Of German-Hungarian descent the counts of Degenfeld family history leads back to medieval Switzerland. They arrived in Hungary and Transylvania at the start of the 19th century. With their superior estates they played an important role in the history of Tokaj-Hegyalja. One of the most influential Tokaj landowners, Count Imre Degenfeld, was a founding member, of the Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Makers Society established in 1857.
Following the Treaty of Trianon the family split into Transylvanian and Hungarian branches.
After the war the Hungarian heir, Count Sándor Degenfeld, was stripped of his wealth and lived in Romania with his wife, Countess Ágnes Bethlen. In 1964 they emigrated to Germany, where they built-up a new life. Their daughter, Countess Mária Degenfeld married Dr. Thomas Lindner; they have two children Caroline and Moritz.
In 1994 they decided to follow the over a century of traditions and to revive the winery. In order to achieve this they purchased the first-class vineyard and an ancient cellar in Tarcal, near Tokaj.
The 100 hectare estate, is set on the Tarcal Terézia Hill, the Mézesmál dűlő near Mád, and on the edge of Mezőzombor. These vineyards belong to the best grape-growing areas in the whole of Tokaj-Hegyalja.
The buildings bought in the 1872 were, by royal order made the former vintners’ college. The then school building is today a castle hotel, and the venue for practical training now serves as the cellar for maturing the wines.
Following the initial investment the development of the modern winery designed by architect Ferenc Salamin began in 1996. The offices were set in the former press house above the cellar while the grape processing and wine making is carried out in the new part of the attached building.
The family undertook more than just the establishment of the winery. In 1997 they bought the Tokaj main square former Degenfeld Palace, where there is now an elegant restaurant, wine shop, cellar for wine tasting and conference facilities.
Set in the central area of the winery the first four-star hotel in Tokaj-Hegyalja was opened in 2003, following the renovation of the former vintners' training college, the Gróf Degenfeld Castle Hotel.
The owners are committed to continual development and investment in order to ensure that their wines are always of the highest quality when they reach the consumer. They regard it as their mission to spread word of the Tokaj wines and their wine region in the wider world. "The duty of nobility"- mirrors the philosophy of the winery in its outstanding work without compromise.
previous borászat
