Wine Tasting Near Heviz: Cellars, Grapes and Tips

Autumn is the loveliest time for wine tasting at the western end of Lake Balaton. The harvest is in, new wine is fermenting in the cellars and the vineyard hills turn gold and copper. Here is where to taste near Heviz, what to drink and how to plan it so nobody has to drive.

For wine tasting near Heviz there are three obvious directions: the wine bars of Egregy, Heviz’s old vineyard quarter, a few minutes away; small family cellars around Cserszegtomaj and Gyenesdiás, which welcome visitors by appointment; and the volcanic Badacsony wine district, roughly 30–40 minutes’ drive from Heviz. In autumn, book ahead and leave the car behind.

Which wine region is Heviz in?

Heviz and its immediate surroundings belong to the Cserszeg district of the Balaton-felvidék wine region. The district also includes Cserszegtomaj, Gyenesdiás, Heviz-Egregy, Rezi, Vonyarcvashegy, Balatongyörök and Sümeg, among others. Typical grapes here are Olaszrizling (Welschriesling), Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cserszegi Fűszeres, Pinot Noir and Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch).

Two more wine districts lie a short drive away: Badacsony on the north shore of Lake Balaton to the north-east, and the vineyard hills of the Zala wine district to the south and west.

What should you taste?

If you remember just one grape, make it Cserszegi Fűszeres. It was bred in 1960 by Dr Károly Bakonyi in Cserszegtomaj, between Keszthely and Heviz, by crossing Irsai Olivér with Gewürztraminer. The result is a fragrant, floral, gently spicy white – a true local signature.

Cserszegi Fűszeres: fresh, aromatic and light, the perfect first glass.
Olaszrizling: the most widely planted grape around Lake Balaton, the everyday classic of the region.
Kéknyelű: Badacsony’s signature grape, closely tied to the district.
Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris): rich and full-bodied, a classic of Badacsony’s volcanic soils.
Kékfrankos and Pinot Noir: for a red on a cool autumn evening.

Where can you taste wine in and around Heviz?

Heviz-Egregy: wine bars below the old church

Egregy, Heviz’s vineyard quarter, grows around the 13th-century St Mary Magdalene church. The lane leading up to it is lined with wine bars and restaurants where you can simply walk in for a glass. From Nemesbük, this is the closest wine evening you can have.

Cserszegtomaj and Gyenesdiás: family cellars by appointment

This is the territory of small family wineries that do not keep regular opening hours but are happy to host visitors who arrange a time. Two examples whose websites state they offer tastings by appointment:

Bődy Borászat, Cserszegtomaj: a new tasting room and aromatic whites; tastings by prior arrangement.
Varsás Pince, Gyenesdiás: five- or eight-wine tastings with food pairings and a cellar tour, by reservation only and for groups of at least seven. In winter, tastings take place in a heated room.

Is Badacsony worth the trip?

Yes, if you can give it a whole afternoon. It is roughly 30–40 minutes’ drive from Heviz. The Badacsony wine district spreads over a group of extinct volcanic hills – Badacsony, Szigliget, Szent György-hegy and Gulács – and the basalt-rich soil gives the wines their lively acidity and body. The signature grapes are Kéknyelű, Olaszrizling and Szürkebarát.

A few wineries that, according to their websites, welcome visitors for tastings (arrange in advance):

Laposa Birtok, Badacsony: tastings and wine sales in the shop in the Hableány building; book a visit or tasting by phone or email.
Varga Pincészet, Badacsonyörs: cellar visits by appointment; according to its website (as of October 2026), the wine shop is open on weekdays and Saturday mornings.
Gilvesy Birtok, Szent György-hegy: tastings by phone booking; the estate’s bistro runs seasonally, so ask ahead in autumn.

Opening hours thin out in autumn and winter, so always call and check current times before you set off.

When is St Martin’s Day, and why does it matter for wine?

St Martin’s Day (Márton-nap) falls on 11 November. By tradition it is when the year’s new wine is first tasted and roast goose comes to the table, and many restaurants and wine bars offer goose menus and new wine around this date. Specific events change every year, so keep an eye on local event listings.

November is a quieter month in the vineyards, and some wineries switch to shorter hours or appointment-only visits. That is no bad thing: fewer crowds, and more time with the winemaker.

How to plan a wine tasting day

A few simple rules make for a relaxed day:

Book ahead: especially in autumn and on weekdays. Small cellars are often only staffed by arrangement.
One or two cellars a day: leaves time to talk and to eat.
Do not drive: Hungary has zero tolerance for drinking and driving – not a single sip is allowed. Nominate a driver or arrange a transfer.
Eat as you go: cheese, pogácsa (savoury scones) and bread; most tastings include nibbles, and if not, bring your own.
Buy at the cellar door: many small producers’ wines are hard to find in shops, even in Hungary.
Dress in layers: cellars stay cool even in autumn.

For a full day, combine it: a morning soak in the lake (see our Lake Heviz guide), then an afternoon tasting in Egregy or Cserszegtomaj. It also works well on a wet day – more ideas in our rainy day guide.

Wine tasting near Heviz: routes at a glance

Direction	Distance	What to expect
Heviz-Egregy	a few minutes by car	Wine bars, evening atmosphere, no booking needed
Cserszegtomaj, Gyenesdiás	a short drive	Family cellars, by appointment
Badacsony	about 30–40 minutes from Heviz	Volcanic wines, views over Lake Balaton

Back to Nemesbük after the tasting

Nemesbük sits at the foot of the Keszthely Hills, 3.4 km from Heviz, so Egregy and the Cserszeg cellars are close by. At HillGate Apartments, opening on 1 June 2027, the host helps organise outings with local partners, including cellar visits – and the Finnish sauna and jacuzzi are waiting at the end of the day.

FAQ

Do I need to book a wine tasting?

At small cellars, yes – many do not keep regular hours. You can walk into the Egregy wine bars for a glass without booking.

How much can I drink and drive in Hungary?

Nothing at all. Hungary applies zero tolerance to drivers, so anyone who has been tasting should not get behind the wheel.

Which wines should I try near Heviz?

Start with Cserszegi Fűszeres, bred in nearby Cserszegtomaj, and an Olaszrizling. In Badacsony, try Kéknyelű and Szürkebarát.

When is St Martin’s Day?

On 11 November. It is traditionally when the new wine is tasted, often alongside roast goose.

Cover image: vineyards at Hegymagas with Szent György Hill behind · Photo: Derzsi Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Planning a wine weekend near Heviz? Take a look at the HillGate apartments and sign up to be notified when booking opens ahead of our 1 June 2027 launch.

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