Description
Just as the Juhfark grape is synonymous with the Somló region, the Kéknyelű variety is the trademark grape of the Badacsony region. Kéknyelű is almost exclusively planted in the Badacsony area, and it is living a revival thanks to the efforts of several winemakers, including Endre Szászi. It produces a lean, fresh, and crisp style of wine, with some peppery and citrusy aromas. Kéknyelű is not an easy variety to grow. It is one of the few grapes in the world which has only female flowers. Grapevine flowers usually have both female and male parts so they pollinate themselves (by producing pollen and getting pollenized at the same time). Kéknyelű needs to be planted next to another variety which flowers at the same time to give the pollen. For this reason, it is a very low yielding variety. Winemaker Endre Szaszi is a pioneer in the Badacsony region. He started in the wine business when he opened a wine store in Badacsony in 1995. He then bought a vineyard in the iconic Szent György hill, where he began producing wines in the late 1990s. He was probably the first producer in the region to go the organic route, and at the time he was ridiculed for not spraying pesticides and fungicides in his vineyards. These days, the great majority of Badacsony’s wineries are organic. If you like fresh, crisp, citrusy, and juicy whites—like Chenin Blanc and Muscadet—you are going to love Kéknyelű!
