Conference social programs:

Dinner Reception, 21th April

Wine Tasting Reception, 20th April

Optional Spouse Tours for April 21-22  >>

Optional Programs for Conference participants on April 22-23 >>

Wine Tasting Reception 20 April 2008, 20:00 Venue: Hotel Marriott, Budapest	Sponsored by:

 

	Wine Tasting Reception in Hotel Marriott
	During the reception we would like to introduce you a wide variety of Hungarian wines with the help of professional Hungarian „sommeliers”. Special kinds of delicious cheese will go together with the unique wines, to make the event even more enjoyable. We hope that the reception will set the right scene for the professional discussions of the following conference days.
About Hungarian wines
The thousand-year past of Hungarian vine-growing and wine-making is founded upon ancient eastern traditions brought by the Magyars themselves, surviving Roman viticultural know-how in Pannonia, the Benedictine and other monastic orders and settlers from Italy and Burgundy, later to be perfectly adopted by Hungarian viticulturists. The great variety of Hungarian wines, which were already rivalling those of Italy in Roman times, is thanks to a unique climate and extremely varied soils. Hungary is among the world’s top 25 wine-making countries, so it is no accident that it is a wine-drinking nation. Our 22 wine regions differ widely in size, location and the character of their wines, but in each one can find those types and traditions which over long centuries have determined production. It is thanks to generations of wine-makers that such unique wines have been created as the Bull’s Blood of Eger and Szekszárd, and Tokay’s aszú, hailed by connoisseurs and professionals alike as the king of wines and wine of kings. Discover what it’s like to be king and drink a wine fit for a king!
	TOKAJ
	Tokaj is a wine region with completely original vinification methods and the world's oldest system of classified growths. The noble rot wines of Tokaj are deliciously smooth and sweet when young and develop a myriad of flavours when aged. The story is that in 1650, a priest was making wine when an attack of the Turks delayed the harvest. When they realized fungus had grown on some of the grapes, they kept those separate, wondering how they would taste. They were quite pleased with the results! Only four varieties of grape are authorised for the production of Tokaj wines: Furmint, Hárslevelü, Yellow Muscat, and Oremus. The harvest traditionally begins late in October. If there are enough good quality Aszú-berries, they are harvested separately, grape by grape, or selected immediately after the picking on large tables. The non-botrytised grapes are used to make the dry varietals; Furmint, Hárslevelü, part of which is used as base wine for the production of the sweet dessert wine called Tokaji Aszú.
When Aszú-grapes are not picked separately, the entire grape clusters including botrytised parts are vinified as a standard white wine to give Tokaji Szamorodni, which can be dry or sweet. A fact which enabled Tokaj to become better known, was that Prince Ferenc Rákóczi I, during the course of his wars against the Hapsburgs, regularly presented his allies, the Russian Czar Peter the Great and the French King Louis XIV, with wines from Tokaj. From the Roi du Soleil originates the famous saying that Tokaj is the wine of kings, the king of wines. Vinum regnum, rex vinorum.
	EGER
	Historically Eger has a rich history. One of the first episcopacies founded by King St. Stephen was in Eger, and the monks who came to the episcopacy brought with them the grape varieties of their homeland. After the Mongolian invasion decimated the population. King Béla IV settled Walloons in this area. They also introduced their grape production and wine making techniques (e.g. the use of the cask). It may be surprising that this wine region in the Northern hills of Hungary produces more reds than whites. However, somewhat less full-bodied red wines are often distinguished by an elegance and refined complexity that is hard to find in wines with higher alcohol and tannin. Major varieties include Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), the Cabernets, Merlot, and Oporto (Blauer Portugieser) for reds (Kadarka might come back in a few years and experiments with Pinot Noir are to watch); Leányka, Királyleányka, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris (Szürkebarát) and Hárslevelü for whites. Bull's Blood (Bikavér) is the most famous wine of the region. This is produced through the blending of the wines of a number of red wine grapes. Previously the basis of the wine was constituted by the various varieties of Kadarka. Today it is often based on Kekfrankos. This is the first wine of Hungary under protection of origin.
SOMLÓ
The smallest and perhaps the most beautiful wine district in Hungary. The 500 hectares of vine plantation extend on the hillside below the basaltic columns called 'organ pipes' forming the top of the hat-shaped volcanic hill. Somló produces some of the best traditional Hungarian dry whites that accompany marvellously typical, somewhat heavy Hungarian meals. A good Somló is a very acidic, 'masculine' wine (legend has it that royal couples drank it on their wedding night to have a baby boy), unmistakably marked by the terroir: once you have tasted a Somló, you will always recognise wines from this region. Somló is not the place to produce fashionable light whites distinguished by a pleasing varietal character (at least for a few months): whether you drink a Furmint, a Hárslevelu, a Juhfark (a local variety, virtually restricted to this region), or an Olaszrizling (Welschriesling) you will first of all drink a Somló.
	VILLÁNY
	A two-faceted wine region, Villány perhaps producing the best red wines in Hungary. This is the region where small private vintners responded the most rapidly and adequately to the new situation created by market economy and the collapse of the Soviet market which had favoured low-quality mass production. Villány has become the flagship of Hungarian quality wine making re-emerging since 1990. This is where stainless steel tanks and new oak barrels first became standard equipment in some small-scale, family-run wineries. Villány reds are undoubtedly the most full-bodied in Hungary, usually characterised by high tannin, alcohol, and extract content. They are also the country's most suitable wines for maturation in new oak barrels. Top Villány vintners typically have a range of wines going from light reds and rosés made from the local varieties Kékoportó and Kékfrankos through blends of the latter with Cabernet or Merlot to more robust wines often based exclusively on the Bordeaux varieties.

· APRIL 21 - TOUR 1 - 25 EURO per person

· APRIL 22 - TOUR 2 - 35 EURO per person

 (Luch is not included in the price of the the excursion.)

Optional Programs for Conference participants on April 22-23

· APRIL 22 - TOUR 3/a - 20 EURO per person

 APRIL 22 - TOUR 3/b – 45 EURO per person

· APRIL 23 - TOUR 4 - 25 EURO per person

APRIL 22 - TOUR 3 – 20 EURO per person Danube boat trip at night
Program starts: 20.15 pm Program duration: 1 hr Guide: 30 languages audio guide
Detailed program: Meeting at 19:45 pm at the reception of Hotel Marriott. Start from Vigado boat station at 20:15 pm. Sightseeing boat trip with sound and light show at night. On TV screen you can see the inside of the buildings standing on the banks of the Danube. Famous pepole, kings and queens, poets, composers, inventors and the Danube itself tell about the legends of Budapest. Program ends with the Blue Danube walz.
APRIL 22 - TOUR 3/b – 45 EURO per person
Danube boat trip at night with dinner
Program starts: 20.00 pm Program duration: 2 hrs Guide: English Group nr.: min.30 paxs
Detailed program: Meeting at 19:30 pm at the reception of Hotel Marriott. Start at 20:00 pm. Sightseeing boat trip with dinner (3 course menu, aperitif, ½ bottle wine, coffe, mineral water). Enjoy a folklore program during the trip.
APRIL 23 - TOUR 4 – 25 EURO per person Budapest – the capital of secession, eclectic and cafes
Program starts: 18.00 pm Program duration: 4 hrs Guide: English speeking (also in Russian if min.3 Russian guests apply) Transport: bus
Detailed program: Meeting at 17:30 am at the reception of Hotel Marriott. Start at 18:00 am. Itinerary: Chainbridge – Deak square – Andrassy avenue – Heroes’ square (photo break). Gundel restaurant – Zoo – Szechenyi bath – Vajdahunyad castle – Andrassy avenue – Oktogon square – Nagykorut – Nyugati railway station – Bajcsy street – Basilica (photo break). Gresham palace – Parliament – Margaret bridge – Fo street – Fishermen’s bastion (photo break). Taban – Citadella (photo break). Erzsebet bridge – Hotel Marriott.