Quality wine and quality music at this year’s Debrecen Wine and Jazz Days
Fifty wineries from twenty-two Hungarian wine regions will be presented under the trees of the Great Forest between July 31 and August 2, while visitors can listen to the cutting edge of Hungarian jazz.
The jazz festival, which has been combining the best of wine and jazz under the name Debrecen Wine and Jazz Days since 2015, boasts a history spanning more than five decades, offering a unique experience for lovers of high-quality entertainment.
At Lake Békás, in the natural embrace of the Great Forest, cool foliage during the day, and a forest of light and jazz melodies welcome visitors in the evening. One of the largest wine festivals and jazz events in the country will once again unite two worlds this year: a three-day wine and music journey where all the senses are engaged.
At the press conference on Wednesday evening, Mayor László Papp stated that the Wine and Jazz Days are a traditional summer event in Debrecen, having been held since 1972. According to the city leader, Lake Békás is a venue with an unparalleled atmosphere. “The Great Forest is in the heart of every Debrecen resident, and if it is spiced up with a little wine and a little jazz, then nothing more is needed, so this is the place for everyone from Debrecen,” he added.
At this year’s Debrecen Wine and Jazz Days, every Hungarian wine region (Balaton, Danube, Upper Pannonian, Upper Hungary, Pannonian, and Tokaj) and the defining historical wine regions of the Carpathian Basin are represented. Transylvania and Upper Hungary, as well as selected items from wineries in Marlborough (New Zealand), Champagne (France), Trento (Italy), and the Comtats de Barcelona (Spain), have been included in the offer.
Guests can get acquainted with wines from wineries in a total of seventeen Hungarian, four cross-border wine regions, and four foreign countries; there has never been an example of a wine tour of this scale, spanning time and space in Debrecen.
Fifty wineries await visitors in 35 wooden houses, transforming the Great Forest into a real “wine map”: with a glass in hand and immersed in conversation, guests can get to know the winemakers, wineries, and the hidden treasures of the wine regions and delve into the world of Hungarian and international wine culture according to their taste. Guests can learn about the special character of volcanic wine regions, the philosophy of bioorganic wineries, and this year’s featured grape variety, Italian Riesling.
For the first time this year, a Hungarian grape variety will take centre stage, with the Italian Riesling offering surprises and discoveries for everyone. The Italian Riesling is one of the most important white grape varieties in the Carpathian Basin. In recent years, it has also emerged as a leading contender in international wine competitions. At the 2024 GROW du Monde competition (one of the organisers of which is wine expert and member of the professional team of the Wine and Jazz Days, Zoltán Győrffy), several Hungarian wines achieved outstanding success out of 349 wines from 7 countries.
The winning wines of the Debrecen City Wine 2025 competition will be presented in the VisitDebrecen wooden house, including the Törley François President Brut, the Koch Cserszegi Fűszeres, the Thummerer Cabernet Sauvignon Superior, the Bujdosó Italian Riesling Selection, and the Naár 6 “puttonyos” Aszú wines. In addition to all this, Debrecen will be the Hungarian capital of jazz, as forty formations and 190 musicians will perform in the Great Forest over three days.
The musical programme will feature the cream of Hungarian jazz with both experienced masters and emerging talents. One of the most exciting formations on the Hungarian Latin jazz scene, the Révész Richárd Latin Sextett, will bring the passion of the tropics to the Hungarian stage for one evening, featuring guest appearances by Cuban artists. Meanwhile, the Peet Project will showcase its Billboard chart successes.
The Oláh Kálmán Trio will perform with American saxophonist Tim Ries, who accompanied the Stones on two world tours as a member of the Rolling Stones and has also worked with such excellent artists as John Patitucci, Stevie Wonder, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and David Lee Roth.
The joint concert of the Sárik Péter Trio and Nikoletta Szőke will reinterpret the world’s most famous pop hits in the language of jazz. The show invites the audience on a musical journey through time, featuring iconic songs by ABBA, the Beatles, Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Adele, Queen, and Alphaville, played in a completely new yet familiar sound. Other notable performers at the festival, such as Enyedi Sugárka Jazz Tett, will bring the audience lively Latin jazz. Honky Crew, featuring Dani Milano, will create a Gatsby vibe with their electro swing, and Malek Andi Soulistic will blend Hungarian folk music, jazz, and Latin rhythms for a heartfelt concert experience. The premiere of his latest album will be held by Tamás Tettamanti, who will present his new album for the first time in Debrecen with his progressive jazz formation.
The managing director of Főnix Rendezvényszervező Kft., Zita Dobos, announced that in 2025, a series of master classes will be available for those seriously interested in wine. Iconic figures from the world of wine will introduce visitors to the most exciting secrets of winemaking in their style, through guided tastings. These programmes not only provide learning opportunities, but also genuine community and inspiring experiences.
In addition, wine yoga, champagne shows, and wine tasting experiences add variety to the offerings.
The Galiba Kids Corner will welcome families, while the country’s best restaurants and street food exhibitors will provide culinary experiences at the gastronomic stands.
Information about the Debrecen Wine and Jazz Days is available on the Festival’s website and its Facebook page.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu