Staying at the Liszkay Borkúria in Monoszló feels like being in the set of a South American soap opera. This time, we won't waste characters on Tuscan beauty and the unique wonders of the Káli-medence, because there is no room for that. There are numerous services behind the name Borkúria, all connected by the fact that each and everyone of them are excellent.
'This is all' answered Mihály Liszkay when we asked him what exactly were comprised in the place, where we enjoyed the Liszkay-version of tranquility. The name kúria (mansion, estate) hides a winery, a wine hotel with a top notch kitchen, a wine gallery an event venue and hospitality permeated with several years of experience. One would believe that something of this scale cannot be created without allowing your life to grow intertwined with it, still this was not exactly the what Mr Liszkay had in mind at the beginnings. He only wanted to build a summer house for the grandchildren.
In red
It took this turn, 'I got lost' says Mr Liszkay. He bought the land in 2000 and a few years later, the first Vitis was planted, experimentally. This was not the first major change in the life of the owner: he left Hungary behind three times and had himself made in the Netherlands and in Canada as well He proved himself in hospitality, in business and behind the piano as well, and now the spotlight is on Balaton Uplands red wine.
The Liszkay estate produces altogether 8 types of wine, among which there is only one white (Pinot gris) and one rosé (Pinot Noir). The list of reds is comprised of the Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Franc Giulia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvée, Merlot, and the Pinot Noir , among which a bottle without a gold medal is a rare sight. In the light of this, it seems totally absurd that grounds of making red wine in this area are often under fire. It is especially surprising knowing that the cultivation of white grapevines in the Balaton Uplands has only become trending since after the the late 19th century phylloxera epidemic. In any case, the Liszkay estate has set the goal of making quality red wine, and the ratio of red in their annual production of 45 000 bottles plus the professional acknowledgments talk for themselves.
Total relaxation
The 9 double rooms of the wine hotel - all of which have extra beds - have been awaiting guests for 2 years now. The cheapest room is available from around 20 000 HUF, but you'll have to fish about 100 000 HUF out of your pocket for the coolest suite in high season. In exchange for the latter, you'll enjoy as much luxury as the guest of honour at the home of the richest character of any telenovela. The guests of the hotel include, of course, wine tourists, and also people who expect outstanding conditions on their rest days. Although the kitchen is dominated by international flavours, it strives to rely primarily on locally produced ingredients. Certain oenophiles visit expressly for the wine gallery, which is open for wine tastings in Hungarian, English, German, French and Dutch from 10 AM to 5 PM every day.
The wellness department boasts of a pool, a sauna and the steam room with a fireplace; while the outdoor extras includes a waveless pool, a wonderful patio and the sight of the vineyard. The blessed silence at the Borkúria in Monoszló is only broken by the sound of a splash, the chatter of birds, and occasionally the piano and singing of Mihály Liszkay. Idyll at Liszkay's.
