Wine is an alcoholic drink. People have been making wine for about 5000 years. The word wine usually used describes drinks made from the juice of grapes, although people sometimes call alcoholic drinks made from the juice of other fruits – such as apples, cherries, plums or blackberries – wine.

Wine is a popular drink in many countries. The countries that drink the most wine are: France, Italy, USA, Germany, Spain, Argentina, United Kingdom, China, Russia and Romania. However, if you make a list of countries where the average person drinks the most wine, the list is different: Luxembourg, France, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and Slovenia. Wine is made in many countries. The countries that make the most wine are: France, Italy, Spain, USA, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal and Chile.

WINES EXPLAINED

What is wine?
Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grape juice.

How is wine made?
Wine is made by crushing the grapes, and then the juice that comes from them has yeast added to it. That yeast kick-starts a fermentation process where the sugars within the juice is turned into alcohol, producing wine.

How is white wine made?
White wine is made using the pressed juice of both red and white grapes. It picks up no colour at all from the skins because it has no contact with them.

How is red wine made?
Red wine is made using the pressed juice of red grapes, and that juice is then left in contact with the skins of the grape, which leaks the colour into the final product – red wine.

How is rosé made?
Rosé wine is made in two different ways. One is that the pressed juice is left in contact with the red skins for a small amount of time just to give a light tint. The other is to have a small amount of still red wine added to the white wine to give it a small amount of colour and create Rosé.

Where is wine made?
Wine is made all over the world, from very traditional countries such as France, Germany and Spain; to New World countries such as America and Australia, and even places such as Great Britain and China.

Where was wine first made?
That’s very debatable, but there’re a number of sources that pin point countries such as Armenia and Georgia as the first countries that produced wine.

When was wine first made?
There is a lot of debate as to when wine was first made, but there are a lot of historical sources that pinpoint wine being made as far back as 1750 B.C.

Fölfelé megy borban a gyöngy, jól teszi.
Tőle senki e jogát el nem veszi.
Törjön is mind ég felé az, ami gyöngy,
Hadd maradjon gyáva földön a göröngy.

És ürítsük a hazáért e pohárt:
Egy pohár bor a hazáért meg nem árt!
Testet éleszt és táplál a lakoma,
De ami a lelket adja, az bora!

(Vörösmarty Mihály: Fóti dal)

Fröccs, a.k.a the Spritzer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Hungary. It is actually wine (mostly white wine) mixed with soda water.  And most importantly, not with mineral water as is often the case nowadays, but with good old fashioned soda water. (You probably remember those Soda Streams we used to have in the 80s!)

The origins of the drink

Both Hungarians and Austrians lay claim to the origin of the fröccs, but since soda water, one of its key ingredients, and the soda bottle was invented in Hungary, we can definitely say that fröccs is a Hungarian drink.

Different types of fröccs

So, here is a guide to all the different fröccs available on a typical Hungarian menu:

The Cheapskate(in Hungarian: Sóher): 900 ml of soda water to 100 ml of wine
The Tenant (in Hungarian: Kisházmester): 400 ml of soda water to 100 ml of wine
The Long Stride (in Hungarian: Hosszúlépés): 200 ml of soda water to 100 ml of wine
The Jerk or Big Spritzer (in Hungarian: Nagyfröccs): 100 ml of soda water to 200 ml of wine
The Concierge (in Hungarian: Házmester): 200 ml of soda water to 300 ml of wine
The Landlord (in Hungarian: Háziúr): 100 ml of soda water to 400 ml of wine
The Blockhead (in Hungarian: Mafla): ½ l of soda water to ½ l of wine
The Mayor (in Hungarian: Polgármester): 400 ml of soda water to 600 ml of wine
The Krúdy (in Hungarian: Krúdy fröccs) 100 ml of soda water to 900 ml of wine
The Bailer (in Hungarian: Csattos): ½ l of soda water to 1 l of wine
The Illuminator or Lamplighter (in Hungarian: Lámpás)

EGY KIS ETIMOLÓGIA

A fröccs szó eredete

Vörösmarty 1842. október 5-én írta meg híres versét, amelyből megtudhatjuk, hogy “Fölfelé megy a borban a gyöngy”. Igen ám, de a borban csak akkor megy fölfelé a gyöngy, ha szódavizet adunk hozzá! A jelzett napon Fáy András, aki a kor szelllemi-irodalmi és bankéletének is központja volt, néhány barátját szüretre hívta. A barátok között ott volt Czuczor Gergely, a nem kevésbé kitűnő költő, aki magával hozta Jedlik Ányost, aki nemcsak az elektromosság nagy tudósa volt, hanem a szódásüveg magyar feltalálója is. (A szódavizet magát egyébként nem Jedlik Ányos találta fel, hanem az angol lelkész Joseph Priestley 1767-ben.) Jedlik a szüretre is elvitte a világ legelső szódásüvegét, ahol a házigazda és a vendégek elképedésére elkészítette a Fáy-birtokon a legelső fröccsöt. Ő azonban – németesen – spriccernek nevezte. Vörösmartynak ez a szó nem tetszett és helyette találta ki a fröccs szót.

Hungarian Wine

The wine industry in Hungary has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with its wines now receiving widespread recognition and appreciation on a global scale. The unique flavour profiles of Hungarian wines are one of the key reasons for their global success. These flavours are born from the country’s indigenous grape varieties, as well as the innovative techniques used by local winemakers to enhance the quality of their wines. While the sweet wines of Tokaj have garnered the most attention, there is also growing recognition for Hungary’s dry and medium-bodied wines, which are rapidly gaining popularity among wine enthusiasts worldwide.

Furmint

Furmint is a highly valued grape variety native to Hungary, particularly in the vineyards of the renowned Tokaj region, which is famous for its sweet wines. This white grape variety is known for its ability to produce wines that have a well-balanced taste with high acidity and a complex flavour profile that includes notes of honey, apricot, and spice. This unique combination of flavours makes Furmint wines stand out from others. To make Furmint wines even more enjoyable, many winemakers choose to age them in oak barrels, which gives the wine a rich, creamy texture.

Hárslevelű

Hárslevelű is a white grape variety that is native to the Carpathian Basin. It is frequently blended with Furmint to produce the amazing sweet wines of Tokaj. One of the most notable characteristics of wines made from Hárslevelű grapes is their captivating floral bouquet that is simply delightful. They also have evocative flavours of honey and dried fruits that are a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. These wines are usually aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve their fresh, fruity essence and to enhance their crisp and refreshing taste. It is a must-try wine variety for anyone who loves sweet wines or wants to explore the unique flavours of Hungary’s wines.

Kékfrankos

Kékfrankos, also known as Blaufränkisch internationally, is a red grape variety that is widely grown in Hungary’s vineyards. It is known for producing wines that are highly regarded for their deep colour, complex flavour profile, and subtle notes of blackberry, plum, and spice. Kékfrankos is a versatile grape that can be used to make various styles of wine, ranging from light and fruity to rich and full-bodied. The wine is often aged in oak barrels, which imparts a rich and velvety texture to the wine.

Kékfrankos has a long history in Hungary, with evidence of its cultivation dating back to the 18th century. Today, it is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the country, and it is also grown in other parts of Central Europe. The grape is known for its ability to thrive in a range of soils and climates, which has contributed to its popularity.

Kadarka

Kadarka, a red grape variety native to Hungary, was once the most widely cultivated grape in the country. However, its popularity declined in the 20th century. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the grape and it is now grown in various Hungarian wine regions. Kadarka wines are known for their light body and lively, spicy, and fruity flavour profile. These wines are typically aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve their fresh and fruity characteristics, which are similar to those found in Hárslevelű wines.

Olaszrizling

Olaszrizling is a white grape variety known globally as Welschriesling, which is extensively cultivated throughout Central Europe. Its cultivation is particularly significant in Hungary, where it is one of the most commonly grown grape varieties. Olaszrizling wines come in both dry and sweet varieties and are known for their light, crisp bodies. The wines are invigorating, with a refreshing citrus flavour. To preserve the fresh, fruity essence of the wines, they are often aged in stainless steel tanks. This method of ageing allows for the wine to maintain its original flavours and aromas, while also giving it a clean, crisp finish. The popularity of Olaszrizling wines has only continued to grow, as wine enthusiasts around the world discover and appreciate the unique qualities of this Central European grape variety.

Other grape varieties

Beyond these noteworthy grape varieties, Hungary also harbours a plethora of other exceptional varieties that contribute to its viticultural richness. Among these are Juhfark, Királyleányka, Irsai Olivér, and Szürkebarát, which are instrumental in the production of an exciting array of wines, ranging from dry whites and enchanting rosés to robust reds.

Hungary’s different types of grapes and its long-standing winemaking methods make it an exciting place for wine lovers. Whether you like white or red wine, or sweet or dry types, you can explore the delicious Hungarian wine scene to find something you’ll enjoy.

Businesses in Italy are reviving the tradition of selling wine and other drinks from tiny wall hatches known as wine windows. The tradition dates back to the 1600s when Italy was in the grip of another pandemic.

Wineries, gelaterias and bars in Tuscany have found a neat way to serve drinks and treats to customers while maintaining a safe physical distance by using wine windows or buchette del vino as they’re known in Italian. As the region comes out of lockdown, these windows have been serving contactless wine, Aperol Spritzes, gelato and coffee to customers in need of a pick-me-up.

There are about 150 of them in Tuscany, according to Buchette del Vino, a non-profit, cultural organisation that was set up by three friends — Matteo Faglia, Diletta Corsini and Mary Christine Forrest — in 2015 to promote, preserve and highlight these pint-sized windows. More than 100 of these architectural quirks can be found in Florence’s historical center alone.

The wine windows first came about in the 17th-century when quick-thinking wine merchants decided to carve little openings in the walls of their premises to continue serving drinks to the public during the Italian Plague of 1629–1631. These wine merchants understood the problem of contagion, say Buchette del Vino.

“They passed the flask of wine through the window to the client but did not receive payment directly into their hands. Instead, they passed a metal pallet to the client, who placed the coins on it, and then the seller disinfected them with vinegar before collecting them.”

Over time, as the demand for them diminished, the windows were bordered up. They’re often overlooked by tourists and even some locals as they go about their business. But today, as Italy grapples with a new pandemic and fresh fears of contagion, some Florentine businesses including Osteria delle Brache and Babae have opened their windows again to serve drinks, while the owners of the Vivoli ice cream parlor are serving coffee and gelato to passers-by.

source: Lonely Planet, CNN

Lake Balaton is Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake. Only a two-hour drive from the capital city, Budapest, we enter a carefree world of lavender fields, vineyards, and splashing in the shallow water.

During spring time, all is quiet and peaceful. Still, there are soulful restaurants and great wines that make Lake Balaton a worthy getaway. The Southern bank appeals to families and fans attending the annual open-air electronic music festival in summer. Those, who are more into great food and drink, should hightail it to the north side. With Balaton Gastro Map, an easy to download app, the best place to start off is Bistro Sparhelt, Balatonfüred. The place is run by a couple who left Budapest behind for a more laid-back life. With a Provençal vibe, old village doors, and wine cabinets it is a unique place. Slather bread in sausage cream, cauliflower soup with a burst of bacon and crunchy almond, finishing it off with a little round chocolate cake amped by peanut butter is the perfect combination for a meal. Nearby is Kredenc Borbisztró, a shrine to local wines. Liszkay is a prestigious brand here. Live Jazz and Dj sessions make nightcaps especially gratifying for the visitors.

A quarter of an hour drive from Badacsony, is a family owned winery, Laposa, with a commodious terrace overlooking vineyards that should not be missed out of the program. Stay for a while with a mineral-laden Furmint.

Beside gastro-experiences you can dive into nature further along the northern shoreline on foot or hop on a rented bike to discover the Balaton Highlands National Park, stretching across almost 57 thousand hectares, offering visitors signed routes on six nature trails for some peace and quiet in a beautiful landscape. The Balaton bike ring will take you past beautiful landmarks along the coastline.

Near the north-western tip of the lake, check out the panorama of the lake from the medieval fortress in Szigliget. 

For a taste of how British and Hungarian aristocracy entertained, visit the baroque-style Festetics Palace open all year round in Keszthely, where Edward, Prince of Wales was received in October 1885 and again in 1888, during his “incognito” visits to Hungary. Today it gives room for permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Helikon Library and a castle museum depicting the lifestyle of Hungarian aristocracy in the 18^th and 19^th century.

source: gotohungary.com, vogue.com

Match the words with the right definitions.

key: 1-e, 2-d,3-f, 4-c, 5-a, 6-b, 

A unique collection of wine based on miniature bottles made for an historic Queen’s doll house was today released – costing 30,000 pounds. The fine wine merchant which supplies The Queen has launched the new collection, which is inspired by Queen Mary’s Doll’s House. Berry Bros & Rudd sourced miniature bottles for the world’s largest and most famous dolls’ house when it was made for Queen Mary in 1924.

The 1ft to 1ins scale model was an incredibly detailed replica of a Neo-Classical home, furnished by the nation’s leading craftsmen. It included a fully stocked cellar with 1,200 miniature bottles – filled with genuine samples of the best wine, beer and spirits of the day.

Now Berry Bros & Rudd have compiled "The Dolls House Collection", which comprises 12 bottles of more recent vintages featured in the model.

The 30,000 pounds package is on sale at the merchant’s St James’s Street shop in central London, where they have been based since 1698. It contains two bottles of Champagne, one demi-sec Champagne, four red wines, one white wine, one sweet wine, a port, and a whiskey. Among them is a 2009 Romanee-Conti, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti – a fine red Burgundy which sells individually for 17,300 pounds. A 2009 Le Montrachet – a white wine from the same domain, which usually has a price tag 3,602.40 pounds – is also included. The oldest bottle is an 1855 Taylor port with a retail price of 2,195 pounds.

The exclusive collection has been launched by the world’s oldest wine merchant to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. And it marks almost 90 years since leading architect Sir Edwin Lutyens made the house for the wife of King George V.

Francis Berry, from Berry Bros. & Rudd, was tasked with selecting the wines for the dolls’ house cellar. Grandson Simon Berry, who is now the company’s chairman and Clerk of the Royal Cellars, said the collection shows Queen Mary had "only the finest". He said: "It was a great honour for my grandfather to be asked to select and prepare The Queen Mary Dolls House cellar. Today’s collection brings together more recent vintages of 12 of the wines and spirits originally included. We have created a one-off case that will demonstrate how only the finest was selected for Queen Mary."

Berry Bros. & Rudd holds two warrants for The Queen and Prince Charles and continues to supply the Royal Family as they have for 300 years. The Royal Collection describes Queen Mary’s Doll’s House as the "largest, most beautiful, and most famous dolls’ house in the world".

It was built by Sir Edwin between 1921 and 1924, and includes contributions from 1,500 of the finest artists, craftsmen and manufacturers. The library contains miniature works by the top literary names of the day, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J. M. Barrie, Thomas Hardy, and Rudyard Kipling. The house – which even has electricity, running water, a working lift, and flushing toilet – now sits on display at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Berks.

source: Solent News

merchant – kereskedő
to launch – beindítani, forgalomba hozni, piacra dobni
incredibly – hihetetlenül
detailed – részletes, részletezett, aprólékos
to furnish – berendezni, bebútorozni
stocked – felszerelt, nagy készlettel rendelkező
cellar – pince
genuine – eredeti, hiteles
sample – minta, kóstoló
spirits – szeszes italok
to comprise – tartalmazni, magába foglalni
individually – egyénileg
domain – terület, birtok
price tag – árcédula
retail – kiskereskedelem
leading – vezető, fő
to task – feladattal megbízni
honour – megtiszteltetés
to demonstrate – szemléltetni
warrant – megbízás, jogosultság, oklevél
flushing – lehúzható (öblíthető)
display – kiállítás

Match the words with their definitions.

1)         merchant         a)         authentic

2)         genuine           b)         show

3)         comprise         c)         separately

4)         individually     d)         consist of

5)         demonstrate    e)         vendor

Answers: 1) e, 2) a, 3) d, 4) c, 5) b

ALL ABOUT WINE

Wine is an alcoholic drink. People have been making wine for about 5000 years. The word wine usually used describes drinks made from the juice of grapes, although people sometimes call alcoholic drinks made from the juice of other fruits – such as apples, cherries, plums or blackberries – wine.

Wine is a popular drink in many countries. The countries that drink the most wine are: France, Italy, USA, Germany, Spain, Argentina, United Kingdom, China, Russia and Romania. However, if you make a list of countries where the average person drinks the most wine, the list is different: Luxembourg, France, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and Slovenia. Wine is made in many countries. The countries that make the most wine are: France, Italy, Spain, USA, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal and Chile.

WINES EXPLAINED

What is wine?
Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grape juice.

How is wine made?
Wine is made by crushing the grapes, and then the juice that comes from them has yeast added to it. That yeast kick-starts a fermentation process where the sugars within the juice is turned into alcohol, producing wine.

How is white wine made?
White wine is made using the pressed juice of both red and white grapes. It picks up no colour at all from the skins because it has no contact with them.

How is red wine made?
Red wine is made using the pressed juice of red grapes, and that juice is then left in contact with the skins of the grape, which leaks the colour into the final product – red wine.

How is rosé made?
Rosé wine is made in two different ways. One is that the pressed juice is left in contact with the red skins for a small amount of time just to give a light tint. The other is to have a small amount of still red wine added to the white wine to give it a small amount of colour and create Rosé.

Where is wine made?
Wine is made all over the world, from very traditional countries such as France, Germany and Spain; to New World countries such as America and Australia, and even places such as Great Britain and China.

Where was wine first made?
That’s very debatable, but there’re a number of sources that pin point countries such as Armenia and Georgia as the first countries that produced wine.

When was wine first made?
There is a lot of debate as to when wine was first made, but there are a lot of historical sources that pinpoint wine being made as far back as 1750 B.C.

alcoholic – alkoholos
to describe – leírni, körülírni
although – bár, habár
average person – áltag ember
fermented – erjesztett
yeast – élesztő
to add to – hozzáadni
to kick-start – hirtelen elindítani
fermentation – erjesztés, erjedés
process – folyamat
to pick up – felszedni
to leak – szivárogni
light tint – enyhe szín/árnyalat
amount – összeg, mennyiség
debatable – vitatható, vita tárgya
source – forrás
to pinpoint – leszögezni, pontosan meghatározni
debate – vita
historical – történelmi
B.C.  – időszámításunk előtt

Egy egyedi borkollekció miniatűr borosüvegekben, amely a Királynő történelmi babaházához készült, ma került piacra – 30,000 fontért. A minőségi borkereskedő cég, aki a Királynőt is ellátja, egy új kollekciót hozott forgalomba, amelyet Mária királyné babaháza inspirált. A Berry Bros & Rudd szállította a miniatűr borosüvegeket a világ legnagyobb és a leghíresebb babaházához, amikor Mária királyné számára elkészítették 1924-ben.

Az egy láb 1 inch modell elképesztően részletes másolata egy neoklasszikus otthonnak, amelyet a nemzet vezető kézművesei bútoroztak be. Egy teljesen felszerelt pincét is tartalmazott 1,200 miniatűr borosüveggel – teletöltve az akkor legjobb borokkal, sörökkel és szeszes italokkal.

Most Berry Bros & Rudd összeállították a "The Dolls House Collection"-t (A Babaház Kollekciót), amely a modellben felvonultatott italok korszerűbb változatainak 12 üvegét tartalmazza.

A csomagot 30,000 fontért árulják St James’s borszaküzletében, London központjában, ahol 1698 óta van székhelye. Két üveg pezsgőt, egy félédes pezsgőt, négy vörösbort, egy fehérbort, egy édes bort, egy portói bort és egy whiskyt tartalmaz. Köztük található egy 2009-es Romanee-Conti, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti – egy minőségi vörös Brugundy, amely 17, 300 fontos darabáron vásárolható meg. Egy 2009-es Le Montrachet – egy fehérbor ugyanabból a térségből, amely általában 3, 602.4 fontért kapható – csakugyan része a csomagnak. A legöregebb bor egy 1855-ös Taylor portói bor, amely 2,195 fontos kiskereskedelmi áron szerezhető be.

Az exkluzív kollekciót azért hozta forgalomba a világ legöregebb borkereskedője, hogy megünnepelje vele a Királynő koronázásának 60.-ik évfordulóját. És jelöli azt a majdnem 90 évet is, amely azóta telt el, hogy vezető építész Sir Edwin Lutyens elkészítette a házat V. György király feleségének.

Francis Berry-t, a Berry Bros. & Rudd-tól, kérték fel a babaház pincéjének borai kiválogatására. Simon Berry, az unoka, aki most a cég elnöke és a Royal Cellars (királyi borpincék) munkatársa, azt mondta, hogy a kollekció azt mutatja, hogy Mária királynénak csak a „legjobb borai” voltak. Azt is mondta: „Nagy megtiszteltetés volt a nagyapám számára, hogy felkérték arra, hogy kiválogassa és elkészítse a Queen Mary Doll’s House borpincét. A mai kollekció az eredetileg szereplő 12 bor és szeszes ital újabba változatait egyesíti. Létrehoztunk egy egyszeri rekeszt, amely demonstrálja majd, hogy csak a legmagasabb minőségű borokat válogatták össze Mária királynénak.”

Berry Bros. & Rudd-nak két megbízatása van a Királynő és Károly herceg számára és továbbra is ellátja a királyi családot, ahogyan már 300 éve teszik. A The Royal Collection (királyi kollekció) Mária királyné babaházát a „világ legnagyobb, legszebb és a leghíresebb babaháza”-ként írja le.

Sir Edwin 1921 és 1924 között építette, és a legjobbakat képviselő 1500 művész, kézműves és gyártó járult hozzá munkájával. A könyvtár a kor vezető irodalmi alakjainak, mint például Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J. M. Barrie, Thomas Hardy, és Rudyard Kipling munkáinak miniatűrjeit tartalmazza. A ház – amelyben áram, folyóvíz, egy működő lift és egy lehúzható WC is van – most a Windsor kastélyban látható kiállítva, Windsorban, Berk megyében.