The wine-growing region lies on the southern shore of Lake Balaton (Plattensee) in Hungary. There is evidence that viticulture was practised here as early as the first century in Roman times. The area was formed in 1977 from the better quality areas of Zala County with the river of the same name. In the period 1999 to 2012 the wine-growing area was called "Balatonmellék" and since 2012 it has been called Zala again. It is divided into the three areas of Csáford, Szentgyörgyvár and Mura. The vineyards cover around 2,200 hectares of vines on brown forest soil. The most important white wine varieties are Chardonnay, Olaszrizling Welschriesling), Rizlingszilváni Müller-Thurgau) and Zöld Veltelini (Grüner Veltliner), the most important red wine varieties are Kék OportóBlauer Portugieser) and Zweigelt. Well-known producers are Bussay László and Vinum Veress.
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Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena