Debrecen4U
January 19, 2026
The 2026 Debrecen City Wines Have Been Chosen
The winners of the seven categories will represent Debrecen and the finest achievements of Hungarian wine culture for one year at the city’s official events, gastro-cultural programs, and representational occasions.
In total, 418 wines from 111 wineries across 17 wine regions were entered in the first round, and ultimately the jury selected the category winners from 118 wines representing 32 wineries from 17 wine regions. The award-winning wine selection for 2026 was presented on Friday, January 16.
Pál Kovács, a full member of the Hungarian Wine Academy, explained that throughout the entire process the wines are tasted in such a way—during preparation as well—that no one has any idea what is in the glass: where the wine comes from, who made it, which vintage it is, or from which grape variety.
In the end, seven outstanding wines from seven wine regions and seven wineries will represent the cívis city in the wider world in 2026.
The winning entries came from the Sopron, Pécs, Eger, Kunság, Hajós–Baja, Villány, and Tokaj wine regions. The sparkling wine, rosé, white and red wines, as well as the sweet wine, will appear together for a year at Debrecen’s flagship events, official occasions, and culinary cultural programs—meaning that these wines will thus become focal points of connection.
“We truly consider it important that our events create encounters, real values, and real moments that add something to our everyday lives,” said Zita Dobos, Managing Director of Főnix Event Organizer Nonprofit Ltd.
The Debrecen City Wine competition has been held since 2015 with the professional coordination of Debreceni Borozó Magazine.
“I consider it very important that cities which are of decisive significance in terms of Hungary’s winemaking traditions also lend their support to the cause of Hungarian wine, and this is why we felt it was important to launch this competition,” said Mayor László Papp.
The public will be able to taste Debrecen’s top wines of the year for the first time at the city ball on January 24.
Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)
