The winter preceding 2025 was mild and dry in the Carpathian Basin. Budbreak began in mid-April, in line with the multi-year average. However, by late April some wine regions (e.g. Central Hungary) experienced sub-zero temperatures, resulting in varying degrees of spring frost damage. Overall, 2025 was slightly cooler than average, with dry conditions in eastern Hungary and relatively wet in the west of the country.
Flowering began around the end of May and early June, as usual. The summer weather was somewhat cooler than average. Veraison, the softening of the berries, started at the expected time for most grape varieties. Eastern Hungary faced extremely dry summer conditions, while to the west of the Danube and in the westernmost wine regions, rainfall was significant, strongly influencing yields.
In drought-stressed vineyards of the east, yields were notably low, whereas in the wetter western regions, harvest volumes were average or above average. In drought-affected plots, ripening was rapid, producing grapes with both high sugar and acidity levels. In better water-retaining vineyards with higher yields, ripening was slower. To achieve the desired must quality, harvest had to be delayed, but heavy rainfall in the second half of September triggered botrytis infections in some varieties, reducing the amount of healthy grapes. Taken together, this means that 2025 will again not be a record-breaking harvest in terms of volume.
This year was particularly special in the Tokaj wine region due to favorable weather conditions. Sunshine hours exceeded last year’s in Tokaj-Hegyalja region, while rainfall remained below expectations. However, early September rains triggered significant noble rot development, allowing aszú berry harvest by late September in Furmint vineyards, alongside Zéta variety.
Further south, in the Danube wine region, some areas such as Kunság were severely affected by drought, with yield losses of up to 20–25%. Smaller yields, however, could still offer excellent quality if harvested in time and with care. For white varieties, sugar levels reached around 18° with balanced acidity, while Pinot Noir and Kadarka were picked with higher sugar content. Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos) was already harvested for rosé, now fermenting in the cellars.
West of the river, in the Pannon wine region, sugar accumulation reached high levels by the end of ripening in many varieties. For example, Irsai Olivér recorded 16° must level, while the resistant type of Solaris reached 22° in Szekszárd. The intense summer heat accelerated acid degradation, so winemakers hurried with harvests to preserve acidity.
Moving north, along Lake Balaton’s southern shore, producers expect even fruitier and more aromatic wines than last year, thanks to the beneficial effect of rainfall before harvest and cool nights.
In the Upper Pannon wine region, 2025 can be described as a moderately cool vintage. Due to abundant rainfall, ripening was delayed, and harvest of medium and late-ripening varieties was still underway (in mid-September), though early varieties matured well. Unlike last year, when frost caused severe damage, only minimal areas were affected in 2025, suggesting good overall volumes.
Unlike in 2024, long-lasting heatwaves did not occur this year, although high temperatures still posed challenges. The main problem remained drought. One positive side of the dry weather was lower disease pressure, reducing the need for plant protection treatments.
In summary, yields varied according to rainfall distribution. However, grape quality is excellent across most regions this year, characterized by high must sugar levels, high acidity, and lower pH values.
