Organic Winery from the Wine Region of Pécs

Near Pécs, we are at one of the warmest sub-Mediterranean wine-growing region in Hungary, where on the sunny foothills of the Mecsek lays Szajk and the vineyards of the Hárs cellar.

The Hárs brothers, József and Tibor's winery is a family heritage which goes back to centuries, and which is now continued as a beautiful family tradition.

After the collapse of industrialised viticulture in 1990, the family gradually acquired the 20 ha of land. Their strategic aim was to completely renovate the area, which was a subject to their financial possibilities. The adverse consequence of the annualy plantations is the wide range selection, first the worldwide-known varieties were planted: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, then the hungaricums followed: Riesling, Juhfark, Királyleányka, Hárslevelű, Bianka, later -due to the impact of Villany-: Portugieser, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon came. The last varieties were the Cirfandli and new resistant, interspecific vines from The Research Institute for Viticulture at Pécs.

The brothers are committed to the sustainable, ecological farming, thanks to that ,on the nearly 20 hectares of vineyards, the plant protection avoids any harmful chemicals for more than 15 years now.
Luckily the natural and micro-climatic conditions uniquely facilitate the application of the principles of organic farming to viticulture, so high-quality, chemical-free grape provides the raw material for organic wine and must production.

What have moved the brothers towards organic farming? "Working in the industrialised agriculture for several decades, made me recognize the caused environmental damage and the lobby of the chemical industry. I have also been influenced by the lifestyle of my family and friends and the broad accessible domestic and foreign literature. Additionally, the principle of the harmony with nature was more important, than the assumed yield."- Tibor.

The natural organic farming was followed by controlled organic production, which in contrast with cost increases, did not result any financial benefit. Building on the national agri-environmental incentives, they tried to find partners and followers, but the anomalies of the implementation set the others back. However, today in the face the economical crisis of the viticulture, organic farming can be a breakout (survival) option.

The ecological approach continues in the cellar, the organical methods, technology and the cold-fermented reductive processes result that these organic wines retain fruity aroma and taste." The goal of the winemaking is to respect traditions and complement it with self-developed modern technologies (like controlled fermentation) so the resulting wine preserves the natural values of the area, the variety and the vintage."