My friend Jeroen's family is in town this week, and he asked the Bitch Moan and Wine Society to organise a private wine tasting for them. We held the tasting at The Spajz (The Pantry) nearby on Lazar u. This restaurant does a passable cold menu of avocado cream, eggplant cream, sausages and other typical Hungarian treats, but the ambience is what to go for. The place is decorated like a typical Hungarian pantry with hanging sausages, jars of various pickled vegetables and fruits, and everything else you might find in grandma's spajz. Bea from Discover Budapest kept us expertly entertained with stories about the wine and wine regions. For this wine tasting we went for an around-Hungary tour:

• Borbély Családi Vineyard Jufark
• Szöllosi Vineyard Irsai Olivér
• Gróf Degenfeld Szolobirtok Muscat Lunel (half-dry)
• Taschner Rosé
• Malatinszky Kúria Kékfrankos(dry red)
• Vincze Béla Egri Bikavér Birtokbor(dry red)
• Bock József Ermitage Cuveé(dry red)
• Kardi Berger Selectio Tokaj (very sweet dessert wine)

The family was very pleased with the wines Bottlehugger Ben chose, but seemed particularly fond of the Irsai Oliver, Ermitage Cuvee and Tokaj Selectcio. For my money, the Maltinszky Kekfrankos and Vincze Bela Egri Bikaver remain two of my favourite mid-range wines, but I was impressed with the Gróf Degenfeld Szolobirtok Muscat, and especially the Bock József Ermitage Cuve. 

Of course, all of these wines and 1000 more are available from Bitch Moan and Wine and discounted prices. Just contact us for the price list and for more information about one of our next tastings will be. wine@bitchmoanwine.com