Hungary is one of the traditional wine growing countries of Europe.

Leaf imprints provide evidence that grapevine is native in the Carpathian Basin. Archeological findings make it very likely that, between the fifth and first centuries B.C., Celts living in the region cultivated the vine here. As for the Romans invading the province Pannonia, i.e. Transdanubia, between 14 and 9 B.C., the proofs of vine cultivation are more solid.

A decree of Ceasar Domitianus in 92 A.D. aimed at hindering the expansion of vine plantings in Pannonia.

Before arriving to the Carpathian Basin, migrating Hungarians became familiar with the hints of preparation and learned to enjoy the wine already. This is backed by the fact that a number of words related to wine making, e.g. grapevine, lees, cask, filtering, etc., are of turkish origin and even the word meaning wine, "bor" is unique, not being, as opposed to what is common in Europe, related with the latin word "vinum".

As the country was Christianized, Hungarian wine making developed according to the European model. Monks brought grape cultivation and vinification techniques and tought how to prepare wine needed for the Christian liturgy.

With the series of invasions and wars, Hungarian history has not always provided optimal conditions for a florishing grape growing. The survival of the grape growers and wine makers after the onslaught of the Mongols, the Ottoman occupation, the Habsburg rule, the phylloxera infestation and the effects of the Trianon Treaty is a proof of their endurance. During resettlement of the regions devastated by the warfare, foreigners, like Walloons, Italians, Serbs and Swabians, brought with them some elements of their grape and wine culture.

In respect to its technical level, Hungarian wine making belonged to the top class of Europe and the world during Mátyás' rule (1458-90) and at the end of the 19th century.

At present, like so many times during its 1100 years old history, grape growing and wine making in Hungary is going through a transformation. Leaving behind the strategy of the 1970s and 1980s aimed at the production of large quantities, production of individual wines based on the excellent ecological conditions, up-to-date technology and guaranteed origin as well as the sophisticated markeing came to the fore. In 1994, the system of the wine communities, a self governing body of the producers and traders was re-established. Since 1997, the sector is, once again, regulated on the highest legal level. On the eve of the accession to the European Union, the Hungarian wine sector prepares itself to meet the challenges of the third millennium. For sure, successfully.