Meet the Winemaker is MOVIN Agency’s interview series introducing the people, stories and philosophies behind the wineries we are proud to work with. In this edition, we travel to Sárospatak in the Tokaj wine region, where generations of family heritage meet a modern, environmentally conscious approach to winemaking.
The Harsányi Winery is located in a particularly fascinating part of Tokaj, close to the famous Megyer-hegy and its spectacular Tengerszem. The estate farms almost 20 hectares across several historic vineyards, including Királyhegy, Ciróka, Megyer and Kútpatka, with a strong focus on Furmint, Hárslevelű and Sárgamuskotály.
Today, we are speaking with Dániel Tárnoki, Sales Manager of Harsányi Winery, about the family behind the estate, the importance of terroir, organic viticulture, the story behind their wines and their growing presence on international markets.
MOVIN Agency: Let’s start with the story behind Harsányi Winery. What makes the estate special?
Dániel Tárnoki: Harsányi Winery is very much a family story. The owners, Gábor Harsányi and Ildikó Harsányiné Bodóczi, are deeply connected to the land and to the heritage of the area.
The heart of the estate is in Sárospatak, in a unique location surrounded by vineyards and hills. The family connection to the land goes back generations. In fact, the core of the Ciróka vineyard was purchased by Gábor Harsányi’s great-great-grandfather, Rick Jakab, in 1850. With the exception of the period of state collectivisation, the land has remained in the family for almost 170 years.
For us, this heritage is not only about the past. It also means responsibility for the future.
MOVIN Agency: Tokaj is famous around the world, but your vineyards are located around Sárospatak. What does this particular part of Tokaj bring to your wines?
Dániel Tárnoki: One of the most exciting things about our location is the diversity of the individual vineyard sites.
We work in several different vineyards, each with its own character. Királyhegy, Ciróka and Megyer are particularly important to our identity, and Kútpatka is another valuable part of the estate. The different orientations, elevations and soil structures allow us to show how differently Furmint and the other traditional Tokaj varieties can express themselves.
This is where the concept of terroir becomes really important. We believe that the vineyard should speak through the wine. Our role is to understand each site and work with it rather than trying to impose the same style everywhere.
MOVIN Agency: Could you tell us more about the individual vineyards?
Dániel Tárnoki: Absolutely. Királyhegy is one of Sárospatak’s oldest and most historically significant vineyards. It has a south-eastern exposure and a relatively cool character, with rhyolite tuff and clay in the soil. The wines tend to have vibrant acidity and pronounced minerality.
Ciróka is particularly important from a family perspective because of its long connection with the Harsányi family. Its rhyolite tuff soils are covered by a relatively thick, clay-rich topsoil, and its south-western exposure contributes to wines that can be playful, fruity and approachable.
Megyer has a very different personality. It is a steep, south-west-facing vineyard with highly varied soils, including clay and kaolin. The wines tend to be fuller-bodied, richer and creamier in texture.
For us, these differences are a treasure. They allow us to present several faces of Tokaj through our wines.
MOVIN Agency: Sustainability has become an increasingly important part of the wine industry. What does organic farming mean to Harsányi Winery?
Dániel Tárnoki: Organic farming is an important part of our philosophy. We believe that healthy soils and healthy vines are the foundation of authentic wines.
We work organically because we want to maintain the natural balance of our vineyards and allow the individual sites to express themselves as clearly as possible. Our aim is to work with nature rather than against it.
Several of our wines are made from organically farmed grapes, including our Királyhegy Furmint, Megyer Furmint and Ciróka Furmint.
Our commitment to sustainability has also been recognised through the GREEN BRANDS certification, which is an important confirmation that our approach is not simply a marketing message but part of a broader commitment to responsible operation.
MOVIN Agency: Furmint is at the heart of Tokaj, and at Harsányi Winery it plays a central role in expressing the character of your vineyards.
Dániel Tárnoki: Absolutely. Furmint is an incredibly versatile and expressive variety. It can produce fresh, vibrant dry wines, complex and age-worthy single-vineyard wines, sparkling wines and, of course, the great sweet wines for which Tokaj is famous.
What fascinates us most is how differently Furmint can behave depending on the vineyard. The same grape variety can show completely different characteristics in Királyhegy, Ciróka or Megyer.
This is why we consider Furmint an ideal vehicle for expressing terroir.
MOVIN Agency: Let’s talk about Tokaj Eye - one of the wines that represents the Harsányi Winery style.
Dániel Tárnoki: Tokaj Eye is our estate wine and represents another side of our approach.
It is a Furmint-based blend complemented by Hárslevelű and a small amount of Muscat. The aim is to create a harmonious and complex wine that reflects the identity of the estate while remaining accessible and enjoyable.
The name itself is also closely connected to our home and the extraordinary landscape surrounding the winery. The famous Megyer-hegyi Tengerszem is just a short distance from the estate, and the landscape has become an important part of our identity.
MOVIN Agency: You are also producing sparkling wines. How does Furmint perform in traditional-method sparkling wine?
Dániel Tárnoki: Furmint is naturally well suited to sparkling wine because of its fresh acidity and relatively neutral aromatic profile.
Our Brut is made from 100% Furmint and spends 24 months on the lees, while the Brut Nature is also 100% Furmint and is aged for 30 months on the fine lees. These wines allow us to explore a different expression of Tokaj and demonstrate that Furmint has much more potential than many consumers might initially expect.
MOVIN Agency: Harsányi Winery is already present in several international markets. Where can wine lovers find your wines outside Hungary?
Dániel Tárnoki: We are currently present in several export markets, including Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain.
International markets are very important to us because we believe that the diversity of Tokaj deserves to be discovered by wine lovers around the world.
At the same time, every market is different. Exporting wine is not simply about shipping bottles abroad. It is about finding the right partners, understanding consumers and communicating the story behind the wines.
That is why working with international partners such as MOVIN Agency is so valuable to us.
MOVIN Agency: What do you think is the biggest opportunity for Tokaj in international markets today?
Dániel Tárnoki: We see a huge opportunity in communicating the diversity of Tokaj.
Many consumers know Tokaj primarily because of Tokaji Aszú, which is of course one of the world's great wine styles. But Tokaj is much more than sweet wine.
Dry Furmint, single-vineyard wines, Hárslevelű, Sárgamuskotály and sparkling wines can all contribute to a much broader understanding of the region.
The combination of unique volcanic terroir, native grape varieties, history and an increasingly sustainable approach gives Tokaj a very strong story for today's international wine consumer.
MOVIN Agency: Finally, if you could invite an international wine lover to visit Harsányi Winery, what would you tell them not to miss?
Dániel Tárnoki: I would say: come and experience the place rather than simply tasting the wines.
Visit the vineyards, walk through the dűlők, see the landscape around the Megyer-hegyi Tengerszem and taste the wines where they are made.
Our Dűlőbisztró, located at the winery, is also a special part of the experience. From there, visitors can enjoy the wines, local food and the spectacular panorama between the Megyer and Királyhegy vineyards.
For us, wine is always about a sense of place. We want people to understand not only what is in the glass, but also where it comes from and the people behind it.
Thank You, Dániel!
A big thank you to Dániel Tárnoki for joining us for this edition of Meet the Winemaker and for sharing the story, philosophy and passion behind Harsányi Winery. It was a pleasure to learn more about the family, the vineyards and their vision for the future of Tokaj.
We look forward to continuing the journey together and sharing the unique character of Harsányi wines with wine lovers around the world. 🍷
Don't forget to check out the products from Harsányi Winery.
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