Sziegl Pince Bábel

In Hungarian, pince means cellar. But at Sziegl Pince, it means family, chemistry, and layered creativity. Husband-and-wife team Balázs (in the vines) and Petra (in the cellar) launched their organic, low-intervention winery in 2012 in Hungary’s sun-drenched south, near the Serbian border. Here, they craft wines that are anything but traditional—especially “Bábel.”

This wine is a Siller—a style somewhere between rosé and light red that’s beloved in Hungary and Germany. A vibrant co-ferment of Kékfrankos, Zweigelt, and Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s built through 8–10 different harvest passes, short macerations, and super gentle pressings. The musts are layered and fermented together like a “tower of Babel”—a structured, intentional, and beautifully chaotic fermentation that’s bottled completely unfiltered.

The result? Pure Hungarian hedonism. It bursts with wild raspberry, sun-warmed cherry, and salt-rubbed lime zest. Dust of black pepper, crushed anise seed, and a wisp of woodsmoke. A zingy, pétillant-like prickle carries it all on a vibrant, smoky finish. It’s vibrant, peppery, and dangerously drinkable.

Pair with spicy lamb kebabs, grilled mushrooms with rosemary, or the triumphant moment you finally catch a fish you’ll cook over an open flame.