Diplomats' vintage: Ambassador Greg Dorey becomes Wine Knight

In Hungary the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annually organise a vintage for diplomats posted in the country.

There are 22 wine regions in Hungary, and this year the diplomats’ vintage took place in the Ászár-Neszmély wine region of Northern Hungary at the premises of Hilltop Winery in Neszmély on 12 September. I was lucky to be able to accompany Greg, our Ambassador, to this special event in my capacity of being the Agriculture Attaché of the British Embassy.

The weather was gracious with us: despite meteorologists’ prediction of rain, we enjoyed blue skies and golden sunshine. The Winery is beautifully located on top of the Melegeshegy, surrounded by sunny slopes and lively green vineyards with matured white and red grapes, and the whole area is embraced by the peaceful waves of the River Danube. Hilltop has an important relationship with the UK - some 6 million bottles are shipped there annually and the owner worked in Britain for a decade.

The day was a great opportunity to network with contacts from the Ministries, diplomats, local dignitaries such as the Mayor and wine experts. After welcome speeches, the diplomats had an opportunity to join Agriculture Minister József Gráf in harvesting grapes on the Szürkebarát vineyard. For reasons I will come to, Greg, the Minister and a Dutch colleague were filmed doing this work by national TV.

Then after a fascinating horse show and delicious lunch (during which a few wines were tasted!) we reached what was for our delegation the most exciting part of the event - the initiation ceremony to the King Zsigmond Wine Order of Knighthood (Zsigmond Király Borlovagrend).

Greg and our Dutch colleague were required to complete several tests, including a blind tasting to select the flagship wine of the Order of Knighthood, the Neszmélyi Olaszrizling (a wine that symbolises loyalty and reliability). Having done so with dignity and success, Greg was received into the knighthood. His speech of acceptance was in Hungarian, which was very well received by the locals present. Arise, Sir Greg!

Dora Kulauzov
Economic, Trade and Agriculture Attaché
16 September 2009