Sebestyén
The Sebestyén winery was established in 1998 in the Szekszárd region, one of Hungary’s best winemaking areas thanks to its ideal climate and viticultural history dating back to Roman times. Run by brother and sister team Csilla and Csaba, the duo farm 18 hectares of predominantly old vines, focusing on indigenous varieties such as Kadarka and Kékrankos alongside more familiar names in Cabernet Franc, Merlot and others.
With minimal intervention techniques adhered to in both the vineyards and cellar to allow for the most unfettered expressions of terroirs, the wines are utterly contemporary in style and bursting with freshness and complexity. Using the template of Burgundy, the duo aims to reinterpret the traditional, regional Bikavér wine (Bull’s Blood) for 21st century, conscious palates.
The duo are in the process of constructing a new, state-of-the-art winery which they hope to complete by harvest 2024, the culmination of a 25-year-long project which has seen them grow from a backyard operation to now owning significant plots across Szekszárd, including holdings in three historic vineyard sites from which they can make the regions’ famed ‘Bikavér’ blend, namely: Iván, Porkoláb, and Görögszó.
Sebestyén’s output ranges from white, rosé, to reds, in which the quality is superlative throughout.
With Csilla’s former life as a sommelier in Michelin-starred establishments, they count the great wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, and Italy among their influences and to which they aspire.
These various traits are translated into each of their cuvées all the while retaining the unique characteristics of their local varieties and terroirs.
