The Balaton Circle managed to hit two birds with one stone: by serving free spritzers to lakeside loungers from a proa sailing boat, they spread the word about Balaton wines and at the same time showcased this ancient Polynesian boat, which roughly costs as much as a surfboard. The success of the Balaton wines came as no surprise, but the slender proas were equally popular with the crowd.
It was around 4 pm on Saturday in Zamárdi, and most of the dazed festivalgoers, tired after two days spent wallowing in the mud, were lounging on the beach, enjoying a moment of peace in the sun, which finally decided to show its face at Balaton Sound. By then two Polynesian proa sailing boats had already dropped anchor near the Nagyon Balaton Gastro Garden, and the 21 members of the Balaton Circle were ready to jump into the water with bottles of wine and soda siphons in hand.
Why on earth, you ask? Using the boats as a bar, they were giving out free spritzers in the knee-deep water near Úszósziget (Floating Island) for about 20 minutes.
Only the glasses of those with a clever sentence about why they love Balaton wine were filled with a free bubbly drink (those struggling to come up with anything got a splash of Balaton water before being able to claim their wine). Most of the festivalgoers brave enough to venture into the cool water knew just what to say, and the wine was gone in no time.
President of the Balaton Circle Gábor Kardos says grassroots campaigns that bring the community together and do not require overly complicated tools are important. But what is a Polynesian proa exactly? And is it possible to build a sailing boat with just enough money for a surfboard? Looking at these small boats moored in Zamárdi, the answer to the latter question is definitely yes. The architect, who happens to be Gábor Kardon himself, and the builders are trying to bring a new method of sailing into fashion on Lake Balaton. A proa is an ancient Polynesian race boat with rigging made out of bamboo. The first Hungarian prototype called Vulkán (Volcano) has already been tested on the lake by round-the-world sailor Áron Méder, Kardos said.
With the spritzers all handed out, the Balaton Circle winemakers put on a little demonstration, showing how smoothly the proas run. The waters of New Zealand are filled with these boats, proving that the construction is strong enough to withstand Pacific Ocean conditions. They are slender, light and fast, and the five-metre long hull can be taken apart and transported on the roof of a car, which means that you can save not only on rent for dock space and registration, but also on getting a certificate of registry or a small craft operator’s licence. The only thing you have left to do is enjoy the freedom of sailing.
Members of the Balaton Circle set up a number of stands at Balaton Sound this year. The aim of their cooperation is to take catering to the next level by focusing on the gastronomy of the Balaton region. We could not agree more with their motto: “Hungarian wines for the Balaton shore!” They strive to communicate their message to the public in a direct and friendly manner. According to Bence Laposa, a winemaker from the Badacsony wine region, wine should be much more about making you feel nice and relaxed than about prompting you to contemplate the mysteries of life in a deep, dark cellar, which is also useful sometimes.
