Hungary is the third largest producer of oak barrels in the world, with two outstanding oak producing areas, Zemplén and Mecsek. The Mecsek oak has a relaxed texture and sweeter aromas, while the Zemplén oak has more spicy flavours and is weaker in terms of tannins, which give a dry sensation on the tongue. Overall, both types give a softer, smoother wine with less character tannins, for example, French oaks.
Hungary is the third largest producer of oak barrels in the world, with two outstanding oak producing areas, Zemplén and Mecsek.
The Mecsek oak has a relaxed texture and sweeter aromas, while the Zemplén oak has more spicy flavours and is weaker in terms of tannins, which give a dry sensation on the tongue. Overall, both types give a softer, smoother wine with less character tannins, for example, French oaks.
On our walk in Mecsek, we noticed that some of the hundreds of trees laid down were specially marked. That’s how we found out that two dozen of them will have a special future, going to many countries around the world after being used to make wine oak barrels.
An American company near Pécs, in Szigetvár, and a Hungarian company in Palotabozsok are making wine barrels that will be used in the cellars of winemakers in Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile, South Africa, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Romania, Turkey, Israel, because
Hungarian wine barrels are at the top of the world’s premium category.
The purchase of logs has begun, and the barrel makers themselves select the most suitable logs in the forest, which are then used to make the high-quality barrel donga. Each log is uniquely identified in the forest, providing an accurate and traceable record of the origin and age of the wood right up to the barrel production stage. Our oaks are carefully selected from slow-growing forests, where solid oaks are sought in the selection process.
France is currently the largest and most expensive producer of wine casks in the world. A standard 225-litre barrel made in Hungary can cost up to €500-600, while a similar barrel in France can easily cost over €800, which is why Mecsek oak barrels are so competitive and are the most popular overseas. Most of the 30,000 barrels produced in Hungary are sold to winemakers in California.
