„Becoming a role model in the eyes of one’s own child is the greatest honour.” The following sentence could even serve as the motto for the Tokaj-Hegyalja University for the October lecture of the Senior Academy, the speakers for which on this occasion were Károly Áts and Dóra Bényei-Áts.
On the university’s website, we can read about Károly Áts, a native of Tarcal, who was recognised with the Winemaker of the Year (2012) and Winemaker’s Winemaker (2020) awards, Károly Áts, a native of Tarcal, who spoke candidly in his presentation about the values instilled in him by his family, his choice of career and his experiences at school, as well as the conscious decision that brought him back to his homeland to put his knowledge to good use there.
The head winemaker at Grand Tokaj Zrt. launched his own winery in 2012, where 30,000 bottles of Tokaj are produced each year, much to the delight of consumers. He is now passing the baton to his daughter, who graduated from secondary school in Sárospatak and is now involved in further developing the brand as a qualified winemaker.
Being a winemaker: then and now
The same values emerged from the father-daughter presentation: theoretical knowledge, practical experience and a sense of responsibility are all necessary for the aroma and flavour of the grapes grown on their vineyards – and the wine made from them – to reflect the unique natural environment provided by Tokaj-Hegyalja.
When asked, „What was it like to be a young winemaker 30 years ago?”, Károly Áts responded with many humorous and instructive stories, whilst Dóra outlined the challenges of the present day. Modern machinery and technology make physical labour easier, but a generational shift does not mean abandoning traditions. The new channels and online platforms needed to reach consumers are indispensable, but they only hit the mark if the brand has a solid foundation: the perfect wine and a good story.
The students tasted four wines from the Áts Winery, enabling them to experience for themselves that the presenters„ philosophy – namely, ”the wine we nurture with our own hands must be authentic’ – holds true with every sip.
