9 Eastern European Countries Making Bang-For-Your-Buck Wines

Vipava Valley, Slovenia, photo courtesy VINUM USA

Exploring unique and modern wines from Eastern Europe that don’t break the bank

As budgets and travel plans continue to shift day to day during the pandemic, a safe bet for international exploration is via some good ol’ fashioned wine drinkin’—no passport needed. These “travel plans” offer a marvelous opportunity to delve into wines from new regions (if you haven’t already) that offer some real bang-for-your-buck. Enter, the wines of Eastern Europe. And you can get them delivered right to your door via wine.com and other delivery services.

These mouthwatering wines spring from breathtaking land amid the Eastern Alps, The Adriatic, and The Black Sea. Lively individuality is pumping through the veins of these lands with the cultivation and experimentation of native and international grapes.

Eastern Europe has morphed from a rocky history into vibrant communities that produce wines full of energy and optimism. Romanian dessert wines (try Liliac & Kracher Ice Wine if you want to want to indulge), fresh-n-fruity beachside reds, funky orange wines, and some native grapes like Hárselvelü (harsh-leh-veh-loo, say that three times fast) all add some pizzaz to this east side story.

Here are the countries making these excellent wines, and some bottles to try:

The Czech Republic

After Czechoslovakia was divided in the early 1990s, The Czech Republic was officially formed. Czech winemaking began centuries ago and after some isolation from the global wine industry viticulture has grown rapidly. Nearly all vineyards (nearly 19,000 HA) are located in Moravia in the southeast, with energetic production sprouting up north in Bohemia. Sauvignon Blanc, Müller Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Sankt Laurent, and Cabernet Sauvignon are all cultivated in The Czech Republic. Unique grapes like rubinet and the Czech-born Sankt Laurent offshoot, sevar, make appearances as well.

Wines to Try:

Krasna Hora Winery Blanc de Noir Rosé 2017 - Moravia ($19)

(NY International Wine Competition, Czech Winery of the Year 2018; Featured at NYC VinExpo 2020)

Pale salmon color and a touch of sweetness make this great for spicy curries.

Porta Bohemica Müller Thurgau 2018 - Bohemia ($19)

It’s unfined, unfiltered, and bursting with apricot-y mineral goodness that epitomizes summer wines.

Slovakia

The other half of former Czechoslovakia also is on the up-and-up as a wineland. Great wine is made throughout the six regions that straddle the southern border, with Tokaj, Malokarpatská, and Južnoslovenská being the most regarded. Tokaj is shared with Slovakia’s southern neighbor, Hungary, in which Slovakian producers can make the famed dessert wine Tokaji-Aszu—but rule-abiding is a must. Blaufrӓnkish, Grüner Veltliner, and Welschriesling are all successfully grown there and occupy most vineyard space.

Wines to try:

Chateau Belá Riesling 2018 - Muszla, Južnoslovenská ($15-$17)

Riesling Royalty Egon Müller puts his stamp on this not-too-rich for your blood bottle of smoky goodness.

Strekov 1075 Fred #4 NV - Strekov, Južnoslovenská ($21-$26)

You’re allowed one “splurge” and this funky, crown-capped, splendid native grape blend of Alibernet/Dunaj is worth every penny.

Hungary

Hungary is a country with a long history in winemaking and is famously known for Tokaji-Aszú, the sumptuous dessert wine made near the Carpathian Mountains. It was here in 18th Century Hungary that a wine classification system based on quality preceded Bordeaux. The seductive wine was revered by royalty and clergy all over Europe until the fall of the Astro-Hungarian Empire and the rise of The Iron Curtain. Today, the country has recovered and still produces the pricey dessert wine along with astoundingly affordable dry wines.

Wines to try:

Meinklang Foam Vulkan Pet Nat 2019 - Somlò - ($18-$20)

This vibrant golden pét-nat expresses Vulkan-ic terroir with native varieties Hárselvelü and Juhfark from the famed Michlits family.

Château Dereszla Tokaji Dry Furmint 2018 - Tokaj-Hegyalja ($17-$20)

Get into Furmint-tation with this ideal-with-food dry white that hails from Hungary’s sweet wine territory.

Dalmatian Coast vineyard, photo courtesy VINUM USA

Croatia

The wines of Croatia have become increasingly popular in the last decade, but they have been made here for centuries. Croatia recently joined the EU in 2013 and has become a tourist hotspot due to its sunny weather and friendly locals. Vineyards scale the Dalmatian Coast and its islands up to Istria in the north and inland near the capital, Zagreb. Hvar Island (A UNESCO Site and home to the oldest still-operating vineyard in the world, Stari Grad Plain) and Pelješac Peninsula are the centers of quality wine production in Croatia. Fun Fact: Zinfandel was recently discovered to be native to Croatia, where it is known as Crljenak Kastelanški.

Wines to try:

Skaramuča Plavac Mali 2017 - Dingač, Pelješac Peninsula ($15-$17)

Plavac Mali (meaning “small blue”) is an offshoot of Crljenak and grows in amphitheater-shaped vineyards that gaze out to sea. This unoaked fruity red is great chilled and yummy with oysters.

Kosovec Šklret 2017 - Moslavina ($15-17)

Grown inland, this autochthonous white grape is locally called “freckles” due to reddish dots on the grape skins. Ivan Kosovec resurrected the nearly forgotten grape, which has some Chenin and albariño-like swagger.

Slovenia

Much like its neighbors, Slovenia has emerged from the grips of communism. In 1991, Slovenia broke free from Yugoslavia and focused on rebuilding viticulture by establishing the Zaščiteno Geografsko Poreklo system to further distance from its low-quality wine past. Scattered around Slovenia’s borders are three winemaking regions: Primorska, next to Italy’s Friuli, Podravje in the northeast, and Posavje, a stones-throw from Croatia. Collectively, production is overwhelmingly white (hovering around 70%) with native grapes Zelen and Pinela producing juice in a wide range of styles. Sivi Pinot (Pinot Grigio) from Brda is also worth a sip.

Wines to Try:

Rodica Refošk 2016 - Primorska ($18)

This robust rouge comes from vineyards perched near the Gulf of Trieste that give it some mineral, spice, and everything nice.

Pikasi Zelen 2018 - Vipava Valley ($16-$20)

This wonderful and wildflower-y zippy white is perfect for a park picnic or a fish crudo.

Bosnia-Herzegovina/Serbia

Neighboring Balkan countries and recently freed from the claws of Yugoslavia, wines of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia are becoming hidden gems among wine geeks. Homegrown blatina and žilavka are the stars of Mostar, B&H’s quality wine epicenter. In Srem, Serbia, carved out over years by the Danube River sits majestic Fruška Gora mountain and its surrounding vineyards. Imaginative minds come here to hone winemaking skills. Stay tuned for wines from these regions, they’ll be making a bigger splash soon.

Wines to try:

Vino Budimir Tamjanika Zupska 2017 - Zupa, Serbia ($17-$20)

Made from Tamjanika (Muscat a Petit Grains) this easy-drinking, exotic, and expressive white has a personality all its own.

Agrina Portugeiser 2019 - Fruška Gora, Serbia ($14)

Fruity and lively is the name of the game here with this red that drinks similar to Beaujolais.

Vinarija Citluk Žilavka 2017 - Mostar, Bosnia & Herzevgovina ($10)

A well-balanced wine bursting with a chipper freshness that begs for shellfish.

Romania/Bulgaria

Romania and Bulgaria are both picturesque landscapes filled with forests, mountains, and yes, vineyards. The mighty Danube pumps through these vibrant cultural epicenters that lie next to The Black Sea. These countries have overcome a tumultuous history of authoritarianism and are climbing the ladder of quality wine on a global scale. Both have graduated from co-operative dominated hybrid production to following their own quality systems as well as the EU. International grapes such as Merlot are popular, but unique grapes like Mavrud, Fetească Albă, and Melnik are causing a stir.

Wines to try: