WESTERN HUNGARIAN WINE TOUR 6 DAYS Budapest / Tokay / Eger April - October 2007
Suggested PROGRAM INCLUSIVES:
Two night accommodations at the Hilton Hotel in Buda (Danube River view rooms),
the Hotel Palatinus in Pecs (superior rooms) and the Spa & Hotel Lotus Therme in Heviz.
Daily buffet breakfast, in/out hotel porterage, all taxes and service charges.
Five lunches at local restaurants during the tour. Please note that lunch is
not included on arrival day as the flights arriving from the U.S. usually do
not arrive into Budapest until early afternoon at the earliest.
Six dinners at local restaurants. This includes; the Welcome dinner at the
Fortuna Restaurant in Buda and the Farewell dinner at the Magnaskert
Restaurant, also in Buda.
Four vineyard/winery visits.
Applicable entrance fees in Keszthely, Herend and Tihany, per the above
program.
English-speaking tour guide throughout the above program.
Transportation by 16 seater air-conditioned minibus
Proposed Daily Itinerary:
DAY 1
Arrival at Budapest Airport where an English-speaking guide is waiting
with a private motorcoach to transfer the group to the Hilton Hotel perched high above the Danube River in Buda. Checkin will be on arrival with the afternoon free to relax. The Hilton has a wonderful tasting room down in the basement of the hotel with over 20 different wines from all over Hungary. The cost in Hungarian forints is the equivalent of $2-5 per glass and all in a unique setting. Across the street from the Hilton is the House of Hungarian Wines. This store does serious tastings of upwards of 35 wines with or without the assistance of the cellar master. Later that evening, there is a welcome dinner at the Fortuna Restaurant, also across the street from the Hilton Hotel.
DAY 2
After breakfast and hotel checkout, the private coach and guide arrive to
take the group along the Danube River to the Szekszard wine region in southern Transdanubia. These vineyards produce some of the best red wines in Hungary. The composer, Franz Liszt was a frequent visitor here in the 1840's and another composer, Franz Schubert, is said to have been inspired to write his Trout Quintet after a glass, of two, of Szekszard wine. After visiting a local winery, and having some lunch, the coach continues on to Pecs. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel Palatinus in Pecs. This property is considered an architectural gem in the Art Nouveau style.
DAY 3
After breakfast, there is a sightseeing tour of Pecs where Roman burial
chambers, Turkish mosques and fine Zsolnay Porcelain can be found. After
lunch, we continue visiting vineyards south of Pecs, in the Villany wine of region. Villany is one of Hungary's principal producers of big-bodied, Bordeaux-style red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. We will visit one of the best vintners in the region. Upon returning to Pecs, there will be a dinner and overnight at the Hotel
Palatinus.
DAY 4
After breakfast and hotel checkout, the coach and guide will take the
group north to the famous Hungarian resort area of Lake Balaton. This body of water is the largest fresh water lake in central Europe. We arrive in Keszthely which is located at the westernmost end of Lake Balaton. After lunch, we will visit the sprawling Festetics Palace with over 100 rooms situated in two wings. The palace's greatest treasure is the Helikon Library with a 90,000 volume collection. We continue on to Heviz and checkin at the Hotel & Spa Lotus Therme with dinner scheduled later on that evening.
DAY 5
After breakfast at the hotel, it is time to do some more exploring. Five
basic factors - climate, natural diversity, beauty, volcanic soil and unique grape varieties - make Lake Balaton, potentially, one of Hungary's leading wine regions. The result is a singular white wine. In the Badacsony region, wine has been produced for centuries, and it's Olaszrizling, is one of the best dry white wines that can be found in Hungary. On this day, we will visit the region's premier winery. After lunch, there will be a visit to the world famous Herend Porcelain Factory. Return to Heviz for dinner and overnight back at the Hotel & Spa Lotus Therme.
DAY 6
After breakfast and checkout of the hotel, we are heading back to Budapest
in the private coach. En route, there will be a stop at the town of Tihany
for a visit to the Benedictine Abbey Church that was founded in 1055. After lunch, we will visit another famous Hungarian wine cellar in Csopak on Lake Balaton. Arrival into Budapest at the Hilton Hotel in Buda will be in the late afternoon. That evening, a wonderful farewell dinner is planned at the Magnaskert Restaurant in hilly Buda. There will be entertainment by a local Gypsy band.
DAY 7
After breakfast, hotel checkout, and according to flight schedule, the
group will be transferred to the Budapest Airport for the return to the
U.S.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
The above program is a suggestion by my Hungarian ground operator partner for a
comprehensive wine tour and sightseeing combination. We can always include more winery visits and some comprehensive evening tastings of the wines of the region you are visiting.
It is also possible to add a few additional days to the program to visit the
Lake Balaton region in western Hungary. Or, it is also possible, to add an additional day or two in Budapest.
Extensions for individual travelers after the group departs can also be
arranged.
The organizer of the land program in Hungary is Mr. Tamas Bekassy of Welcome
Touristic in Budapest. Mr. Bekassy's family has been in the wine business near Lake Balaton for over 150 years.
We highly recommend that group sizes do not exceed 20 people.
Similar small group tours to wine regions in countries like; France, Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia may also be
arranged through our network of local ground operators.
