Páger Winery: Hungary's Organic & Handcrafted Expression
Páger Winery (also appearing as Pager Winery in some listings) is a family-run estate located in Gyöngyöspata, in the Mátra wine region of Hungary. Established in 2017, Páger Winery has quickly made a name for itself with its strong commitment to eco-conscious viticulture and minimalist winemaking, embodying a philosophy of respecting nature to create honest, unadulterated wines.
Their vineyards are cultivated using strictly organic practices, focusing on non-absorbable agents and traditional methods to maintain vineyard health. The emphasis is on building a living ecosystem within the vineyard, ensuring that the grapes are of the highest quality and truly express their terroir. While specific vineyard acreage isn't widely publicized, their dedication to organic farming is a cornerstone of their identity. Páger Winery cultivates a range of grape varieties suited to the Mátra region, including both international and indigenous grapes. Information from various sources suggests they work with varieties like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), with a particular focus on expressing the pure character of each varietal.
In the cellar, Páger Winery follows a natural wine philosophy, which means they aim for minimal interventionthroughout the winemaking process. This includes:
Handcrafting their wines.
Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, meaning no commercial yeasts are added.
No intervention in the cellar during the entire winemaking process.
Some wines are fermented on the skins (mash fermentation) to extract more character and complexity, especially for white and rosé wines, creating skin-contact or "orange" wines.
Wines are typically unfiltered and unfined, ensuring a raw and authentic expression of the grape and vineyard.
Páger Winery's wines are celebrated for their natural character, vibrant acidity, and clear expression of the Mátra terroir. They represent a new wave of Hungarian winemakers dedicated to low-intervention, high-quality production.
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Hungary (Primary Market):
As a Hungarian winery, their wines are most readily available within Hungary through local wine shops, restaurants, and potentially direct sales from the winery.
United States:
Depanneur Wines (Online US retailer, ships to various states): They list Páger wines among their Hungarian natural wine selection.
https://www.depanneurwines.com/collections/hungary (Search for "PAGER").
Pompette Wine & Spirits (New York, NY): This retailer lists Páger wines.
Specialized Natural Wine Importers: Look for US importers focusing on Central and Eastern European natural wines. These wines are typically found at independent, natural wine-focused shops in major US cities (e.g., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago).