Péter Nagyváradi: restoring old vines on Lake Balaton’s northern shore
From the newsletter archive. Originally sent 5 June 2026; adapted for the Journal on 29 October 2026.
Learning before putting down roots
Our June 2026 introduction to Péter Nagyváradi followed a grower whose early vintages had already caught our attention. Raised in southern Hungary near Villány, he grew up with an interest in farming and geology, then broadened his experience through harvests in Hungary, New Zealand and Chile.
He moved to the northern shore of Lake Balaton in 2018. The following year, he found an abandoned parcel of old bush vines in Balatonarács. Restoring it was slow work: wildlife took much of the fruit and yields were very small in the first seasons. Péter kept going, bringing the vines back towards health.
Keeping the vineyard in focus
The original newsletter described organic farming and a desire to work with the vineyard rather than impose a style on the finished wine. The varied ground around northern Balaton formed part of that interest in place.
White grapes were pressed gently in an old basket press. Fermentations began with indigenous yeasts and the wines matured in used barrels. For reds, whole-cluster fermentation and, in some cases, direct pressing helped preserve fruit and freshness.
Three wines from the introduction
Karbon Kékfrankos 2024 offered red berries, bright acidity and silky tannins. It was the most immediate introduction to the range, with the emphasis on energy and drinkability.
Furmint 2024 took a more precise, saline direction, while Perm Chardonnay 2024 brought citrus, orchard fruit and a subtle flinty note alongside greater texture.
Together, the three wines showed a grower interested in finesse rather than weight. The common thread was clear fruit and a sense that careful work in the vineyard had been allowed to remain visible in the glass.