Wetzer Péter – Furmint

Wetzer Furmint: A Volcanic Natural White Wine from Somló

Wetzer Furmint is a handcrafted, minimal-intervention natural white wine made by Péter Wetzer, a winemaker based in Sopron, most often sourced from the famous volcanic Nagy-Somló wine region. Although the winemaker's home base and main red wine plots — Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir — are in Sopron, he deliberately seeks out the expression of this unique volcanic terroir through Furmint.

The Origins of Wetzer Furmint: The Volcanic Slopes of Somló

The grapes come mostly from the eastern, cooler slopes of the Szent Márton vineyard in Somló, and partly from the neighboring extinct volcano of Ság-hegy. On rarer occasions, the winemaker also produces a Furmint from the Tokaj wine region. Both areas have volcanic-origin soils that lend the wine a distinctive character, clearly noticeable in the finished product.

Winemaking: Handcrafted from Harvest to Bottle

Strictly organic farming and hand harvesting define the work. In the cellar, traditional foot treading and basket pressing are followed by spontaneous fermentation, after which the wine ages for about 8 months in used 500-liter oak barrels on fine lees. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal added sulfur, preserving the grape's raw, honest character.

Tasting Notes

A characterful, taut, dry white wine with firm acidity. Quince, citrus, and green apple notes intertwine with a distinct salty-smoky minerality from the volcanic soil, finishing with a subtle herbal note.

Food Pairing

Thanks to its taut acidity and salty-smoky minerality, this wine can pair beautifully with seafood, shellfish dishes, goat cheese, or grilled vegetables.

If you enjoy minimal-intervention natural wines that express volcanic terroir, it's worth trying other BTW wine as well, these wines reflect the same terroir-driven, handcrafted winemaking philosophy. You can read more about the volcanic character of the Somló wine region here.