📍 Sopron

Sopron is a wine district in north-western Hungary, on the Austrian border, around the town of the same name beside Lake Neusiedl (Fertő in Hungarian). The lake softens the climate: it evens out cold and adds autumn humidity. The district belongs to the North Transdanubia region.

The main grape is the red Kékfrankos, called Blaufränkisch in Austria. Here it gives light-bodied wines with cherry and pepper notes and good acidity. The grape grows on both sides of the border: across it lies Burgenland, where Blaufränkisch is also the leader. Cabernet Franc and Zweigelt are also grown, and among whites Zöldveltelini and Welschriesling.

The winemaking history of Sopron is tied to German-speaking vine growers who called themselves Ponzichters; for centuries they grew wine on the slopes of the surrounding hills.

Sopron is the westernmost of the Hungarian districts, and in style its wines are closer to Austrian ones than to southern Hungarian wines. Blaufränkisch from Sopron suits goulash, game and roast poultry. The name Sopron on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.