The Sziegl family started their winery in 2012, with husband Balázs in the vineyards and wife Petra running the cellar and making the wine. (Pince [PEEN-sa] means cellar; it’s a word you see frequently on Hungarian labels.) They are located in Hajós-Baja (HI-yosh-BYE-uh), in southern Hungary, near Serbia. “Bábel” is effectively a Siller (SHILL-er), a style of wine between a light red and a rosé that’s popular in Hungary and Germany. This one is kékfrankos, zweiglet, and cabernet sauvignon. It’s the result of multiple (early) harvest passes, short macerations, multiple processing methods, and super gentle pressing. Everything was then blended together and bottled unfiltered. This wine is Hungarian hedonism: bright cherry fruit, a peppery kick, a little refreshing prickle on the palate. Drink it chilled on a warm day with barbecue or a paella.
