Zala is among Hungary's rainiest wine districts, receiving 750 to 800 mm of rain each year. Higher rainfall and lower sunshine favour fresher, more balanced wines over maximum ripeness. During phylloxera, its vineyards nearly disappeared and many were replanted with table grapes. Zala became a wine region in 1997 after local wine communities requested the restoration of its classification.
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.
- BalatonNo producers listed yetBalaton's six wine districts share Olaszrizling but not one style. Northern and southern vineyard conditions differ, and the area includes white wines as well as ageable red styles.
- 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.
Producers in Zala
Producer profiles
- Cezar WineryNagyrada producer near Kis-Balaton making white, rosé and red wines from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and red varieties.