The Vince's Day weekend spent in Mád offered us an unforgettable gastronomic tour , during which the Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse provided us with accommodation. The weekend was full of culinary delights and wine adventures, which included the abundant breakfasts, the bottle search in the Szent Tamás vineyard, the cellar visit in the Holdvölgy Cellar , the exclusive aszú tasting in Édes Mádkám , and the gourmet dinner prepared by Gastrokakas . The busy schedule also included filming two interviews with István Szepsy Jr. The article introduces you in detail to the magical world of Mád and tells about the experiences we had in the world of local gastronomy and wines.
Arrival in Máda: under the spell of the Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse
The Vince's Day weekend spent in Mád was a special trip to the world of gastronomy and wines. The weekend started on Friday evening, when we arrived in the wonderful small town of Mád and booked our accommodation in the cozy Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse. A few seconds after our arrival, we already had the Furmint champagne from Demetervin Winery served as a welcome drink in our hands , with which we tuned in to the family dinner that our hosts were waiting for. The guest house captivated you from the first moment with its rural charm and hospitality. One of our favorite details in the beautifully renovated guest house is how the original, raw wall and beam structure of the almost 200-year-old building meets the family atmosphere and modern design of the space.
Saturday morning: breakfast and Vince's Day programs on Mád
Saturday morning we started the day with a generous continental breakfast. The Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse offered masterpieces of culinary art, including locally made mutton curd puliska, fresh cold meats and even better snacks. Breakfast was a perfect mix of traditional and modern cuisine, preparing us to explore the day ahead.
One of the focal points of the weekend was the Vince Day programs in Mád, which celebrated Mád's rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. The bottle search in the Szent Tamás vineyard and the blessing of the vines were unique and traditional events that gave a deeper insight into local customs and traditions.
Holdvölgy Cellar: special cellar visit and wine tasting
Saturday continued with a visit to the Holdvölgy Cellar, where Mád's most extensive cellar system was revealed to us. This cellar was not only a place to store wines, but also a time travel. During the tour, we also had the opportunity to walk through halls where II. Nobles of Ferenc Rákóczi's time and their families gathered for dinners and parties. It was an incredible experience to walk in a space with such a long history. During the visit to the cellar combined with the wine tasting, we had to use a treasure-hunting map to find the wines hidden in the extensive corridors, which were explained in detail by the tour leader during the tasting. Thanks to this playful element, the children who strengthened our team also had a good time.
The cellar is located on different levels of depth. Its deepest point is at 18 meters, but the climate here is not suitable for storing still wines because it is too cold. What it would be especially suitable for is the maturation of bottled champagne, so it is possible that we can expect this from the cellar in the future. During the wine tasting here, we got to know the winery's exceptional wines, which showed every corner of Mád's terroir.
Vinum Voyage interviews with István Szepsy Jr
After the memorable visit to the cellar, we walked over to the Demetervin Cellar, where we attended Zsolt Borbély's book presentation, which was titled The Carpathian Basin Restaurant Guide. This was followed by one of the highlights of the weekend, as we had the opportunity to conduct two short interviews with István Szepsy Jr. Our honest and cheerful conversations about the Mádi Circle and the Szepsy Cellar will be available on Vinum Voyage's YouTube channel in the near future.
Exclusive aszú tasting: Édes Mádkám Restaurant
We started the evening at the Édes Mádkám Restaurant, where we were invited to an exclusive aszú tasting, as we were invited to the tasting organized by the patron members of the Mádi Circle. Here, we only tasted vineyard-selected aszus from the 2017 vintage, with 6 puttons. The eight-item tasting included Szepsy, Barta, Royal Tokaji, Demetervin, Holdvölgy and Tokaj Classic wines. Of course, in most cases the wines were presented by the winemakers or representatives of the given cellar, which further enhanced the light of the event.
Dinner at Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse: Gastrokakas culinary adventure
One of the most convenient features of Mád and the Kiss-Henézi Guesthouse is that everything is within walking distance of each other, so after the aszú tasting, we walked back to the accommodation while discussing the excitement of the tasting. Since we were quite hungry after the active day, we were especially happy when we arrived at the accommodation and saw that the catering car of Gastrokakas was already in the garden, so we knew that Lóránt - the owner of Gastrokakas - was already in the kitchen preparing a four-course dinner for our reception.
We started with an incredible clear broth, followed by a mushroom risotto. As a main course, Lórán served boeuf bourguignon, and as a finale, we had a New York cheesecake accompanied by tart fruit puree. Gastrokakas works with its own equipment and cutlery and uses whatever it can from its own vegetable and fruit garden and poultry yard to prepare its meals. The rest of the evening was spent in a very good atmosphere, with conversations, drinking wine and socializing, before we retired to our rooms after a day full of experiences.
Farewell to Mad
On Sunday morning, we said goodbye to our accommodation with another excellent breakfast. Armed with a rich store of new memories and experiences, we prepared for the journey to Budapest.
This weekend in Mádo was not only about wines and gastronomy, but also unique cultural and historical values. The Vince's Day weekend in Mád was a beautiful display of respect for the local community and wine, which we participants will remember for a long time to come.
You can find weekend programs similar to this, which can be customized according to your needs, in the gastro tours service organized by Vinum Voyage.