Wine Country Day Trip to Tokaj (from Budapest)

Start your tour with a pickup from your central Budapest hotel and travel by minivan to Hungary’s beautiful Tokaj region, the world’s oldest classified wine area.

As you travel, get the lowdown on this UNESCO-listed region, whose volcanic hills and warm, wet climate are perfect for viticulture and the growth of ‘noble rot,’ a mold that brings out the best of the legendary local dessert wine, Tokaji aszú. Hear how winemaking began here 1,000 years ago and about the region's old wine cellars, many dug into the volcanic rock and coated in the musty mold.

After roughly 2.5 hours, admire Tokaj's rustic villages and leafy vineyards as you approach your first winery. Meet your winemaker host and then set about sampling between five and eight wines. As you sip, discuss the notes and aromas, and hear about the local furmint and hárslevelu grapes favored here.

Over the course of the day, visit two other wineries and sample a cross-section of wine, including some of Tokaj's growing band of dry whites and sweet aszú varieties. Sample five to eight wines at each stop, and tour a cellar system and vineyard to learn about the winemaking process.

Around midway, head to a local restaurant for a delicious 3-course lunch. Venues and menus change with each tour, but your meal will typically include Hungarian classics such as broths, stews and roasts, along with desserts such as strudel.

At the last winery, pair your tastings with local cured meat and cheese — the perfect foil for your wines, and another insight into Tokaj's culinary heritage.

After, drive back to Budapest where your tour finishes with a hotel drop-off.