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    Winemaker

    Mihály Figula

    Discipline
    Winemaker
    Portrait of Mihály Figula

    Portrait of Mihály Figula

    i. Biography

    Mihály Figula works as winemaker at Figula Winery in Balatonfüred, Hungary, where the wines are built around place rather than imposed style. The job, in his hands, is to keep the vineyard legible in the glass and to let the growing area set the terms.

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    The Climb

    At Figula Winery, the winemaker’s role is both daily work and long view, and Mihály Figula sits in that position with a steady, accumulative sort of practice. The shape of the work suggests a method based on attention, restraint, and consistency: not chasing effect, but translating Balatonfüred with clarity.

    Today

    Place is the governing principle in Mihály Figula’s winemaking at Figula Winery. His own words make that plain: "The most important aspect in making our wines is to highlight the characteristics of the growing area." That approach keeps the focus on what is already present in the vineyard, using the cellar to reveal rather than overwrite. The result is a style built on nuance, with the growing area staying audible in the finished wine.

    Signature

    Mihály Figula’s signature wines include Sóskút Olaszrizling 2022, Köves 2016, and Öreghegy Olaszrizling 2022. The common thread is not variety alone, but a method of handling Olaszrizling with precision and respect for site. Across these vintages, the wines point to structure, character, and the specific marks of origin that Figula Winery aims to keep in view.

    In Their Words “We are very happy, especially as we have sworn an oath to Olaszrizling, and thanks to this award, not only this specific wine will receive more attention, but also the variety.” “The most important aspect in making our wines is to highlight the characteristics of the growing area.” Taken together, these lines show a winemaking standard rooted in the grape and the place rather than in ornament.

    Recognition

    Winemaker of the Year sits alongside the work itself as the clearest public recognition for Mihály Figula. It reads as confirmation of a practice already visible in the wines: disciplined, place-led, and centered on the character of the site.

    ii

    FAQ

    Asked of Mihály

    • What recognition has Mihály Figula received?

      Winemaker of the Year (2000).

    • What is Mihály Figula known for?

      Olaszrizling.

    The Sunday email

    Read about winemakers like Mihály Figula in the Sunday email.

    Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.

    See a sample of the Sunday email

    Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.