Budapest hosts a Dionysian delight of a festival. Winegrowers and distributors offer a myriad Hungarian and foreign wines for sampling.

In 2004 the first event is an exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery about the history of wine-growing and drinking in Hungary, simply called Wine-loving Hungarians (3-15 September). The main events take place at Buda Castle, with a Wine Academy which kicks off its three-part autumn course at the festival (6-8 September), with lectures and workshops (this year also available in English, simultaneously translated).

3-15 September
Hungarian National Gallery Wine-loving Hungarians
Hungarian viniculture and its long history is comprehensively reviewed through the joint initiative of several museums in the second part of a series of exhibitions.

6-8 September
Wine Academy
A series of professional lectures with wine tasting for the general public interested in wine. The Festival Wine Academy will have an autumn term consisting of three parts. The first will be held at the Wine Festival. This year’s novelty is that the lectures can also be followed in English through simultaneous interpretation.

11 September
Buda Castle Palace, Eastern Terrace
Vintage procession
Hungarian wine regions introduce themselves through their folk costumes, folk dance and bands. The colourful whirl of 6-800 people together with the cheese masters will proceed along the streets and squares of the Buda Castle district, and spectators will be entertained right into the night by a lively show on the Wine Exhibition and Fair’s stage.

9-12 September
Buda Castle Palace Terraces
Wine Exhibition and Fair
The Festival is an outstanding event unique in Hungary. Over 100 exhibitors will show more than 1,000 wines
at the country’s largest wine trade event.

The best of Hungarian viniculture will be here indepen dently or together with their distributors. In recent years the number of foreign exhibitors has grown continuously. Once again this year special attention will be devoted to the FESTIVAL’S GUEST COUNTRY, swelling the ranks of representatives of wine production from around the world further. Gastronomy plays an important part at the festival: a grill terrace, a great variety of cheeses and other delicacies will entice visitors.

The Festival Stage will ensure fun, music and dance, with appearances by Ghymes, Benko Dixieland Band, Hot Jazz Band, Aladár Pege, Pódium Duó, and well-known folk and world music groups. The stage will also be the venue for the inauguration of the knights of the Törley Sparkling Wine Order.

VinAgora SQUARE – Be a judge in a wine competition!
Would you like to see what it’s like to be a wine judge, and use the means and methods of a professional international wine competition? You can compare your own opinion and taste with the appraisal of the world’s acknowledged wine judges! Prize-winning wines are presented.

11-12 September
Vintage Throng and Wine Festival
The Village Museum’s peasant ambience reminiscent of the 19th century enlivens vintage traditions. The programme includes a wine fair with sales and tasting, cellar visits, folk dishes, musicians and comedians,
children’s play house, scarecrow-making, permanent and temporary folk ethnographic exhibitions, handicraft displays, and choosing the vintage queen.

11-12 September
Budapest-Szentendre
Wine and Must Boat
The pleasure boat cruises between the two venues of the festival, Budapest and Szentendre. On board passengers can taste wine and must, and enjoy live music, while children’s programmes keep the little ones busy.

10 September, 6 pm
Hungarian National Gallery
Gastronomy Gala
Introducing prize-winning wines and food. The evening’s special setting and atmosphere will be created by the
Hungarian National Gallery’s wonderful works of art and the Wine Exhibition and Fair held on the Buda Castle Palace’s terrace.

12 September
Budapest Convention Centre
Gala concert
Orff’s Carmina Burana will be performed by Domonkos Héja and the Danubia Symphony Orchestra, who have for years participated at the Wine Festival, with soloists from the Hungarian State Opera House and the Choir Jeunesses Musicales.

15 September
Hotel Gellért
Wine Auction
Besides vintage and rare wines by today’s highly renowned winemakers, this year’s novelty will be a special section for the catering trade. People interested can also join the auction by bidding on-line. Proceeds from Chief professional sponsor: some of the wines coming under the hammer will be donated to the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service.