. Budaörs – which used to have nearly 500 hectares of vineyards – was consumed by urbanisation, so Szentesi bought land in Nadap, Pázmánd, and Sukoró near Lake Velence. Today the estate has 16 hectares of vineyards with nearly 30 varieties. Some that had been forgotten for over a century have been brought to life again – Csókaszőlő, Tihanyi Kék, Kék Bajor, Laska, Hajnos Kék and others.
Szentesi Erintes Red Etyek-Buda, Hungary 2021