A NAGY BAJUSZÚ JÁSZ LACI

Laci Jász founded the “Nagy Bajuszú Jász Laci Pincéje” (The Big Mustached Jász Laci’s Winery) in 2013 on Somló hill, an extinct volcanic butte in western Hungary. His two first wines were both unique skin contact styles: an orange wine and a síller (minimal skin contact red). Shortly thereafter, he completed degrees in winemaking and viticulture. His thesis was on low-sulfur winemaking and the Kartulian (Georgian) winemaking method. Now, he only makes wines that spend time on their skins (orange wines) in accordance with these ancient methods. He adds zero or very little sulfur in the cellar. “These wines can be divisive, but they are always exciting,” he says.

According to Laci, every varietal can be grown on Somló if he imagines it there. While the winery works with the classic varietals found on the hill - Juhfark, Olaszrizling, Hárslevelű, Furmint - he is also open to others, such as Zöld Veltelini or Rajnai Rizling.

When asked about the ethos of his winery, he referred to a quote from Béla Hamvas: “A man needs to create a work of art of himself to exist in it in eternity …a work of art is woven from the material of life, creating a dense and finalized form of the eternal.”

Vineyard size: 2.5 hectares

Grapes: Olaszrizling, Furmint, Hárslevelű, Zöld Veltelini, Juhfark

Soil And Terroir: Volcanic basalt and rhyolite tuff