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Bencze Birtok

bencze birtok istvan bencze bw

On the southern slope of Szent György-hegy, with a view of Lake Balaton, István Bencze from the Bencze Birtok winery has been creating remarkable natural wines since 2011. He cultivates three individual vineyards full of character on volcanic basalt soil using biodynamic methods. His philosophy combines uncompromising natural wine production with sensitive terroir work. The carefully vinified wines show a fascinating balance between minerality, fruit and the unadulterated expressiveness of the volcanic terroir.

Manufacturer portrait




More about Bencze Birtok

The volcanic Szent György-hegy rises majestically above the gentle hills on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. István Bencze's winery is located on its southern foothills, where the vines bask in the Pannonian sun. Since its foundation in 2011, this ambitious winemaker has developed into one of the most exciting representatives of the Hungarian natural wine movement.

bencze birtok winery starry sky

Three layers - three characters

The 20 hectares of vineyards are spread over three distinctive individual sites, which Bencze has named simply after their size: "Másfél" (1.5 ha), "Hétésfél" (7.5 ha) and "Kilencésfél" (9.5 ha). Each of these parcels has its own personality, characterised by different altitudes between 118 and 180 metres and varying soil compositions. While solid basalt dominates at the higher altitudes, clay, loess and iron-rich brown earth can be found in the lower areas. This geological diversity is impressively reflected in the wines.

bencze birtok furmint grape during harvest

Biodynamics as the heartbeat of the winery

For Bencze, biodynamic cultivation is not a marketing strategy, but a living conviction. The vineyard is seen as a living organism in which every element has its own significance. The vines are deeply rooted in the volcanic rock, penetrate different layers of soil and transport their mineral essence into the grapes. The grapes are often harvested by hand in several stages in order to find the optimum ripening point for each lot. This meticulous preparatory work in the vineyard forms the foundation for Bencz's uncompromising natural wine philosophy.
bencze birtok harvest

Authentic vinification in amphorae

Bencze minimises intervention in the cellar. Spontaneous fermentation takes place predominantly in amphorae, which enable gentle micro-oxidation while preserving the purity of the fruit expression. Oenological aids are largely dispensed with and the wines remain unfiltered and unfined. This purist approach requires the utmost precision in the vineyard work and absolute cleanliness in the cellar. The result is wines of impressive authenticity that reflect the terroir in all its complexity.

Grape varieties between tradition and a spirit of discovery

Bencze's selection of grape varieties reflects its pioneering spirit. In addition to the classic Hungarian varieties Furmint, Hárslevelű and the almost forgotten Kéknyelű, there are also international varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Riesling. His work with the Rózsakő variety, which was first cultivated in Badacsony in 1975, is particularly exciting. Each grape variety is vinified individually, with some white wines receiving a short maceration period to increase their structural complexity. Maturation takes place in amphorae or used wooden barrels, depending on the variety, always with the aim of bringing out the specific characteristics of the grape variety and the terroir in the best possible way.

bencze birtok isvan bencze

What István Bencze has created in just over a decade is remarkable. His wines are among the most exciting interpretations of the Badacsony terroir and have earned an excellent reputation on the international natural wine scene. They are living testimony to the fact that uncompromising natural wine production and precise terroir work need not be opposites, but on the contrary can complement each other perfectly.