We said last year that Szabolcs Homola is worth keeping an eye out for because he wants to make good things happen at Lake Balaton. The annual Jazz Picnic will take place this year as well, but that’s more than a month away. Now he’s opened a wine terrace with a view in Paloznak, and the next project that is soon to be unveiled is a promising restaurant called Sáfránkert. Let’s start with the terrace.

Surrounded by and interwoven with vineyards, Paloznak has less than 400 inhabitants, so life flows at a pace much like a film by Béla Tarr: thatched, stone-walled, basalt-coloured houses, church steeple, hard-working vineyard workers donning straw hats. This silence will make you want to leave the bustle of town behind for a long weekend.

Local winemaking – just like winemaking in the wider region and around Lake Balaton in general – has a several-hundred-year tradition, and recently investors have also recognized the potential of Paloznak, which in 1998 was awarded the Hild Prize for preserving the traditional landscape of Balaton Uplands villages.

Szabolcs Homola is one of these investors. Coming from the world of IT, he first established a winery in the township under his own family name, partnering up with young winemaker genius Attila Homonna. As the next step, he has now opened a wine terrace with a breathtaking panorama on the upper side of Paloznak, in an enchanting setting, in Vincellér utca – the aim was to make up for the winery's shortcomings in terms of catering. The tables right by the vine rows can accommodate up to 35-40 people, and there’s room for about 20-25 more inside the cool building.

The concept is pretty simple: the wine list features their own products, whereas the menu offers food prepared by local manufactories – more than enough for a venue like this. Homola Wine Terrace is equipped to cater to all tastes, serving a range of wines from rosé and sparkling wine to lighter whites and fuller reds. As regards food, the selection includes cheese, ham and salami platters (and the combination of these) as well as sandwiches, that is cold, yet filling wine snacks.

Homola Wine Terrace is open all year round from Monday to Sunday between 12pm and 8pm, except for Wednesday, which is their weekly rest day. If you are planning a group visit, making an appointment is recommended. Also worth noting: the 4th Paloznak Jazz Picnic will take place on 7-9 August, so making reservations for those few days now is probably a good idea.

Those who will not be satisfied by wine alone should have no fear: Sáfránkert restaurant, also belonging to Szabolcs Homola, will open tomorrow a little bit further down from Vincellér utca, in the village centre.