Wines for every occasion, flippant looks, serious contents. The Homola Winery of Paloznak steps out of the shadows with the 100% wine family. The Homola Summer begins on 7 May in Budapest with a likely summer hit, 100% Balaton.
The scene of Balaton's wines is an exciting one: every year new contenders pop up alongside household names. The Homola Winery in Paloznak entered the competition a few years ago – here is our report about them –, and this year they take yet another gigantic step forward with their series called 100%; the wines of which will be available at an increasing number of places from now on.
Homola and his crew inteded the 100% series for "everyday use"; which means that these wines were designed to be some that you would willingly take out of the fridge, or order at a bar, anytime at all. The minds behind the series, the owner, Szabolcs Homola and the winemaker he "imported" from Tokaj, Attila Homonna probably focused on those, who wanted to drink quality wine when thristy for a glass, without any highbrow festivity or the wine knight's cloak.
The labels of the 100% series could not be farther from gold-letter-ceremoniousness. The sketched flippancy of the labels, however, is in stark contrast with the name, '100%', intended to express the commitment of the Homola-Homonna duo both in terms of quality and the conveyance of the 'Balaton way of life.'
All that is characteristically of the Balaton was included in the reductive tanks of the 100% series. There are, of course, the two most typical wines of the Balaton, Riesling and Pinot gris. The line-up also includes a red wine, made of the blue grapes from the slopes of Csopak; a sparkling rozé; and the flagship, 100% Balaton, which is the marriage of Welschriesling, Tramini, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris.
According to the head of the Kredenc Wine Bar in Balatonfüred, András Dobai, 100% Balaton is an up-and-coming hit. We definitely agree: this wine is like the summer hit of a top-notch band - it is light, but not cheap. It has been chiselled to become round and soft, with an apparent character still. It is by no means tart, while the Tramini (and the residual sugar) boosts the whole flavour with a pleasant, unobtrusive sweetness. Presumably, this will help with customers who like to stay clear of robust acids and woody-bitter flavours.
100% wines are available at Kistücsök (Balatonszemes), at the aforementioned Kredenc Wine Bar, and at an increasing number of places. The festive premier is open to everyone in both Divino Wine Bars in Budapest on 7 May.
At the 100% Balaton party, you can taste 100% Balaton for free. Those, who attend have the chance to win a romantic weekend with a feast at Baricska Csárda and sailing. Two days later, on 9 May, you can repeat the 100% celebration at Kredenc together with the jazzists of the Csopak Demizson Allstars.
