„Wine is a part of the history of countries, an expression of national character, a source of problems and pleasures.”
In September of 2009, for eightteenth time, the Budapest International Wine and Festival is realised. The Wine Festival had grown into the most highly regarded and popular professional event and combined arts festival of Central Europe, where each year many tens of thousands learn the art of sophisticated wine consumption and get to know the wine makers and the traditions associated with viniculture.
Take a look at a sampler of this year’s colorful series of programs!
Wine Exhibition and Fair
Spot: the terraces of Buda Castle
Date: 9th -13th September 2009
Opening hours
on 9th, 10th: 14:00 – 23:00
on 11th: 12:00 – 23:00
on 12th, 13th: 10:00 – 23:00
The most visited program of the Wine Festival is the Wine Exhibition and Fair will be held eight years running at Buda Castle, designated a world heritage site by UNESCO, perhaps the most hallowed location of Budapest.
At the Wine Festival, the cream of Hungary’s vintners are offering their finest wines; in addition to domestic vintages, thanks to respected wine merchants, a number of foreign wines shall be introduced as well. Gastronomy is an integral part of the Wine Festival: a corner grill, potluck farm, open air kitchen, scones baked on-site, ’töki pompos lángos’ (a fancy flat scone), sheep, goat and cow cheeses, appetisers and other delicacies await visitors.
The quality programming of the Festival stages provide the entertainment, dance and music.
Interested visitors will once again be allowed to visit the VinAgora Tent, where with the assistance of experts they can become wine tasting judges for a few minutes. The judgment of the participants determines which wine wins the „Wine of the Festival” title among all the wines that will have been tasted. More information...
Wine University
Date: 8th, 9th September 2009
Lecture time: 16:00 – 19:00
Spot: 1st store of the MKA Headquarters (Szentháromság tér 6.)
This is the usual 3 days lecture series program before the Wine Exhibition and Fare.
The topics always represent actual wine market, traditional wine historycal and cultural issues. All the lectures and topics are supported with enjoyable wine tastings. The second day is, as usual, day of the guest country/region of the Wine Festival with authentic lecturers of the guest country and Hungarian experts of the guest country. In advance registration is obligatory. More information...
Harvest Parade
Spot: Buda Castle
Date:12th September 2009 starts at: 13:00
The Harvest Procession held to honour our grape and wine producer ancestors is a colorful, scenic, musical cavalcade, an event that for years had mobilised and entertained thousands of people and encouraged them to become a part of the celebration. The procession is composed of folk dance and other traditional bands, the dignitaries of Hungary’s wine regions, its Wine Orders, wine afficionado organisations, as well as the representatives of the Szarvasgomba Lovagrend (Truffle Order of Knights). More information...
Gala Evening
Spot: Palace osf Arts (Müpa)
Date: Friday, 18 September, 2009, 7.30 P.M.
More information...
Charity Wine Auction
Spot: Museum of Military History
Date: Thursday, 17 September, 2009.
The Hungarian Maltese Charity Service has just turned 20 and the major anniversaries are a good time to look back and celebrate too. looking back over the last 20 years, one of our most important experiences has been that we can feel safe in relying on Hungarian people at all times as, even in diffi cult times, they could put their own interests aside to help the needy. More information...
Harvest Celebration
Date: 5th – 6th September 2009
Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00
Spot: the town of Szentendre, Hungarian Open Air Museum,
It is worthwhile to pay a visit to the Skanzen (the open air museum) in Szentendre, to taste the merry atmosphere of the harvest in addition to the good wines and delicious food. During the two day festival, a grape press, scarecrow making, tasty wines for adults and zesty must for children, handicraft presentations, fair comedy and the harvest procession awaits interested visitors. More information...
Art Exhibition
Date: 9–20. September
Spot: Hungarian National Gallery
Every year, as part of the Wine Festival, an exhibition is held at the Hungarian
National Gallery. Through the medium of wine labels, this year’s exhibition
aims to outline the history of wine-producing
regions at home and abroad from the 1870’s until
the present day. More information...
Information: H-1124 Budapest, Somorjai u. 21. tel: (+36-1) 203-8507, e-mail:info@borkulturakft.hu
