Balaton is a Lake Balaton wine area spanning six wine districts, with Olaszrizling as their characteristic grape. The northern vineyards include marl, red sandstone and volcanic soils, while Balatonboglár on the southern shore makes fruit-forward wines with concentration, including reds that can age. The wider Balaton area is mainly known for white wine. BalatonBor is a regional Olaszrizling-based brand, while village and single-vineyard classifications focus more closely on place.
Continue through the region
Elsewhere in Lake Balaton
- Badacsony1 producerBadacsony grows Olaszrizling and Kéknyelű on basalt slopes. Its whites can have texture, smoky notes and freshness. Retaining-wall terraces remain part of the vineyard landscape.
- Balaton-felvidékNo producers listed yetOn Lake Balaton's northern shore, Balaton-felvidék shares climate and soil influences with Badacsony and Balatonfüred-Csopak.
- BalatonboglárNo producers listed yetBalatonboglár sits mainly on Lake Balaton's southern shore. Its wines are fruit-forward and concentrated, with ageable reds among the local styles.
- Balatonfüred-CsopakNo producers listed yetBalatonfüred-Csopak makes Olaszrizling and Kékfrankos at village and single-vineyard level. It is especially associated with Olaszrizling, while Tihany has a separate specification.
- Csopak1 producerCsopak works with Olaszrizling and Kékfrankos at village and single-vineyard level.
- KáliNo producers listed yetKáli's hills are largely made of volcanic debris rock, with little lava rock.
- Nagy-SomlóNo producers listed yetNagy-Somló's vineyards grow on volcanic ground. The direction a slope faces affects grape sugar and acidity.
- SomlóiNo producers listed yetSomlói wines come from a small volcanic hill in the Lake Balaton area. Furmint and Juhfark grow on basalt soils and make wines with firm acidity and a savoury finish.
- TihanyNo producers listed yetTihany has its own wine specification within Balatonfüred-Csopak, with volcanic, tuff-derived soils.
- Zala1 producerZala's rain and lower sunshine favour fresher, more balanced wines. It became a wine region in 1997 after local communities requested the restoration of its classification.