Last year, for the first time, gastronomy exhibitors joined the stage conversations of KVATERKA, a programme originally created as a professional wine event. The new direction proved a great success, bringing together exciting voices from the worlds of wine and gastronomy. Visitors could also sample a selection of special wine-friendly bites created specifically for the programme, alongside the wines.
Building on last year’s success, the Budapest Wine Festival is bringing KVATERKA back this year with an even more exciting line-up of guests. On all four days of the festival, from 6:00 pm, the MVM Stage foyer will host inspiring conversations and special tastings, all enjoyed over a glass of wine.
Wednesday, 9 September, 6:00 pm – The Women Behind Success
An increasing number of influential women are shaping the culture and future of Hungarian wine. The first two guests of KVATERKA are both leading professionals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields.
The conversation will focus on the Kunság wine region, the success story of Gál Winery, and its award-winning wines, which the audience will also have the opportunity to taste.
Guests: Ágnes Herceg DipWSET, wine strategy consultant to SPAR Hungary, and Zsuzsanna Gestas-Gál, Commercial and Marketing Director of Gál Vineyard and Winery.
Thursday, 10 September, 6:00 pm – Let’s Travel to Lebanon!
Lebanese Flavours, Hungarian Wines
With the help of Byblos, we will take a culinary journey into the world of Lebanese cuisine, featuring a mezze selection specially created for the occasion. Guests will have the chance to taste both Middle Eastern wine-friendly bites and wines from a Lebanese winery.
From Hungary, we will pair award-winning VinAgora wines with the distinctive flavours of the region, guided by sommelier and spirits expert Attila Petzold.
Guests: Byblos Lebanese Restaurant and Attila Petzold, sommelier and spirits expert.
Friday, 11 September, 6:00 pm – Stories from Villány
On Friday, the focus shifts from wine-and-food pairings to the Villány wine region itself. KVATERKA welcomes Tamás Günzer, named Winemaker of the Year in Hungary in 2023, and Csaba Malatinszky, an organic winemaker whose Cabernet Franc received the highest score awarded to a Hungarian wine in James Suckling’s ratings.
The conversation will explore changing wine-drinking habits, the current market position of red wines, the growing recognition of white wines from Villány, and, of course, the success of Villányi Franc. The audience will also have the opportunity to taste wines from both winemakers during the discussion.
Guests: Günzer Tamás Winery and Malatinszky Kúria.
Saturday, 12 September, 6:00 pm – At the Table with Gianni
For the final KVATERKA conversation, our host, Zoltán Zilai, will be joined by Gianni Annoni, one of the best-known figures in Hungary’s gastronomy scene, as well as representatives of his friends and partners at St. Andrea Restaurant and Hello Buda.
Continuing the tradition established over the previous days, the audience can look forward to a special food-and-wine tasting at the stage, courtesy of Pomo d’Oro, one of the festival’s exhibitors.
Guests: Zoltán Zilai, owner of the Budapest Wine Festival; Gianni Annoni, television presenter and owner of Pomo d’Oro; and representatives of St. Andrea Restaurant and Hello Buda.
