A relaxing night of wines in Sopron

Tastevino, where sommelier and owner Szabolcs Lukács is waiting for us, is located in the centre in Sopron. You just simply feel good here, because you can taste really special items. Szabolcs has compiled a very wide selection of Hungarian and foreign wines and champagnes, which you can even purchase, of course. It is worth asking for his help and advice when choosing, as he can help you find your way through the maze of wines on offer, so that you can find the wine that suits you best. The name of the place itself refers to the tasting cup (tastevin). A guest vintner is invited every month, so you can occasionally participate in themed tastings. (And if you return in November, you can also visit the Tastevino open event, an informal walking tasting where you have the opportunity to taste the different products offered by the vintners, year after year.

You do not have to go far, the “Koffer borbár” (Suitcase Wine Bar) is also on the same side of the Castle District. It should be also highlighted that from its terrace you can see the Column of St. Mary and the Fire Tower. It is housed in one of Sopron's charming old buildings, as the interior arches and windows show. The wine bar was opened by three men who are passionate about trading with quality wines, so much so that two of them (Csaba Orosz and Péter Orosz) also run their own winery, the Stubenvoll Winery. They are members of an old “poncichter” (the Hungarian translation means bean-growing, but the term refers to the German-speaking winegrowers in Sopron) family, whose life has been dominated by grapes and wine since childhood. The repertoire of wines from Sopron is particularly wide here. There are also white, rosé and red wines from different wine-producing regions of the country and abroad, as well as champagne specialities, pálinkas and other spirits. For them, it is crucially important that tasting should be an experience, so they offer almost everything on the shelf. This means at least seventy, but in many cases more like a hundred wines open and ready to taste at any time. They only have beverages that they would be happy to offer their friends at any time, without any compromise.

Crossing to the other side of the Castle District, you can find the “Natura Vinotéka” (Natura Wine Shop) of Balázs Molnár. Here you can choose from over 600 types of Hungarian and foreign wine, pálinka, champagne, cognac, whisky and rum. They also have a selection of historical wines and wine rarities. Wine tastings are also held in the wine shop's 300-year-old cellar, but Balázs Molnár is happy to welcome you not only to this area, but also to his Natura ecotours.

The “Steigler Pince” (Steigler Cellar) is located in the heart of Sopron's poncichter district, on Balfi út. The cellar system, which has all the local characteristics, was built centuries ago in Sopron, under the houses. This cellar building, where they run wine tastings and cellar tours, is a remnant of that era. The “Steigler Pince” (Steigler Cellar) is operated by two charismatic men, owner Bálint Lőrinczy and vintner Tamás Varga, who consider the trinity of naturalness, tradition and quality as their main guiding principle. The ingredients for their wines are grown on their own 21-hectare organic vineyards. The vineyard estate is located in the Steiger, Frettner and Spern Steiner vineyards, in the best areas of the Sopron wine region. 

A little further away from the city centre, you can also visit a real “heuriger” (a German word used in Austria to describe a restaurant serving new wine): the “Bruckner Borászat” (Bruckner Winery). The members of the Bruckner family have been citizens of Sopron for centuries, and since the 18th century they have been involved in wine-making and, most importantly, in the selling of wine, following the example of the well-known Austrian heuriger. In the wine cellar, downstairs in the cellar or upstairs by the tiled stove, and from spring in the garden, you can taste not only the fine wines, but also the wine tasting snacks and cakes made here.