Eniko Dub

04/09/2026

MY WINE DIARY: THE BEST WINES FROM JULY–AUGUST 🍷 Mid-summer took me mostly to Hungary, with a little time in Prague, and that made for a very Central European wine diary. ⬇️

👉 Save this post if you are always looking for your next bottle!

Over the past two months, I tasted plenty of wines, but these six are the ones I would happily recommend again. Different grapes, regions, and styles, from a floral Hárslevelű from volcanic Somló to a bold Syrah from the Balaton-felvidék and a mature Crianza from Toro.

☝️ What I especially enjoyed about this selection is how different the wines are. A white wine made from Merlot, a lesser-known Moravian grape, an Olaszrizling that showed me another side of the variety — and several wines that reminded me just how diverse Hungarian wine can be.

✍️ In my latest Wine Diary on the blog, I share my tasting notes, more about the producers and regions, and why each of these wines stood out to me.

🍷 The wines (swipe through for more information!):

🔹️ Kancellár Birtok – Nagy-Somlói Hárslevelű 2021 🇭🇺 Kancellár Birtok - Somló
🔹️ Sazü – Core Syrah 2024 🇭🇺 SAZÜ WINES
🔹️ Rejiji – Bionda White Merlot 2023 🇭🇺
🔹️ Dubicz – Sárhegy Olaszrizling 2023 🇭🇺 Dubicz Borászat & Szőlőbirtok
🔹️ Konečný – Neronet 2024 🇨🇿 vinarstvikonecny
🔹️ Rejadorada – Novellum Crianza 2019 🇪🇸 BODEGA REJADORADA

📍 On the blog, you’ll find the full article, with detailed tasting notes and more about the grapes, producers, and wine regions behind these bottles.

🔗Link: https://winencsy.com/wine-diary-july-august/

Which one would you try first? 🍷

WineEducation WineBlog WineWriter CentralEuropeanWine Somlo Villany Matra BalatonWine MoravianWine ToroWine Harslevelu Olaszrizling Syrah Neronet WhiteMerlot

03/09/2026

My July–August Wine Diary is here.
I spent most of these two months in Hungary, with a little time in Prague, so this edition naturally became a journey through Hungarian and Central European wines.

I picked six bottles: a floral Hárslevelű from Somló, a white Merlot from Villány, an Olaszrizling from the Mátra, a little-known Neronet from Moravia, a bold Syrah from the Balaton-felvidék, and a mature Crianza from Toro.

Different grapes, regions and styles, but one thing in common: each wine gave me a reason to go back for another sip.

I’ve shared the tasting notes, the stories behind the wines, and a little more about the regions in my latest Wine Diary.

Read it here: https://winencsy.com/wine-diary-july-august/

25/08/2026

A CHARDONNAY THAT SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE GRAPE. 🍇 And the one that made me think about just how much winemaking can change this variety. ⬇️

I've tasted wines from Etyeki Kúria Pezsgőbirtok / Sparkling Estate several times before, and they are one of those producers I can always rely on for consistent quality. The winery also has a strong relationship with Weingut Esterházy in Burgenland for many years, which makes the connection between Etyek🇭🇺 and the Austrian🇦🇹 wine world particularly interesting.

👉 This time, the MSV Konkrét Chardonnay 2024 caught my attention.

📍Made from Chardonnay grown in Etyek-Buda🇭🇺, from the Öreg-hegy vineyard in Etyek and Nagy Látóhegy in Alcsútdoboz. The vineyards sit on limestone-based soils, with deep brown forest soil and loess, giving the wine a lovely mineral backbone.

🍷 In the glass, it shows a pale lemon colour. The nose is light and fruity, with citrus, green apple and a subtle touch of sweet spice. On the palate, it becomes a little more intense: fresh and lively, with citrus, almond and mineral flavours, followed by a soft creaminess and a long, slightly salty finish.

👌There's an interesting detail behind the texture: the wine is fermented entirely in concrete and then spends 12 months on fine lees, followed by another three months of ageing in bottle. So there is no oak here, but there is still plenty of texture and complexity.

☝️ This is exactly why I find Chardonnay so interesting. We often think of it as either the crisp, unoaked style or the rich, buttery, oak-aged one. But there is a whole world in between.

🍷The MSV Konkrét is a great example: fresh and citrusy, but with enough lees ageing and structure to give it a more rounded and complex personality.

✍️ I actually wrote a Chardonnay guide: Everything You Need to Know About the World’s Most Versatile White Grape. I look at the role of climate, oak, malolactic fermentation and lees ageing in shaping Chardonnay from all over the World.

🔗Read the full guide: https://winencsy.com/chardonnay-wine-guide/

Now you can add photos in the comments, so show me your favourite Chardonnays!

WhiteWine WineEducation WineWriter

30/07/2026

Can one grape really taste this different? 🍇

Fresh and mineral. Rich and buttery. Crisp and citrusy. Creamy and full-bodied.

Chardonnay is one of the most misunderstood grape varieties, yet also one of the most fascinating. The same grape can produce completely different wines depending on where it's grown and how it's made.

In my latest article, I take you through the world of Chardonnay—from Chablis and White Burgundy to California, Australia and beyond—and explain why every bottle tells a different story.

📖 Read the full guide here: https://winencsy.com/chardonnay-wine-guide/

Have you found a Chardonnay style you love?🥂

Everything you need to know about Chardonnay. How climate, oak and winemaking create different styles, from crisp to rich barrel-aged wines.

28/07/2026

IT TOOK A HUNGARIAN HEAT WAVE TO REMIND ME HOW GOOD ROSÉ CAN BE.🍷 And this bottle was worth the wait. ⬇️

I've been in Hungary 🇭🇺 for almost two weeks now, and with temperatures climbing every day, it finally felt like the right moment to open a proper bottle of rosé.

📍Vylyan Pincészet Vylyan Vineyards & Winery in Villány isn't new to me. I visited the winery years ago and have always associated it with its excellent red wines. This time, though, I was curious to see what their Kakas Rosé 2025 had to offer.

🍇 Made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Kékfrankos and Kadarka grown in the Gombás and Mandolás vineyards, the grapes are gently pressed without skin maceration to preserve freshness and elegance. Each variety is fermented separately at cool temperatures before being blended just before bottling.

🍷In the glass, it shows a beautiful vibrant cherry colour with great viscosity. The nose is bursting with raspberries, strawberries and cherries, followed by a refreshing touch of orange, grapefruit and delicate red blossom flowers.

The palate was the biggest surprise. Instead of the light, simple style many people expect from rosé, this is creamy, medium-bodied and much more gastronomic. The juicy red berry flavours return alongside lively freshness and well-balanced alcohol, finishing long with a fresh raspberry-filled aftertaste.

☝️This is the kind of rosé that deserves a place at the dinner table, not just beside the swimming pool. It has enough freshness for a hot summer day, but also enough texture and depth to pair beautifully with grilled vegetables, seafood, lighter pasta dishes, or even roast chicken.

🤗 Sometimes it's nice to revisit a winery you already know. You might end up discovering a completely different side of it.

Have you ever tried a gastronomic rosé like this? 🍷

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27/07/2026

THE SPARKLING WINE THAT CHANGED MY VIEW OF GARDA DOC. 🍾 I didn't expect one of my favourite wines of the trip to be a sparkling wine... ⬇️

When people think about Lake Garda, sparkling wine probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It certainly wasn't for me. But during Garda Wine Stories, one bottle completely changed that: Prendina Cuvée Maison Metodo Classico.

🍇 Made from 90% Chardonnay and 10% Corvina, this traditional method sparkling wine spends around two years ageing on its lees before release. That's where those beautiful notes of brioche, vanilla and freshly baked bread come from, while still allowing the fresh fruit to shine.

🍾 In the glass, it opens with stone fruit, lemon and tropical pineapple, followed by delicate brioche and pastry notes. On the palate, it's fresh, elegant and beautifully balanced, with fine bubbles, bright acidity and a long citrus-driven finish.

☝️It was so impressive how effortlessly it combined complexity with drinkability. It's refined enough for a celebration but just as enjoyable with a long lunch overlooking the lake.

👉 This wine is one of the highlights of my latest article about Garda DOC, where I also explain what makes this denomination so special, introduce Garganega, and share two more wines that perfectly capture the spirit of Lake Garda.

🔗 Read the full article via the link in my bio!

Have you ever discovered a sparkling wine that completely surprised you? 🍾

📍Thank you Garda DOC AB Comunicazione and Anne-Wies Van Oosten - DipWSET for the opportunity to vist this beautiful region. 😍🍷

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27/07/2026

When people think of Lake Garda, they usually picture colourful villages, beautiful views and summer holidays. After spending a few days there at Garda Wine Stories, I'll definitely think about the wines too. 🍷

For my latest article on WinEncsy, I wanted to share more than just tasting notes. I wanted to introduce you to Garda DOC, the grape that surprised me the most, and three wines that perfectly captured the freshness and character of the region.

If you're planning a trip to Lake Garda—or simply looking for some new Italian wines to discover—I hope this article gives you a little inspiration.

A big thank you again to Garda DOC for the invitation and to Anne-Wies Van Oosten for the opportunity to attend Garda Wine Stories.

🍷 You can read the full article here: https://winencsy.com/exploring-garda-doc-fresh-wines-from-italys-largest-lake/

Have you ever visited Lake Garda, or is it still on your travel wishlist?

Discover Garda DOC through fresh white wines, Garganega and traditional sparkling wines. Explore why Lake Garda is a must-visit wine region.

23/07/2026

RED WINE FROM LAKE BALATON? 🍷 It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, and that is exactly why Sazü caught my attention. ⬇️

When most people think about Balaton, they think of crisp white wines. Dávid Blaskó had a different vision. Inspired by friendships with winemakers from Australia and California, he set out to explore what Rhône varieties could achieve on the volcanic hillsides of Mindszentkálla.

☝️Instead of following tradition, he focused on creating elegant, expressive red wines that truly reflect the site. Hand harvesting, minimal intervention, and careful winemaking all serve one goal: letting the vineyard speak.

🍷 I had the opportunity to taste three of SAZÜ WINES' wines, and one wine clearly stood out: Core Syrah 2024.

In the glass, it shows a deep purple colour with ruby hints and beautiful viscosity. The nose is intense yet elegant, with spices and fruit in perfect balance. Ripe red cherry, plum, blueberry and strawberry marmalade are layered with milk chocolate, coffee beans, a slight earthy character and bay leaves.

On the palate, it is incredibly juicy and youthful. The high alcohol and vibrant acidity work in balance again, while the high tannins are beautifully ripe and well integrated. Full-bodied and intense, it brings back those dark fruits and savoury spices before finishing with a long, fresh and dark-fruited finish that seems to go on forever.

👉 This is a Rhône-inspired Syrah with a distinct New World touch and excellent ageing potential. More importantly, it is a great example of how the Balaton region can produce bold, characterful red wines when someone is willing to challenge expectations.

📍As Dávid puts it:

"Northern Lake Balaton has all the natural conditions needed to produce outstanding full-bodied red wines, and Sazü is proof of that. I believe everything is in place for something new to begin. My mission is to lead by example and to share the experience and knowledge I've gained along the way."

Next week I'll also be sharing the other two wines I tasted from Sazü in my stories, so stay tuned! 🍷

Have you ever tasted a Syrah from Lake Balaton?

21/07/2026

🍇 GRAPE TALK: EPISODE 50: Bordeaux Wine Styles. 🍷 Bordeaux isn't just one style of wine. Let's break it down. ⬇️

☝️Save this post for your wine studies and the next time you're choosing a bottle from Bordeaux!

1️⃣ Bordeaux is one of the world's most famous wine regions, but it doesn't produce just one type of wine. The region makes red, dry white, sweet white, rosé, sparkling wine, Clairet, and now Bordeaux Claret, each with its own style and winemaking approach.

2️⃣ Bordeaux reds are usually blends, not single-variety wines. Merlot brings ripe fruit and softness, Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure and ageing potential, while Cabernet Franc contributes freshness, spice and elegance. 🍇

3️⃣ Bordeaux's white wines are just as diverse. Dry Bordeaux Blanc is typically made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, offering everything from crisp citrus flavours to rich, oak-aged styles. The region is also home to world-famous sweet wines such as Sauternes, made from grapes affected by noble rot. 🍷

4️⃣ Two Bordeaux wine styles are often confused: Bordeaux Clairet and Bordeaux Claret. Clairet is a darker, fuller-bodied wine that sits between a rosé and a red. Bordeaux Claret, introduced from the 2025 vintage, is a lighter, fruitier red that revives the historic style that originally made Bordeaux famous.

5️⃣ Bordeaux wines aren't all meant to be served the same way. While structured red Bordeaux is often served around 16–18°C, dry whites and sparkling wines are best chilled to 8–10°C, sweet wines around 10–12°C, and the new Bordeaux Claret is designed to be enjoyed lightly chilled at 10–12°C.

👉 Do you want to know more about the new Bordeaux Claret?

📍I've just published a full article explaining its history, how it differs from Bordeaux Clairet, and why Bordeaux is bringing this historic wine style back.
🔗Link: https://winencsy.com/bordeaux-claret/

Which Bordeaux style is your favourite? 🍷

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