Zsirai Winery, Mád

This building already existed in the 1800s, as shown by the lithograph featured in the 1867 ‘Tokaj-hegyalja Album’. It depicts a delicate, two-storey terrace structure in front of the façade, the upper level of which is covered by a canvas roof; a gentleman and some ladies are strolling in front of the building, whilst in the background the cellar entrances – which still exist today – and a view of Mád with its churches can be seen. In the decades following the war, the wine house was altered beyond recognition; its treasures were either removed or destroyed. When restoring the building, our top priority was to restore its original condition and character. As with so many old houses, we had to strip away the layers of unsuitable additions that had built up over time and bring out the house’s true, inherent spirit. From beneath the plaster, the old openings, stone frames, the stone balcony slab leading down to the cellar and other fascinating details were revealed. We restored these and also recreated the original terraces on the gable end with a new timber structure. Wine-making and tasting rooms have been created on the ground floor, in the cellar and in the new basement, whilst guest rooms have been fitted out in the attic.