Following is an excerpt from my latest for Grape Collective, a Q&A with Gonzalo Iturriaga, chief winemaker for Spain’s Tempos Vega Sicilia, whose portfolio includes Oremus Winery in Hungary’s Tokaj region. Their Mandolás wine is a fine example of what the Furmint grape can be when made in a dry style (Furmint is most famous for its use in sweet Hungarian Tokaj wines).

“The philosophy of Oremus winery is "the best is yet to come," however Mandolás is already a stunning wine. A bottle of the 2018 was a huge hit with my family of five during dinner at Kimika, a new Italian-Japanese restaurant in Manhattan. The wine has an intriguing mix of citrus and tropical fruits, along with a delicately creamy texture. Yet its strongest attribute, the zesty, fresh-squeezed lemon juice-like acidity, is what made it go so beautifully with each dish, from the tuna tartare drizzled with spicy mayo to a perfectly al dente spaghetti tossed with sea urchin and shiso.”

Q&A With Gonzalo Iturriaga on the Dry Furmint Wine of Hungary’s Oremus Winery

Thanks for reading, and I hope you can track down a bottle of this amazing wine, and enjoy it at home or bring it, like I did, to Kimika (40 Kenmare Street in Manhattan), an excellent addition to NYC’s now-struggling dining scene.