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Bethlen Estates
176 Criș, Judetul Mures
Danes-Criș 547201
Transylvania, Romaniabooking@bethlenestates.com
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One of our missions for 2022 is to stock our vaulted cellars with a good selection of some of the finest wines, carefully-curated by a local, renowned sommelier. Our new wine list, together with our vibrant fine dining menu, will delight your senses and bring an extra dash of glamour to your Bethlen Estates experience.
The man behind our new wine list, Szabo Zoltan, is a sommelier and wine director who brings more than 25 years of international experience and is determined to help us develop “one of the most prestigious wine programs in Transylvania.”
“The spectacular wine program we are putting together, along with the fine dining experience envisioned by our chef, Robert Tordai, will put Bethlen Estates on the map of wine and gastronomy afficionados,” Szabo said, in an interview with our communication manager.
“I’ve come aboard to help put together a complex wine program; I call it a program because it’s much more than just a wine list,” he said. “It’s a program comprising staff training, special events, wine tasting and collaborating with chef Robert to create unique pairings – a complete wine and gastronomic experience.”
“We will be focusing on sourcing local wines from the surrounding areas. Chef Robert is keen on creating seasonal and locally-inspired dishes, so local wines are of utmost importance,” he added.
While a local touch has always been important to us at Bethlen Estates, so too is developing rich, worldly experiences for our guests. This is where Szabo’s expertise really shone through.
In addition to an array of local wines, the new program will include a wide variety of international wines, including Hungarian, Austrian French, Italian, and others. “I don’t want to give away all the details,” Szabo said. “But I want to launch an invitation to Bethlen Estates’ distinguished clients to come and explore the list.”
“There are a surprising number of new wineries and new investors producing excellent wines here, so the opportunities are numerous and exciting,” Szabo said. “I personally see a huge jump in the quality of Romanian wines. In the last four years I have tasted some that are as good – or even better – than many other, prestigious international wines.”
“There are many ways to taste wine, but it ultimately comes down to the individual preference. I would suggest having a look at the colour and appearance of the wine, then take in the bouquet – and focus on the aromas, swirl it around a little bit and then taste and detect the flavours,” he added.
Szabo opined that a top wine experience ultimately culminates with a long finish, the moment of lingering aromas and flavours.
“The longer the finish, the more pleasure it offers and indicates the better quality of the wine usually,” he said. “Overall, you are looking for balance … the good ones have a balance between its structural elements – aroma, flavour, acidity, tannin, alcohol and residual sugar if it’s a case.”
“Transylvanian wine is unique with its indigenous varieties found nowhere else in the world,” Szabo said, and noted that Bethlen Estate’s is a “stone’s-throw from the country’s best vineyard areas” which make it easily accessible for guests “to get an intimate sense of the place.”
“Transylvania is the home of a wide range of local grape varieties that thrive in this climate, and result in particularly elegant, light and fresh wines,” Szabo said. “The outstanding terroir (local conditions) of Transylvania can be observed through the local wine’s distinctive personalities.”
Bethlen Estates
176 Criș, Judetul Mures
Danes-Criș 547201
Transylvania, Romania
booking@bethlenestates.com
+40 767 374 998
booking@bethlenestates.com
176 Cris, Judetul Mures,
Danes-Cris 547201,
Transylvania, Romania
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