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Lake Balaton in Hungary is the largest fresh water lake in western and central Europe. Here one can do more than just go for a swim during summertime. It is also the wine regions around Lake Balaton, also called the “Hungarian Sea”, which make the trip unforgettable - at least for those people who enjoy delicious wines. A variety of Wine Roads around the lake invite to enjoy the wine as well as to have a great time discovering the region on a motorcycle.
If you made it as far as Lake Balaton and you have planned some extra time for a tour, it is your choice where you like to begin the round trip. This short motorcycle wine-discovery-tour starts at the northern shores of the lake, in Balatonfured. Leaving the town, the tour leads to the wine grower’s region of Balatonfured-Csopak.
The famous Welsh Riesling thrives here. On the peninsula Tihany, which belongs to the same region, grows the only traditional red wine in Balaton’s uplands. Therefore one just shouldn’t avoid stopping in for a short visit, especially since this region offers breathtaking scenery for enjoying a delicious glass of wine. No matter if one prefers red or white wine - fans of both kinds won’t regret the stop.
The same can be said about the food. How about for example a Csopaker Kellerprokoelt (Goulash) with a glass of Merlot Tihanyer? Or would you rather enjoy a dish of stuffed veal with some Welsh Riesling? Besides the delicious tastes, one should not forget about the grand possibilities of riding the motorcycle through the Balaton scenery. Therefore - get on your bike and start riding. After leaving the peninsula Tihany and the abbey of the same name, the tour continues via Oervenyes, Balatonnudvari and Balatonalkali following the western shores to Kesthely towards the wine grower’s region of Badacsony.
The slopes facing the south are backed by mountains to the north. Their foothills touch the lake. Sweet grapes grow on these vines. Therefore one finds aromatic and flavorful wines in Badcsony. Have a try if you like. Maybe you would like to enjoy a Badacsonyer mutton pot roast and corn polenta with it? If you are saving room for some other delicacies, you’ll find a variety of “wine stops” along the southern shores of the “Hungarian Sea”.
Leaving the wine grower’s region Badacsony and the village of Kesthely the route continues through Balatonszentgyoergy, Balatonbereny and Fonyod to Balatonboglar. Here one reaches the “gate” to the wine region along the southern Balaton. A number of different vines grow on the shallow slopes along the southern shores. Wine grower offer wines with light as well as with distinctive flavors. Depending on the preferences of the taster, this region offers semi-sweet and sweet wines. Delicious food makes a meal perfect; for example “Regoes”, a fish soup with pieces of carp in it.
If you are interested to try it, you’ll surely find the dish on the menu in one of the altogether seven certified Wine Road restaurants. The same applies for the wine, which is also offered in 26 wine tasting shops. Therefore it is not necessary to try all of the above in Balatonboglar. The Wine Road in south Balaton further includes the towns of Balatonlelle, Kethely, Koroeshegy and Szolosgyoeroek. They can all be discovered by motorcycle.
This region is formed by its vineyards and either of the towns along the Wine Road offers attractive stops for anyone enjoying wine. The same can be said about accommodation. Depending on one’s taste and money, one will definitely be able to find an appropriate bed for the night from where one can start off to another motorcycle tour through Hungary. But before the tour around Lake Balaton and its wine regions is completed, one should ride around the eastern shores of the lake to finally reach Balatonfured again. |
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|  | Start and finish: Balatonfured/ Hungary
| | | Duration: 1 day
| | | Kilometer: app. 160
| | | Best season: summer until fall
| | | Google Maps Data |
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