COUNTRY :
Hungary
REGION :
Balatonboglár
PRODUCTION :
Winemaker Florian Zaruba runs the biodynamic wine farm, where a seasonal restaurant and small hotel are also part of the Kristinus property on the southwest shores of Lake Balaton, Hungary. Founded in 2012, the family-owned wine farm has been 100% biodynamic since 2018, after Florian took over as winemaker.
The winemaking is stretching back as far as the ancient Roman times on this part of the lake, the largest lake in central Europe. The diverse land of vineyards, orchards, pastures and forests are relatively close to the lake and currently stand at 60ha in size. The integration of cattle, chickens, sheep and bees have started in 2020. The soil consists of a mixture of clay, loess, sand and limestone.
A high percentage of their wines are skin fermented and aged in large clay amphorae. They use their natural yeasts and there is no fining and filtration and only a very little added sulphite before bottling. Autochtón varieties led by Kékfrankos, Furmint, Olaszrizling and Irsai Oliver all play an important part in their farming concept.

Kékfrankos Clayver
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Blaufrankisch
Vineyard Size: 5 hectares
Soil: Exposed, warmer site, loam and loess with traces of limestone
Average Age of Vines: 15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 2 weeks of gentle maceration in the stainless, partially with full bunch. Following pressing wine was transferred into large amphorae
Aging: 16 months in clay amphorae
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 35 mg/l

Metamorph
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Welschriesling 75%, Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard Size: 10 hectares
Soil: Mix of loess, loam and sand
Average Age of Vines: 15-20 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Individual fermentation on the skin in amphorae
Aging: 10 months in amphorae
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 mg/l

Liquid Sundowner
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Welschriesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 15 hectares
Soil: Predominantly a mix of loess, loam and sand with traces of limestone
Average Age of Vines: 15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Separate processing and spontaneous fermentation in clayver, large amphorae, stainless steel and used 500 l barrels. Skin maceration up to 90 days, various percentage of mash and whole bunch
Aging: 10 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 mg/l

Liquid Sunshine
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
Vineyard Size: 10 hectares
Soil: Loam, loess with traces of limestone
Average Age of Vines: 15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Wild fermentation separately in used 500 l barrels and 1200 l amphorae. Skin maceration up to 60 days partially with full bunch
Aging: 10 months in used barrels and large amphorae
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/l

Analog
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Welschriesling 80%, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc 10-10%
Vineyard Size: 10 hectares
Soil: Predominantly loam, loess and sand
Average Age of Vines: 10-15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: Separate spontaneous fermentation in clayver, amphora and tank, various percentage of mash and full bunch during fermentation
Aging: 10 months in large amphora and tank
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/l

Siller
Region: Balatonboglar
Grape: Zweigelt
Vineyard Size: 5 hectares
Soil: Clay and brown forest soilResidual sugar:with high humus content
Average Age of Vines: 15 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 36 hours of skin maceration in the press, spontaneous fermentation in tank
Aging: 8 months in tank on fine lees
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 mg/l