2024 Rizling

If you're riding your bike through the many villages that dot the northern shores of Lake Balaton, you're going to end up stopping and enjoying what locals call a fröccs (frur-tch). We would say spritz, but the mixture of carbonated mineral water in wine is deeply sutured into Hungarian culture. This is partly because Hungary's Ányos Jedlik is credited with inventing the industrial production of soda water in the 1820s. Hungary is the 5th largest producer of mineral water in the EU, and has the highest consumption of any member state. The vines are also drinking this volcanic mineral rich water. This 50/50 blend of Olaszrizling and Rajnaj (Rhine) "Rizling," is hand picked, a blend of free run and direct pressed, and then spontaneously fermented in inox. Lighter than the Rezeda, this is as fresh as Balaton whites get. Salty, aromatic, and if you're up for it, add a dash of hard sparkling mineral water.