An interview by MOVIN Agency

As we approach the festive season, we’re delighted to turn our spotlight to one of Hungary’s most iconic wine regions – Tokaj. Today, we sit down with Máté Csanaky, DipWSET, Sales Director of Zsirai Winery, to talk about the estate, its unique terroir, and the magic of Tokaji wines that make every celebration sparkle.

MOVIN Agency: Máté, could you tell us a little about Zsirai Winery and how it all began?
Máté Csanaky: Zsirai Winery is a family-owned estate based in Mád, right in the heart of the Tokaj Wine Region. Our story began with a simple ambition: to combine Tokaj’s centuries-old winemaking traditions with a fresh, modern approach. We cultivate around 15 hectares of vineyards across some of the region’s most exciting crus, where volcanic soils and microclimates shape truly distinctive wines.

MOVIN Agency: Tokaj is world-famous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes its terroir so exceptional?
Máté Csanaky: Tokaj’s magic lies beneath the surface – in its volcanic subsoil. The region’s combination of rhyolite tuff, andesite, and loess provides incredible minerality and complexity to the wines. The microclimate along the Bodrog and Tisza rivers creates the perfect conditions for Botrytis cinerea, the noble rot that gives Tokaji Aszú its unique character. This natural phenomenon, combined with centuries of know-how, is what makes Tokaj unlike anywhere else in the world.

MOVIN Agency: How would you describe the Zsirai wine style?
Máté Csanaky: We aim for purity, elegance, and authenticity. Each of our wines expresses its vineyard origin – from our Tokaji Furmint Betsek, a wine of precision and minerality from one of Mád’s most celebrated vineyards, to the Tokaji Hárslevelű Középhegy, which shows beautiful floral notes, soft texture, and a distinct sense of place. Our Tokaj Dry by Zsirai is a fresh, approachable ambassador of the region’s dry style, perfect for introducing Tokaj to new audiences.

We respect tradition, but we’re not afraid to innovate, especially when it comes to vineyard care and gentle winemaking techniques. The result is wines that are both classic and contemporary, true to Tokaj but approachable for today’s wine lovers.

MOVIN Agency: Zsirai wines have reached several export markets. Where can international wine lovers discover your bottles?
Máté Csanaky: We’re proud to see our wines represented in the UK, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Germany. These markets value authenticity and are open to discovering unique expressions like Tokaj. Each bottle that travels abroad carries a piece of our heritage and our message: Tokaj is timeless, yet always evolving.

MOVIN Agency: As this interview appears around Christmas, we can’t resist asking – what makes Tokaji Aszú the perfect festive wine?
Máté Csanaky: Tokaji Aszú is pure celebration in a glass. It’s rich, golden, and full of life – just like the festive season itself. Its balance of sweetness and vibrant acidity makes it incredibly versatile: wonderful with foie gras or blue cheese, but equally beautiful on its own at the end of a meal. And beyond taste, every sip connects you to history – to a tradition that has delighted kings, poets, and wine lovers for more than four centuries.

MOVIN Agency: A wonderful thought to close on. Thank you, Máté, for sharing your insight and passion for Tokaj and Zsirai Winery.

Máté Csanaky: Thank you. I hope that this Christmas, more people around the world will raise a glass of Tokaji Aszú and toast to what truly matters – connection, joy, and timeless tradition.

Don't forget to check out the products from Zsirai Winery.

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