Farkas Krisztián & Hajdú János

In North-Eastern Hungary, Tokaj was established as the world’s first appellation system over 100 years before Bordeaux. For nearly 400 years it has served as a diplomatic tool to court foreign powers inspired countless artists and philosophers, and has become so ingrained in Hungarian identity that it’s part of the country’s national anthem. One of the key features of life and history in the region is the Bodrog River. It runs from the village of Sárospatak in the North east all to the way down to Tokaj Hill in the South. The name Bodrog dates back to the first Magyar conquest and the very first kings of Hungary. The river is also responsible for the moisture that along with a unique confluence of grapes and terroir, makes Botrytis so prevelent.

Today, only 30+ years after the re-establishment of private and family wineries, Hungary is in the midst of a wine renaissance.

Krisztián Farkas and János Hajdú founded Bodrog Borműhely winery in 2007 after graduating the University of oenology. The estate is located a few kilometres from the town of Tokaj, in Bodrogkisfalud, and the vineyards border the surrounding villages. János was born local, his family has been involved in wine and grapes for generations, soit was no question for him to get serious about it. Krisztián is coming from the capital, whose life has been dominated by wine business,having been a sommelier and later a wine merchant. Based on their shared passion and friendship, they started to build a joint estate after their years of wine studies at university. In 2023 the winery rethought its entire operation and winemaking practices and is now making wines on two levels - under the Bodrog Bormuhely brand, in addition to the traditional sweet wines of Tokaj, single-vineyard wines and sparkling wines are bottled with organic certification. And in 2024 the new Savage Project range was created under which all the wines are made with minimal intervention, unfiltered, raw, sulphur-free dry wines in the best spirit of natural winemaking. The orgainc vineyards are the same for both brands but the wines are made and bottled in separate cellars.