On Lake Balaton's northern shore, Badacsony grows white wines on basalt slopes. Olaszrizling and Kéknyelű bring texture, smoke and freshness. Its volcanic landscape is marked by terraces that control erosion. After phylloxera, growers rebuilt vineyards with retaining walls, some four to five metres high. Kéknyelű has a long history here; Furmint was once the main variety before Olaszrizling gained ground in the nineteenth century.
Elsewhere in Lake Balaton
Continue through the region
- BalatonNo producers listed yetBalaton's six wine districts share Olaszrizling but not one style. Northern and southern vineyard conditions differ, and the area includes white wines as well as ageable red styles.
- Balaton-felvidékNo producers listed yetOn Lake Balaton's northern shore, Balaton-felvidék shares climate and soil influences with Badacsony and Balatonfüred-Csopak.
- BalatonboglárNo producers listed yetBalatonboglár sits mainly on Lake Balaton's southern shore. Its wines are fruit-forward and concentrated, with ageable reds among the local styles.
- Balatonfüred-CsopakNo producers listed yetBalatonfüred-Csopak makes Olaszrizling and Kékfrankos at village and single-vineyard level. It is especially associated with Olaszrizling, while Tihany has a separate specification.
- Csopak1 producerCsopak works with Olaszrizling and Kékfrankos at village and single-vineyard level.
- KáliNo producers listed yetKáli's hills are largely made of volcanic debris rock, with little lava rock.
- Nagy-SomlóNo producers listed yetNagy-Somló belongs to the volcanic Somló identity, where vineyard orientation affects sugar, acidity and wine potential.
- SomlóiNo producers listed yetSomlói comes from a small volcanic hill, where basalt soils shape firmly acidic Furmint and Juhfark. Southern exposures combine greater ripeness with higher acidity.
- TihanyNo producers listed yetTihany is a separate entity within Balatonfüred-Csopak. Its dormant volcanic landscape has mineral-rich tuff soils and a distinct mineral expression.
- Zala1 producerZala's rain and lower sunshine favour fresher, more balanced wines. It became a wine region in 1997 after local communities requested the restoration of its classification.
Producer profiles
Producers in Badacsony
- Gilvesy WineryOrganic producer on a volcanic hill south of Lake Balaton, making low-alcohol, high-acid white wines from Furmint, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc on 17th-century Esterházy estate grounds.