Jásdi Cellar and Wine Terrace

Jásdi Cellar stands in Csopak at Arany János utca 2., above the valley between Csopak and Paloznak. The wine terrace is surrounded by lake-facing vineyards, Siralomvágó, Lőczedomb and Sáfránkert, with Lake Balaton below. It belongs to István and Mária Jásdi, who bought the ruined building in 1998 and have since built one of Csopak’s best-known wineries in it.

A bishop’s wine estate revived

The cellar was built at the end of the 18th century and from 1849 was the centre of the family wine estate of János Ranolder, Bishop of Veszprém. According to the winery, this is where Csopak’s reputation was founded: the bishop’s estates were the first to separate the mixed white varieties of Balaton, and the wines were known in Vienna, Pressburg, Warsaw and Pest. After phylloxera the wine merchant Salamon Hűvös farmed here; his vine-dresser István Bakonyi lived in the vine-dresser’s house, where his son Károly Bakonyi, breeder of the Cserszegi fűszeres grape, was born.

After fifty years of state neglect the Jásdi family took over the buildings almost in ruins. They restored the classicist house and the 40-metre stone cellar and installed modern winemaking equipment. In 2000 the Balaton Uplands National Park named it the most beautiful cellar of the region. The panoramic tasting room and terrace opened in 2011.

Olaszrizling the Csopak way

The estate covers 17 hectares, mostly Olaszrizling. The most prized vineyard is the 2.5-hectare Siralomvágó behind the house: layers of limestone, marl, dolomite and red Permian sandstone, source of the winery’s most concentrated, longest-lived wines. The cross at the end of the vineyard was raised by Bishop Ranolder in 1863. “Great wines are only born in vineyards this hard to work,” writes the winery. They also farm Lőczedomb’s red sandstone, Nagykút and Bene.

The everyday wine is the Csopaki Olaszrizling; the top wines are Siralomvágó and Lőczedombi Olaszrizling. Ranolder White, a Furmint and Olaszrizling blend made since 2002, carries a baroque label like the Ranolder wines of 150 years ago. There is also Nagykút Chardonnay, Szürkebarát, Furmint, Terasz cuvée, rosé, Kékfrankos and Cabernet Franc. Csopak hill wine is now an EU protected designation of origin, which the winery credits to local cooperation and the Olaszrizling szerintünk meetings.

The Wine Terrace

The principle is simple: this is first of all a winery, and the kitchen is there to round off the tasting. Wines are served in crystal glasses at the right temperature, with a daily cold platter of Serrano and Mangalica ham, homemade goat, sheep and cow cheeses, seasonal vegetables and fresh bread. From October to April a six-wine tasting with a cellar visit is available, with homemade bread and olive oil.

The terrace is recommended all year: in winter snow, at almond blossom, on summer sunsets and at harvest. The interior combines old furniture with a clean modern style.

Events and Vinotéka

In January the winery hosts the Olaszrizling szerintünk walking tasting, where Balaton Uplands wineries present their Olaszrizlings. In July there is a Tuesday evening literary wine night in the courtyard, and in winter a winemakers’ table on Mondays. Beside Route 71, at Mandulavirág utca 2., the Jásdi Vinotéka and Wine Bar sells and pours the full range, in the garden in summer and by the stove in winter.

Who it is for

Wine lovers who want to get to know Csopak Olaszrizling at its source, couples for a sunset tasting, and anyone looking for a light, quality cold platter and a good glass with a view. For a hearty hot meal, choose another place in Csopak.

Prices

The winery’s website does not list prices. Most Tripadvisor reviewers find them fair.