About Us

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Filozófiánk

Staying true to nature is the core of our philosophy, both with regard to viniculture and in the process of making quality wine. We believe that Mother Nature has already figured out how to do things the best way, and it is possible for us humans to work in harmony with her. We do not trust the fancy “panaceas of winemaking”, however, we firmly believe that the grapevine will repay the care we invest in its cultivation, with the production of fine grapes. After several years of work, we have learned how to take good care of our vineyard, and decided that the organic (also called bio) agriculture method is the way that best suits our philosophy. In practice, this means that we do not use any insecticides, herbicides, and absorbable fungicides, instead we supply the grapevine with natural compounds that strengthen the immune system of the plant. It is hard work to stick to our beliefs, and the expenses pile up quicky, but we are convinced that the sensation of an outstanding bottle of wine is worth all the effort.

We continue to pursue the ideas of naturalness in the process of wine production. Only the finest grapes will be processed, which contain the necessary nutrients and yeasts that will enable us to produce wine without using additives or cultured yeasts. We use only natural ingredients, and we are continuously monitoring the unique attributes of grape varieties. Our wines only contain what the grapes, the terroir and the vintage have provided for us. The grapes are hand harvested and put into wooden crates, they are carefully selected and – in the case of red wines – the wine is fermented in vats for 10-20 days, while going through traditional Pigéage, after which it is drained into high quality Hungarian, American or French oak barrels.

Our (hi)story

Our long journey towards starting our own winery began in 2008, with a simple conversation among friends. We did not have an agelong heritage of generations working in the agriculture, but thanks to that catalytic talk and to our deep appreciation for good wines, we have decided to purchase 4 hectares of land in the next year, where we have planted our very first grape vines. In the following year, another 3 hectares joined the winery, albeit at that time we were only planning on selling the grapes directly, and not making wine yet.

After much brainstorming, learning, classes, exhibitions, university studies, and even an internship program in California, we have finally embarked on the next step of the journey, which started in 2014, with the first grape harvest that was finally meant to produce wine.

In those days, we have been using a 100 years old wine cellar, but our dedication and ambition quickly demanded much more.

So we started to make plans for the future, and dream of our own winery, together with a guesthouse, complete with a wine and grill terrace for housing larger events. This eventually became the Dominium Winery, at the foothills of Mátra, right next to the vineyard. 

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Our grape varieties

We are currently cultivating 18 different grape varieties, including Hungarian and Carpathian varieties, as well as internationally renowned grapes enjoyed worldwide, so we can say that the range of our grape varieties is as diverse and colorful as the Mátra Wine Region itself. When it comes to white wines, our pride lies in the exquisite Muscat Lunel, Rhine Riesling, Zenit, Chardonnay, and Furmint varieties. We employ steel vats for fermentation. Certain varieties undergo aging on fine lees, while others are crafted using a technique known as bâttonage (lees stirring).

Our red wine varieties include Syrah, Tempranillo, Black Maiden, Turán, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. During pruning, we take into consideration the need for yield-restriction methods, and even employ green harvest, if necessary. After being processed, red grapes will be going through maceration. Our red wines that are produced with natural fermentation, are all crafted in open-top vats with the use of traditional manual Pigéage. When fermentation is finished, the red wine is drained into casks using the gravitational technique, to be stored in our wine cellar. Depending on vintage and variety, barrel aging can last for 12 to 24 months, followed by barrel selection and wine blending. After a brief period of fining, bottling and finally bottle aging can begin.

Every year, we are selecting only the best grapes to produce our wines.

The estate

The total size of our vineyard is 12 hectares.

On the Manósi vineyard, located in Nagyréde, we primarily cultivate varieties that are famous around the world, such as Muscat Lunel, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, alongside traditional varieties from the Carpathian Basin, like Hárslevelű (Lindenblättiger or Feuille de Tilleul), Blaufränkish and Turán.

On the Western side of Sár hill, near Gyöngyös, we cultivate Fetească Neagră, Furmint and Tempranillo, while in Gyöngyöspata, on the Hótó vineyard, we have planted Cabernet Franc, Zenit and Chardonnay.

One of our most extraordinary vineyards is situated on Gereg Hill, which holds the same significance to the Mátra region as Kopár Hill does to Villány or Eged Hill does to Eger. It has a unique, mineral rich, volcanic soil, contributing to explicitly fragrant Merlot, Rhein Riesling and Chardonnay wines.

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About the wine region

The Mátra Wine Region is the second-largest among the 22 wine regions in the country. According to the 2022 census, the total area dedicated to grape cultivation in this region adds up to 5,950 hectares. Sadly, as with most of our wine regions, this number shows a downward trend.

The local climate is somewhat warmer and dryer than other wine regions on the same latitude, because the Mátra mountain range offers protection from the cold air. The annual average temperature is 10,5°C (51°F), and 17°C (62,5°F) in the growing season. Frost and hail are rare in the region, and the sunshine duration is only slightly less than that of the southern parts of the country, around 1900-2000 hours.

The soil composition is complex, but it consists mainly of nutrient rich Pannonian clay that is poor in lime, as well as volcanic andesite, andesite tuff and rhyolite tuff. Due to deforestation, a wide area is covered with luvisol (brown forest soil with clay mixed in), chernozem or loess sand.

Dominium Club Membership

Annually, we host an exclusive barrel tasting event, providing club members with an inside look at our wine selection processes. They can even share their opinions in a tasting note about the wines designated for bottling. If you want to know more about the benefits and discounts associated with a Dominium Club Membership, feel free to contact us personally or via any contact option listed on the Contacts page.
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“Hungary has a rich tradition of wine culture, and I believe that enotourism holds great potential in the country. My purpose is to leverage the outstanding qualities of the Mátra Wine Region to bring joy to our friends who share our enthusiasm for good wine.”

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So you have read a lot about us, but have you had the chance to savor our wines?

Explore our collection of Dominium Wine masterpieces at your leisure!

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