Eniko Dub

13/06/2026

THE WINE THAT GAVE THE WINERY ITS NAME. 🍷 And the bottle that best explains what Tűzkő Birtok is all about. ⬇️

When I tasted through the range from Tűzkő Birtok there were several wines I enjoyed. But one wine clearly stood out as the flagship: Tűzkő Domb Cuvée 2021.

📍The name comes from Tűzkő Domb, the vineyard that also gave the estate its name. Located in the Tolna in the greater Pannon wine region, the winery combines more than 200 years of local history with the expertise of two famous Italian wine families: Antinori and Mazzei.

The wine itself is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, bringing together the structure of Cabernet Franc with the richness and generosity of Merlot.

In the glass, it shows a deep ruby colour with purple hints and beautiful viscosity. The nose is packed with ripe dark fruits: blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry and plum, layered with black pepper, to***co, coffee and dark chocolate.

On the palate, it delivers exactly what the nose promises. Full-bodied, powerful and complex, with ripe high tannins, plenty of dark fruit and sweet spice character. Despite its concentration, the wine stays balanced thanks to its freshness, finishing incredibly long with a sweet-fruited and peppery aftertaste.

☝️As the flagship wine of the estate, Domb Cuvée spends extended time ageing before release, allowing the fruit, tannins and oak to come together into a very polished and ageworthy wine.

🍷 This is the bottle where the Italian influence becomes most visible. Not because it tastes Italian, but because of the balance, precision and elegance behind all that power.

Drink it now with a good steak, game dishes or hard cheeses, or give it another 10+ years in the cellar and see where it goes.

Have you ever tasted a Hungarian Bordeaux blend before? 🍷

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12/06/2026

Before tasting wines from Tűzkő Birtok, I knew surprisingly little about the Tolna wine region. What started as tasting six wines quickly turned into a deep dive into one of Hungary's most overlooked wine regions.

From Roman roots and deep loess soils to the involvement of the Antinori and Mazzei families, there is a lot more to Tolna than most wine lovers realise.

In my latest article, I explore the history of the region, the story of Tűzkő Birtok and six wines that helped me understand why Tolna deserves far more attention.

📖 Read the full article: https://winencsy.com/tuzko-birtok-tolna-wine-region/

Discover Tűzkő Birtok and the Tolna Wine Region through six wines. Explore the history, terroir, winemaking, and Italian connection.

09/06/2026

🍇 GRAPE TALK: EPISODE 48: Tolna. One of Hungary's most overlooked wine regions — and one with a surprisingly important history. Let's break it down. ⬇️

☝️Save this post for your wine studies and the next time you come across a wine from Tolna!

1️⃣ While regions like Tokaj, Villány and Szekszárd are well known, Tolna often flies under the radar. Interestingly, in the 16th century it reportedly produced more wine than Tokaj and Heves combined.

2️⃣ Tolna is located in southern Hungary 🇭🇺 as part of the Pannon Wine Region. The vineyards are planted on gentle hills with plenty of sunshine, helping grapes achieve good ripeness while maintaining freshness.

3️⃣ One of the region's biggest strengths is its loess soil. These deep deposits retain water well and help produce wines that combine fruitiness, freshness and elegance.

4️⃣ Tolna is one of Hungary's most versatile wine regions. White varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner and Traminer grow alongside red grapes like Kékfrankos, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

5️⃣ The region has a long winemaking history stretching back to Roman times, but today it remains one of Hungary's hidden gems. That means there are still plenty of exciting discoveries waiting for curious wine lovers.

👉 Pro tip: If you enjoy exploring lesser-known wine regions, Tolna is definitely one to watch.

What's the most underrated wine region you've discovered recently? 🍷

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08/06/2026

THIS WINE REGION ONCE PRODUCED MORE WINE THAN TOKAJ. 🍷 Yet most wine lovers rarely talk about it today. ⬇️

When I received these wines from Tűzkő Birtok, I started reading about the Tolna wine region and immediately fell down a rabbit hole. What I discovered surprised me.

📍Back in the 16th century, Tolna was one of Hungary's most important wine-producing regions. At one point, it reportedly produced more wine than Tokaj and Eger combined.

Today, however, it often flies under the radar compared to regions like Tokaj, Villány or even the neighbouring Szekszárd.

So I decided to explore Tolna through three wines.

🍷 Grüner Veltliner 2025: This was probably the biggest surprise for me. We usually associate Grüner Veltliner with Austria, but it feels right at home here too. Fresh, vibrant and full of energy, with exactly the kind of crisp, easy-drinking style that we love about Grüner.

🍷 Traminer 2025: A grape variety that doesn't get nearly enough attention these days. Intensely aromatic, floral and expressive, yet much more elegant than many people expect when they hear the word Traminer aka. Gewürztraminer.

🍷 Vörös Pannon Pinot Noir 2024: For me, this wine tells an important story about Tolna. While many nearby regions have built their reputation on bigger, more powerful reds, this Pinot Noir leans into freshness, bright fruit and finesse.

🍇 What connects all three wines is balance. Despite being completely different varieties and styles, they all felt fresh, approachable and very easy to enjoy.

And honestly, that's what made me curious about Tolna in the first place.

Have you ever tasted a wine from the Tolna wine region? 🍷

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03/06/2026

🍇 GRAPE TALK: EPISODE 47: Tai. The Venetian white grape with a surprisingly complicated identity. Let’s break it down. ⬇️

☝️Save this post for your wine studies and the next time you spot Tai or Friulano on a wine label!

1️⃣ Tai is a white grape variety grown mainly in Veneto🇮🇹, while in neighbouring Friuli-Venezia Giulia🇮🇹 it is known as Friulano. For many years it was called Tocai, but after a long legal dispute with Hungary🇭🇺 over the similarity to Tokaji, the name had to change. Today, Veneto uses Tai, while Friuli uses Friulano.

2️⃣ Despite the old name, Tai has absolutely nothing to do with Hungary’s famous Furmint 🍇 grape used in Tokaji wines. DNA research confirmed that Tai is actually the same variety as Sauvignonasse, an old grape from southwestern France (most likely Bordeaux) that has almost disappeared from its homeland.

3️⃣ The variety has been cultivated in northeastern Italy since at least the 18th century and became deeply connected to the wine culture of Veneto and Friuli. Today, it remains one of the most traditional white grapes of the region, even though vineyard plantings have steadily declined over the last decades.

4️⃣ In the glass, Tai is typically fresh and elegant, showing aromas of white flowers, green apple, citrus, pear and subtle herbs. One of its most distinctive features is the gentle almond note that often appears on the finish. Compared with Sauvignon Blanc, the wines are usually less aromatic but fuller-bodied and often slightly richer in texture.

👉 Pro tip: If you visit Veneto and see Tai on a wine list, don’t expect a Sauvignon Blanc-style wine. Look for the signature almond finish — it’s one of the easiest clues to recognise the variety.

Have you tried Tai or Friulano before? 🍷

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02/06/2026

AN ITALIAN WHITE GRAPE CREATED IN A CLASSROOM. 🍇 And it ended up being one of the most interesting discoveries from a recent masterclass. ⬇️

If you haven't heard of Manzoni Bianco before, don't worry — most wine lovers haven't.

👉 The variety was created in the 1930s by Professor Luigi Manzoni in Conegliano 🇮🇹 by crossing Riesling and Pinot Bianco. 🍇 The idea was simple: combine the aromatic character and freshness of Riesling with the adaptability and structure of Pinot Bianco.

After discovering a few examples during the Venezia DOC masterclass with Consorzio Vini Venezia, I think he was onto something. 🍷

📍One wine that immediately caught my attention was the Manzoni Bianco Venezia DOC 2024 from Cantine Borga. Today the winery is run by four cousins who focus on producing approachable wines that reflect their territory while remaining fresh, modern and easy to enjoy.

🍷In the glass, the wine shows a bright pale lemon colour. The nose is youthful and elegant with white flowers, elderflower, lemon peel, apricot and a touch of grapefruit.

The palate continues on the citrusy and floral profile, joined by green apple and a slight oily texture that adds a little extra complexity. Medium-bodied, very fresh and beautifully balanced, with a long citrusy finish that keeps you coming back for another sip.

☝️This is not a wine made for decades in the cellar. It is all about freshness, balance and drinkability. Crisp, elegant and best enjoyed while young, keeping this vibrant style over the next few years.

👌Serve it well chilled at around 10°C and pair it with aperitifs, seafood or lighter summer dishes.

I have a feeling Manzoni Bianco is one of those varieties we will be hearing much more about in the coming years.

Have you ever tasted a Manzoni Bianco before? 🍷

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02/06/2026

Before this tasting, I knew very little about Lison DOCG.

After discovering the Tai grape, Manzoni Bianco and several fantastic wines from the Venezia area, it became one of my favourite wine discoveries of the year.

Read the full story and tasting notes in my latest article:

https://winencsy.com/lison-docg-tai-grape/



Consorzio Vini Venezia StudioCru Ca' di Rajo Wines Ornella Bellia Venezia Wines Tenuta Polvaro Cantine Borga

Discover Lison DOCG, the historic white wine of Venice made from the Tai grape. Learn about Lison Classico and Manzoni Bianco.

01/06/2026

PEOPLE THINK WINE FAIRS LOOK LIKE THIS... 🍷 But that's only half the story. ⬇️

If you have been following my VieVinum coverage over the last two weeks, you've seen the beautiful wines, the masterclasses, the winemakers and some incredible bottles.

What you probably haven't seen is everything happening in between. 😅

🔹Running between masterclasses across the Hofburg.
🔹Trying to take notes on wine #47 while still remembering wine #12.
🔹 Waiting 10 minutes for a clean video because people keep walking through the shot.
🔹 Ending the day with sore feet, hundreds of photos and pages of tasting notes that somehow all need to become articles, reels and Instagram posts.

☝️Wine fairs always look glamorous on social media, but the reality is a mix of wine tasting, storytelling, content creation, logistics and trying not to miss the next seminar.

And honestly? That's exactly why I love them. 😍

Because behind every tasting note, every recommendation and every winery story is a moment of discovery. A wine I've never tasted before, a winemaker I've never met before, or a region that completely changes my perspective.

🍷This year's gave me more wines, more stories and more inspiration than I can count. Now comes the challenge of turning all those notes into content for you. 🤗

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a wine fair? 🍷

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28/05/2026

WHAT DOES A 50-YEAR-OLD WINE FROM VIENNA TASTE LIKE? 🍷 Honestly… much younger than I ever expected. ⬇️

At the “60 Years – Legends of Vienna Wine” masterclass organised by WienWein and the ÖTW - Österreichische Traditionsweingüter during VieVinum, we tasted wines going back to 1975 and even 1964. And what stayed with me most was how alive many of these wines still felt.

We often talk about Vienna through heurigen culture or Gemischter Satz🍇, but this tasting proved something else too: Vienna 🇦🇹 deserves far more recognition for the ageing potential of its wines.

🍷One of my highlights was the 1975 Bisamberg field blend from Weingut Wieninger, presented by Fritz Wieninger himself.

👉 He explained that under today’s regulations this wine probably would not officially qualify as Gemischter Satz 🍷 anymore, even though the varieties were planted, harvested and vinified together — exactly how these historic Viennese field blends used to be made.

🍇 The blend included Bouvier, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Blanc, Roter Traminer and Welschriesling.

If somebody had poured this wine blind, I would never have guessed it was 50 years old.

🍷The nose was still remarkably clean and elegant, showing dried stone fruits, delicate nuttiness and a touch of honey rather than heavy oxidative notes. On the palate, it was completely dry, layered and incredibly vibrant with apple, pear, white pepper, cloves and cardamom, all carried by beautiful acidity and freshness.

The finish was long, energetic and almost youthful, completely challenging the stereotypes many people still have about old wines.

☝️Tastings like this are proof that Vienna belongs in the conversation about truly ageworthy wines far more than many people realise.

Huge respect to the wineries who opened their cellars and shared these rare bottles: Edlmoser, Weingut Christ, Weingut Wien Cobenzl, Fuhrgassl-Huber, Weingut Mayer am Pfarrplatz, Wieninger am Nussberg, Weingut Kroiss Wien & Illmitz and Peter Uhler. 🙏

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