Phytoplasma Disease Threatens the Heart of Hungarian Wine Country
Budapest, October 2025 – Hungary’s world-renowned vineyards are facing one of their most serious challenges in decades. Authorities have confirmed that Flavescence dorée (FD) — a vine disease caused by a phytoplasma and spread by the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus — has been detected in nearly all of the country’s major wine-growing regions. The outbreak threatens to devastate Hungary’s winemaking heritage, including the historic Tokaj region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A Rapidly Spreading Crisis
The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) announced that inspectors have found infected vines in at least 21 of Hungary’s 22 wine regions. The disease has been confirmed in key counties including Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (home to Tokaj), Heves, and Zala.
In response, more than 200 inspection teams have been deployed across the country, joined by drones and mobile diagnostic units to identify and isolate infected plots. Authorities are also enforcing compulsory uprooting of diseased vines and pesticide treatment to combat the leafhopper vector.
“A few infected vines can turn into hundreds within two years,” warned an agricultural analyst quoted by Agronews.ua. “If this isn’t contained, the disease could spread beyond Hungary’s borders, even reaching Ukrainian vineyards.”
No Cure in Sight
Flavescence dorée is a highly contagious grapevine disease that disrupts the plant’s growth, weakens shoots, and causes leaves to yellow and curl. There is no known cure. The only effective countermeasures are early detection, eradication of infected vines, and strict control of the insect carriers.
The Hungarian government has allocated 3.8 billion forints (around $11 million) to fund emergency inspections, pesticide programs, and compensation for affected growers. Yet experts warn that such measures may only slow — not stop — the disease.
Impact on Hungary’s Wine Heritage
The situation is particularly worrying for the Tokaj region, famed for its sweet Aszú wines and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002. A serious FD outbreak here would strike at the heart of Hungarian viticulture and could have far-reaching economic and cultural consequences.
Other prominent regions, including Sopron near the Austrian border and Somló near Lake Balaton, have also reported infections. In Zala County, winemaker Dorottya Bussay of the Bussay Winery said her family’s vineyards had already collapsed:
“From next year, we won’t have a single vine left. We’ll have to uproot everything,” she wrote in a letter to colleagues.
Local media outlets such as Hungary Today and Daily News Hungary have described the outbreak as a “crisis threatening the very future of Hungarian viticulture and rural development.” While some reports have sought to reassure that infected vines are being removed in time, agricultural officials concede that the full scale of the epidemic is still unknown.
An Unprecedented Response
The fight against FD has prompted an “unprecedented collaboration” between farmers, researchers, and government agencies. The National Chamber of Agriculture, local councils, and winemakers have jointly mapped more than 8,000 hectares of vineyards in recent weeks.
Drones equipped with thermal imaging are being used to detect early signs of infection, while neglected or abandoned vineyards — considered breeding grounds for the insect vector — are being cleared. The government is also fast-tracking the approval of plant-protection products to aid in pest control.
A Regional Concern
Hungary is not alone in facing this phytoplasma threat. The disease has previously appeared in France, Italy, and Slovenia, but Hungary’s dense and interconnected vineyard landscape makes containment particularly difficult. Agricultural observers in neighboring countries, including Ukraine and Austria, are closely monitoring the situation.
Looking Ahead
For now, Hungary’s winemakers are bracing for an uncertain future. With no cure available and infections spreading quickly, the country’s centuries-old wine industry faces a race against time.
Experts stress that constant monitoring, vector control, and cooperation across borders will be key to preventing Flavescence dorée from becoming a Central European catastrophe.
