The beginnings...
Since my childhood, I had a connection with vines, as my parents cultivated two rows in a vineyard, which was still part of the production cooperative in Balatonszabadi back then. This area had a variety of grapevines.
In my memories, the act of pruning, hoeing, and the cheerful harvests blend with the mixed feeling of the already-made, not-so-good-quality wine. My father did not really understand winemaking, but the awareness of our own wine sweetened the often sour and bitter-tasting elixir.
The decision
My curiosity and love for farming and viticulture led my family to purchase a neglected 5,300 square meter plot on the vineyard of the neighboring village, Siójut, with a cellar dating back to the late 1800s and a run-down small press house. We established our hobby-sized vineyard with approximately 800 vines in 2001.
Then, in 2005, we managed to build a new press house/weekend house in front of the cellar. Our vineyard included 3 rows of Pinot Gris and 9 rows of Pinot Noir. Both of my children were happy to help with the cultivation, and of course, the cellar/press house was a great place for friendly gatherings. In 2016, the idea and opportunity arose to purchase a 6.3-hectare plot not far from the mentioned cellar.
The dream became reality
My initial thought was to plant it with vines, and by the time it turns to fruit, I would exchange my current middle management position for our own farm. My wife also had a lifelong connection with vines, so she immediately supported my plan.
We thought that our children would grow up and fly the nest soon anyway, and my wife and I would be the ones tending to grape cultivation. Initially, our children began careers in their respective fields, but in their free time, they gladly chose wine racking or pruning as a family activity.
The new generation!
Alongside her job, our daughter began to show a growing interest in vines. In 2018, she made the decision to begin her bachelor studies in viticulture and oenology engineering at Szent István University because she wanted to exclusively pursue this profession. By 2020, the decision to establish a winery was firmly made, and we successfully accomplished it by summer.
Our plans include modernizing the building, expanding storage capacity, and improving processing and sales. Development is important and necessary, but we definitely want to stay true to the high-quality artisanal wines; we have no intention of blending into the world of boring mass-products.
Beginnings
Started as a hobby at first
Our hobby-sized vineyard, with roughly 800 vines, was established in 2001.
Fejlesztés
A présház
In 2005, we managed to build a new wine-press house/weekend house in front of the cellar. Our plantation contained 3 rows of Szürkebarát and 9 rows of Pinot Noir.
Bővítés
Sikerült terjeszkednünk
In 2016, we got the idea and the opportunity to buy a 6.3-hectare area not far from our cellar.
A borászat
mint családi vállalkozás
By 2020, the decision was finally made to create a winery, which we succeeded in the following summer.
Marianna Mile
Since my childhood, I spent some of my free time in our press house – then operating on a hobby-level – and in the vineyard.
First and foremost, it was my family who introduced me to grape cultivation, and later, to the winemaking process. I am glad that my intimate connection with this profession developed in a way that I was never pressured.
I see the key to continuous improvement in openness, willingness to learn, and hard, persistent work. I strive to apply in practice what I have learned in the viticulture and oenology engineering program.
I want to thank my family for granting me this opportunity.
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