Whether or not this high fluctuation is a problem is arguable, but the inflow of young talent into the region is definitely a welcome development. Here is a summary of some of the major changes in the past six to seven months.
Henrik Hős-Nagy (26) joined Sárospatak-based Harsányi last November after half a year at Meridiana Wine Estate in Malta. He had gained his first working experience at Csaba Demeter's cellar and then at Gróf Buttler in Eger. The third winemaker in the short history of Harsányi Winery, launched in 2012, Henrik is hoped to bring a stable and well-defined style of winemaking to the company for years to come.
In March, Gergely Makai (33) was promoted to estate manager at Tokaj-Hétszőlő, taking over from outgoing Tibor Kovács, and retaining his postion as senior winemaker and viticulturist. He had joined Hétszőlő in 2009 after having completed traineeship at Vylyan in Hungary's Villány region and worked as a cellar master at Thorn Clarke in Australia.
Bardon's new winemaker Ádám Molnár (27) comes from a family with a long-standing tradition of winemaking in the Eger region. He worked at Collovray&Terrier in Burgundy, Laurent Miquel in the Langedoc, the Saint Clair Family Estate in New Zealand and De Bortoli Wines in Australia, as well as at some Eger-based wineries before taking on his first 'serious' job, following Tímea Szabó, at the boutique winery in Erdőbénye.
István Turóczi (54) joined Mád's Royal Tokaji in 1998 to become one of the few long-established winery managers in the Tokaj region. He is taking on the position of estate manager at Gróf Degenfeld in Tarcal as from 1st August. His predecessor Miklós Stumpf left the company in late May.
Vivien Újvári (30) left her position as winemaker at Gróf Degenfeld last December, and, after a brief period at Tokajicum, she took over from Attila Homonna at Mád-based Barta Cellar in July. Her previous working experience includes time spent at Zilzie Wines in Australia, the Laird Family Estate in Napa in the US, and the Saint Clair Family Estate in New Zealand, as well as at Villa Sandahl in the Lake Balaton area, Hungary. Attila remains a consultant to the winery to help ensure that the current style of winemaking is maintained.
Sándor Zsurki (42) spent all his working life in the Tokaj region, working as winemaker for Tokaj Crown Estates in Tolcsva (now Grand Tokaj), Pajzos in Sárospatak and Andrássy in Tarcal. After some years of freelancing, he took over from Vivien Újvári as senior winemaker at Gróf Degenfeld in Tarcal in December 2015.
Our news sources from Tokaj is the fantastic tokajtoday.com
