Sümeg castle, north of Lake Balaton in Hungary
In partnership with Wines of Hungary
Volcanism over aeons of history has shaped much of Hungary’s landscape, although this explosive period came to an end around two million years ago. Its legacy is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, caves and natural hot springs for visitors to explore.
An overview
The ancient Pannonian Sea covered much of Hungary until 5.5 million years ago, so much of the earliest volcanic activity took place underwater. The retreating sea left behind marine sediments, which mingled with igneous rocks (those resulting from volcanic processes) to create a complex mosaic of rock types. The volcanic bedrock is peppered with outcrops of limestone and schist, and topped by soils of clay, sand and fine wind-blown loess. What does this mean for wine drinkers today? These volcanic soils leave their unmistakable signature of salinity and vibrant freshness on the regions’ wines.
Hungary’s volcanic soils (discussed in more detail below) are all home to high-quality wines, but each region has its own volcanic character: Lake Balaton’s basalts are harder, while those on the Tihany peninsula are more alkaline, and Somló is home to porous mineral basalts. Mátra’s soils are mainly andesite, contrasting with neighbouring Eger and Bükk’s rhyolite soils. Meanwhile, the hills of Tokaj, that storied volcanic region, are a supremely complex mix. While all these regions share a volcanic inheritance, it is the fascinating nuances of their different soils that set the stage for the rich variety of Hungarian
