February means Furmint, and Furmint means the return of the Furmint Summit, organised by Tokaj-Hegyalja University. On 18 February in Sárospatak, participants will not only taste wines, but also discuss the future of Tokaj, including science, production, technology and market opportunities.
According to Laura Varga, one of the initiators of the event, lecturer at Tokaj-Hegyalja University and oenological researcher at the Tarcal Research Institute, the Furmint Summit fills a gap in the market.
„The aim of the Furmint Summit was to present the defining grape variety of Tokaj-Hegyalja not merely as a product, but as a strategic asset that shapes the identity and future of the wine region.”
More than just a conference: a collective reflection on Furmint
The event, which debuted last year, proved its worth right from the start. With around a hundred participants, this professional day provides an opportunity for research and winemaking practice, terroir and technology, scientific discourse and sensory experience to engage in genuine dialogue with one another.
„There is a need for an annual professional forum where furmint is discussed from a scientific, cultivation technology, market and sensory perspective.”
-says the wine researcher.
The event is primarily aimed at winemakers, researchers, sommeliers, gastronomy and wine tourism professionals, and higher education students – but it also offers an exciting and informative programme for conscious, professionally interested wine consumers.
A historic year, current challenges
This year's event will place special emphasis on the exceptional quality of the 2025 harvest. The concentrated, aroma-rich aszú berries and high content values promise wines with long ageing potential.
However, the professional programme focuses on the challenges facing the future of the wine region:
the issue of phytoplasma causing golden yellowing, the possibilities of ecological and alternative cultivation systems, and the economic situation of wineries.
The morning presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion, which this year will focus on Tokaj sparkling wine production, an area where Furmint is showing its new face.
„The versatility of Furmint is now evident not only in dry and sweet wines, but also in sparkling wines made using traditional methods. Sparkling wine is of strategic importance for the future of Tokaj.”
From theory to the glass
The day will follow an arc-shaped structure: registration and opening at 10 a.m., followed by professional presentations, then a round table discussion focusing on sparkling wines, and finally a vertical Furmint tasting to conclude the programme.
„The tasting is not merely an experience, but also a sensory confirmation of the ideas presented in the morning.”
- emphasises the expert.
Comparing vintages, styles and terroir characteristics makes it easy to grasp what the professional discourse is all about.
Why is it worth going there?
The Furmint Summit is not only for professionals, but also for anyone who would like to understand where Tokaj is headed, how Furmint's market position is developing, and what decisions will shape the wines of the future.
„The Summit is not just a one-day conference, but a space for reflection that contributes to consciously shaping the future of Tokaj-Hegyalja and Furmint.”
Date: 18 February 2026
Venue: Tokaj-Hegyalja University, Sárospatak
Registration: https://www.unithe.hu/furmint-summit
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