Although white wines are more suited to the area from a climatic perspective, fate – or consumer resolve – has today resulted in it being primarily loved for its red wines. It boasts outstanding, unique soils and is home to a particularly lovely variety, Kékfrankos. Lively and balanced with restrained tannins and beautiful acidity is perhaps the best way to describe the best wines from Sopron. he vineyards of Sopron County are first mentioned in a contract of gift dated 1230 however evidences are telling us that the Roman Empire cultivated wines in the Fertő arrea with great reputation. Thecultivation are and the styles of the region varied through centuries even with a century lon quantitative production, nowadays Sopron is one the most valued red wine making district with its uniqe and well recignizable style.
The Sopron wine district is located in the foothills of the Alps, on the Sopron Hills and the southern and western shores of Lake Fertő. It is a direct continuation of the vineyard areas of the Leithaberg, Rust and Neusiedl regions of the Austrian Burgenland. The vineyards are located in two large blocks. The first, and perhaps the more suitable for viticulture, is the area in the north, between Fertőrákos, Lake Fertő and the village of Balf. 1,543 hectares, are currently under vine.The region’s climate is temperate, mildly continental, although considered rather cool and rainy compared to the rest of the country, with the subalpine effect prevailing. The summer is also cool, and it is the wettest Hungarian wine district, although winters are mild. There is also plenty of breeze in the region. Nowadays, Sopron and its surroundings are mainly known for cultivating black grapes (black grapes are grown on three-quarters of its area), together with a small quantity of white grapes. The Sopron wine district is currently overwhelmingly dominated by Kékfrankos.The vineyards are located on the hills around Lake Fertő and on the southern and eastern slopes of the Sopron Hills. The vineyards benefit from a relatively favourable microclimate as the south-facing hillsides are protected from the cold by the mass of the hills to the north-west. Some of the region’s best vineyards are already known to discerning wine lovers. Grapes grown on the Spern Steiner, Frettner, Neuberg, Rothepeter and Höllesgrund vineyards produce wines rich in mineral notes, provided the wine itself is also sufficiently concentrated.The combination of slightly lower temperatures than the national average and its brilliant terroir yields ripe wines with a clearly defined backbone of beautifully nuanced acidity in the best years. Undoubtedly, the area cannot guarantee this in every vintage and, to be honest, producers also need some patience. Sopron is an exciting, unique wine region for wine lovers to explore.