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Day 1: Tokaj – Erdőbénye

The sight of vines has been common around Tokaj for centuries. This is where Hungary's most famous wine is made, which has been known and loved throughout Europe since the Middle Ages. Merchants used to transport wine on carts in local barrels made for this purpose. The knowledge and tradition of barrel-making remains the trade secret of the coopers in the area to this day. The Gönc barrel is legendary: you will first meet it at Tokaj World Heritage Wine Museum, where you can see a comprehensive exhibition about the history of Tokaj: from the different soil types through the Gönc barrels to the decorative bottles that ended up on the tables of the aristocracy. Lunch at the restaurant of Yellow Winehouse, right next to the vines, followed by a visit to Disznókő Estate, where you will learn about the local traditions of winemaking. Wine tasting is a compulsory part of the programme. From there, you will travel to Erdőbénye, where cooper Attila Hotyek holds a craft show in his workshop. As the end of the programme, thirsty guests can taste the artisan wines of the family winery. Dinner in Encs at Anyukám Mondta restaurant, where you can taste the house wine alongside the delicious dishes.

Day 2: Telkibánya – Gönc

After an excellent breakfast consisting of local products you will head to Gönc, where you will see the local history exhibition at the Hussite House. Local inhabitants were not only engaged in farming and trade but there were a lot of active craftspeople too. Traces of all the three sectors can be seen on the furniture and the displayed tools, most of which were made locally. A number of potters, wheelmakers, shoemakers, coopers, cobblers, coal burners and millers used to work in Gönc. The glassware was brought from the factories in the Zemplén Mountains while the earthenware and porcelain dishes were made in Telkibánya and Hollóháza. And nearby Kassa had a great influence on the clothing and residential furniture of the townsmen and farmers of Gönc. Part of the exhibition is the so-called "Gönc barrel", the volume of which is 136.6 litres. This barrel served as the standard unit for making Tokaji aszú. The day continues with a visit to Károli Gáspár Museum in Gönc. Lunch in Göncruszka at the restaurant called Tejjel-Mézzel (Milk and Honey). Then we head to Telkibánya, where we learn about the secrets of the trees. During our forest excursion we will find out why the most important parts of the carts were made of hornbeam in the past and what kind of wood coopers preferred to use for making barrels. Barrels were intended not only for wine and speakers, but also for pálinka; entering BESTILLO Pálinka House, it is not the Gönc barrel but the Gönc apricot that you'll be introduced to. Dinner, a guided tour of the brewery and apricot delicacies, all accompanied by noble pálinkas so that this evening will be remembered for a long time!

Day 3: Vizsoly - Abaújszántó

After a guided visit of the Bible in Vizsoly, you will once again meet the Gönc barrels in the exhibition hall of the printing museum next to the church. The erich programme is closed with a grilled lunch and wine tasting in Abaújszántó.