Babarczi wine-cellars welcome visitors to taste wine including mulled wine during the Winter Festival in Győr from November 28th to December 31st. In their wooden hut in Baross Street, in the pedestrian zone, visitors can try; and buy the whole selection of wines bottled or sold by the litre by Babarczi Vineyards and Wine-cellars.

The vintage in 2007 was not considered to be among the best nevertheless wine-makers produced excellent wines with a lot of care and attention. That was the opinion of the experts of the panel at the wine-competition in 2008, in which the wine-growers of the Pannonhalma region introduced their most precious wines.

First of all last year’s production was evaluated at the competition: out of 95 samples of wine sent in; 80% of wines were produced in 2007. None of the 14 members of the panel, at the competition held in Győrújbarát, came from the region but from nearby wine-regions so as to ensure impartiality. At the end two double gold medals, 18 gold medals and 41 silver medals were presented.

In 2002 vine planting started in the Pannonhalma wine region on a large scale. Red grapes such as Merlot and Pinot Noir were planted here, these new vines produced pleasant, good quality wines. From the white grapes vine growers chose to plant fragrant Irsa Oliver and Italian Riesling which is characteristic in this region. Chardonay and Sauvignon and Rhine Riesling represent the varieties well-known all over the world but in the future it is hoped the aromatic Tramini will be just as well-known.

This year’s harvest in the Pannonhalma wine-region started on 20th August. First Irsa Oliver then Zephyr and Mueller Thurgau varieties were harvested. Of the red varieties Turan was the first to be harvested yielding 20-22 sugar percentage must. The harvest was finished with regard to the cabernet sauvignon on 25th October. On the whole the harvest resulted in average quantity but good quality. In 2008 5,000 kg per hectare grapes were picked. Vine growers could produce good quality grapes with intensive work, care and attention. The small quantity resulted in a good sugar percentage. This year’s weather was favourable for late ripening varieties which means that pleasant, good quality grapes of Italian Riesling, sauvignon, tramini, merlot and cabernet were harvested.