Founded in 1998 by Horst Hummel, a Berlin lawyer turned winemaker, Hummel Winery is based in Villány, one of Hungary’s most renowned red wine regions. From the beginning, Hummel’s aim has been to make authentic, characterful wines that express the unique terroir of Villány while moving away from the heavy, rustic style often associated with the region. His wines are known for balance, vitality and precision: vibrant yet structured, elegant yet full of life.

The estate cultivates around 7.5 hectares of vineyards planted mainly with Portugieser, Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. White varieties such as Hárslevelű and Furmint come from leased plots, while Traminer is made from purchased grapes.

Since 2008, the vineyards have been farmed according to organic principles, with biodynamic preparations introduced in 2016. In 2020, Horst developed his own holistic approach, called Natural Synergetic Winegrowing (NSW). This progressive system brings together elements of biodynamics, homeopathy, kinesiology and energetic observation, treating the vineyard and wine as living systems rather than raw materials to be controlled. The goal is to support natural balance and vitality without chemical or physical interventions.

In the cellar, all wines ferment spontaneously with native yeasts. They are unfined, unfiltered and, since 2018, bottled without added sulphur. White wines ferment on their skins for 3 to 20 days depending on the grape and vintage, while reds undergo gentle open-vat fermentations and age on the lees in tanks or old oak barrels for up to two years, sometimes longer. The focus is always on purity, energy and transparency rather than manipulation.

Hummel’s philosophy can be summed up in his own words:

“Viticulture is the art of doing nothing at the right moment — and doing so as often as possible.”

Through patience, observation and deep respect for natural processes, Horst crafts expressive, living wines that reflect Villány’s terroir, the character of each grape variety and the quiet power of nature itself.