ABOUT US

Philosophy

The Szekszárd region, which covers 2,300 hectares, is part of the larger Pannonia region and is located in the south of Hungary.

We currently work 12.5 hectares and integrate grapes from another 8-10 hectares every year.
Our main grape variety is Kékfrankos, a local grape which provides the backbone of Bikavér.

Our aim is to pick the highest quality grapes every autumn regardless of the climatic conditions that prevail. To achieve this goal, we cultivate the vineyards with the utmost care. We control yields by carrying out shoot selection. In addition to efficient ‘green work’, we carry out plant protection at the most appropriate time.

We consider the specific characteristics of the vintage when we apply bunch selection to the final crop. The optimum harvest date is decided upon after tasting the grapes, which in turn allows us to better ascertain the ripeness of the tannins, though we of course also pay close attention to the lab analytics.

Our grapes are picked strictly by hand, so we are able to select just the healthy bunches. Manual selection is repeated in order to be extra sure of the quality of our work during the winemaking process.

Our white and rosé wines are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks in order to preserve freshness and fruitiness and are subsequently bottled after a short period of ageing.

Our red wines are fermented in open vats after being inoculated with selected yeast and we carry out punching down regularly during fermentation. A short maceration is then followed by the racking of the wines into oak barrels. The malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously. The wines are aged for between 12 and 30 months.

Style

“I think our wines have been continually improving, becoming more refined and elegant in the process. They have become more sophisticated, taughter, less oaky and the characteristics of the grapes are more tangible.” – Csilla Sebestyén

“I have a very similar palate to my sister, but of course we sometimes hold different opinions. However, the most important consideration is that the style sought is unquestionably the same, which leads us towards Burgundy.” – Csaba Sebestyén

Vision

“When we buy new land, great potential is obviously required and envisioned. Lately, we have chosen only particular plots for certain grape varieties, like those which favour Kéfrankos and Kadarka. I feel we have just about reached the size of operation that we can still personally oversee with full confidence. Neverthless, the total amount of bottles produced will increase when the new plantations start to yield grapes. We throroughly intend to keep concentrating on making increasingly high quality wines. Red wine is the main direction and within this category we’d especially like to focus on premium wines.” – Csaba

“We’ve started to introduce and build on the region’s attributes through our single vineyard wines. Every decision we take is absolutely essential, which calls for rigorous attention to detail. We strive to raise the bar each time. For this reason we constantly learn about our vineyards, taste wines and travel to show our wines. Our long-term aim is to create single vineyard Bikavér wines in the best vintages. We both believe that Bikavér should become the flagship wine of Szekszárd. Firstly, this is because it is based on local varieties and secondly, only Szekszárd and Eger are able to make it. Consumers on foreign markets are becoming more open to tasting something unique and special. Making, blending and creating good quality Bikavér presents a real challenge, however. It starts with the correct timing of the harvest, then the right choice of oak barrels to age the base wines in separately has to be made. Finally, the blending process can take weeks until we find the optimal balance, whereby the different grape varieties become more than a sum of their parts.” – Csilla

OUTSTANDING VINEYARDS

Iván-völgy

This valley, the shape of which makes it an excellent site for grape growing, is nicknamed ‘the southern cauldron’. The valley is both southwest- and southeast-facing. In very warm years, the vines have a great advantage in that the valley is not entirely open to the east; therefore the sun’s rays reach the berries in the late morning. Accordingly, the vines have time to rest and the grapes can breathe and carry out the slow but steady acculumulation of sugars.
It can also be called ‘sack valley’ because it is protected from the wind, which can be favourable in cooler years when the berries can ripen from the stored heat.

Its wines are elegant with a long finish.

Kadarka
Area: 0.6ha
Year of planting: 1950-1970
Training system: bush
Exposure: south and southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ (fossilised limestone)

Kékfrankos
Area: 0.8ha
Year of planting: 1976-1985
Training system: Guyot and single arm umbrella
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ (fossilised limestone)
Clone: KT1

Merlot
Area: 0.6ha
Year of planting: 2003 and 2006
Training system: low cordon
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ (fossilised limestone)
Clone: C348

Cabernet Franc
Area: 0.35ha
Year of planting: 1995 and 2012
Training system: Guyot and single arm umbrella
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ (fossilised limestone)
Clone: E11

Cabernet Sauvignon
Area: 0.1ha
Year of planting: 1996
Training system: Guyot
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ (fossilised limestone)
Clone: E153

Görögszó

The Görögszó is one of the hottest areas of the region and is completely open to the east, so the grapes get the sunlight from the early morning. The choice of the harvest date calls for special attention here because the berries can shrivel by early autumn. The well constructed terraces can hold the rain from summer showers which is absorbed by the excellent water-retaining red clay soils. This water supply can be drawn on by the vines in drought years. The Görögszó is one of the favourite spots for varieties that require lot of sun.

The wines are full-bodied with long ageing potential

Cabernet Franc
Area: 0.35ha
Year of planting: 2000
Training system: cordon
Exposure: east
Soil: loess with red clay
Clone: E11

Szentgál

Szentgál is a cool vineyard, where our grapes grow nicely in all vintages – even after a very hot summer the grapes maintain fresh, crispy acidity.

Zweigelt is a light-bodied, summery fruit bomb here!

Zweigelt
Area: 0.9ha
Year of planting: 2007
Training system: Guyot
Soil: loess
Clone: GU3, 123

Porkoláb-völgy

The Porkoláb valley is another cauldron where our plots are mostly planted on the southwest- facing slopes, which means the grapes enjoy the sunshine from sunrise to sunset. Our Kékfrankos, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes are planted on the lower parts of the slope giving them the opportunity to retain firm acidity and moderate alcohol levels every year.
Kadarka is planted on the higher parts to avoid the autumn mists and to protect the grapes against rot.

The wines are very elegant with tangible minerality.

Kadarka
Area: 0,1ha
Year of planting: 2017
Training system: bush
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ and red clay
Clone: P122

Kékfrankos
Area: 0,9ha
Year of planting: 2017
Training system: Guyot
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ and red clay
Clone: KT1, H41

Merlot
Area: 0,25ha
Year of planting:  2012
Training system: cordon
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ and red clay
Clone: C348

Cabernet Franc
Area: 0,8ha
Year of planting: 2012
Training system: Guyot
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ and red clay
Clone: E11

Cabernet Sauvignon
Area: 0,6ha
Year of planting: 2012
Training system: Guyot
Exposure: southeast
Soil: loess with limestone ‘dolls’ and red clay
Clone: E153

BORAINK

TASTING

Wine tasting in Szekszárd

On booking by phone, we are happy to welcome groups of wine lovers of up to 24 people. The wine tasting always comprises our current wines which are currently on release. We introduce the winery, share our philosophy and future plans through our six single vineyard wines during the tasting. Homemade delicacies, such as ham, sausage, salami and cheese are served with fresh bread at the tastings, on request of the guests.
The duration is between two and three hours.

Wine tasting and cold bites

Only by booking ahead!
Tasting of our premium wines: 6,500 Ft / person
‘Farmers’ plate’: 4,500 Ft / person

Purchase of bottled wines

from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6 pm

CONTACT

Sebestyén Szekszárd

Address: 7100 Szekszárd, Kalász u. 26.
Phone: +36 74 318 360
Mobil: +36 30 378 1210
e-mail: sebestyenpince@t-online.hu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/csaba.sebestyen.712