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Autumn Etyek Picnic
Rolling vine-covered hills and valleys envelop the picturesque village of Etyek, a rustic community found just 30 kilometers west of Budapest’s city center. This increasingly popular Hungarian wine region hosts seasonal picnics four times a year, and during this weekend’s autumn event, several stone wine cellars welcome visitors with glassfuls from the owners’ best bottles, while varied stalls line the unpaved roads of Újhegy (“New Hill” in Hungarian) to offer food and handcrafts, all amid a mix of traditional and modern village houses. Picnickers can hop from cellar to cellar to enjoy varied whites, reds, and rosés from several Hungarian wine regions, while lively events and entertainment includes outdoor cooking displays, live music, and a bike tour. While the festival is mainly concentrated in the Újhegy section of Etyek, it is worthwhile to visit Öreghegy (“Old Hill” in Hungarian) as well, which features a more serene atmosphere that features a few outstanding cellars.
Date: September 5-6
Location: Etyek (take bus line 760 from Budapest’s Kelenföld Railway Station, and disembark at the Etyek ‘autóbusz-forduló’ station)
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Budafok Champagne and Wine Festival
The riverside settlement of Budafok is a tranquil suburb within southern Buda’s District XXII, but during the annual Champagne and Wine Festival happening there this weekend, the community becomes a high-spirited street party. An extensive network of wine cellars lies beneath this small township, providing plenty of bottles for the diverse crowds that fill Budafok’s cobblestoned streets, historic squares, and green courtyards. The area’s prominent wine merchants open their doors to the public for visitors to savor a variety of vino, while a wide assortment of street food fills the air with tempting aromas. The event’s highlight is undoubtedly the party hosted by Budafok’s own Törley sparkling-wine manufacturer, awaiting guests with guided tours to showcase the local history of Hungarian champagne and display the production process. The event’s Wine Courtyard, Champagne Square, and Fröccs Terrace will all be home to diverse concerts during the two-day get-together, entertaining everyone with blues and jazz tunes.
Date: September 5-6
Location: Budafok (take tram line 47 from Deák Ferenc tér and disembark at Savoyai Jenő tér)
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Budapest Wine Festival
With its history dating back nearly a quarter century, Budapest’s biggest annual wine festival welcomes visitors from all over the globe for the 24th time this year. Occupying the vast open-air terraces of the Buda Castle, set amid breathtaking panoramas overlooking Budapest postcard-superstars like the Chain Bridge and the Parliament House, this festival is one of the country’s most prestigious wine events, featuring top-notch Hungarian tipples from all of the country’s wine regions in addition to extraordinary international bottles, all provided by more than 200 wineries. In addition to the abundant selection of aromatic liquids, plenty of colorful programs offer visitors insider insight on local specialties, so that anyone can learn the secrets of Hungary’s most unique wine varieties like dry white Irsai Olivér, bold red Egri Bikavér, and the world-renowned sweet Tokaji Aszú. To accompany every sip, the wooden stalls on the festival grounds serve mouthwatering local delicacies, while live music entertains guests throughout the five-day feast.
Date: September 9-13
Location: Buda Castle
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