Sauska Tokaj: A Floating Landmark in Hungary’s Historic Wine Country
Nestled in the UNESCO-protected Tokaj-Hegyalja region, the Sauska Tokaj winery is more than a place of winemaking. It is an architectural gesture — a contemporary form that appears to hover above centuries of history, connecting past and present in one breathtaking view.
Tokaj: A Legacy in Every Glass
For nearly a millennium, Tokaj’s volcanic soils and continental climate have nurtured vineyards of extraordinary character. Deep beneath the valleys, cellars carved into volcanic tuff once held the region’s famed aszú, a sweet golden wine treasured across Europe. Over time, Tokaj has weathered both glory and decline — from royal acclaim to the uniformity of socialist-era mass production. In recent decades, however, the region has experienced a renaissance. New wineries, gastronomy, and tourism are breathing vitality back into its hillsides, carrying forward a legacy rooted in craft and terroir.
An Architectural Vision in the Vines
When Sauska set out to create a winery devoted to crisp dry whites and sparkling wines, the challenge was not only technical but poetic: how to build boldly without disturbing the sanctity of the landscape. Architect Péter Bordás envisioned a structure that would “float, untouching, like a sphere on an impossibly small surface.” The result is striking — two lens-shaped forms intersecting on the crest of Padi Hill, their curved surfaces seemingly suspended in the air, while the winemaking facilities are embedded underground.
Design that Honors Place
Approaching the winery, visitors arrive discreetly through the slope itself. The drama unfolds gradually: a skylit passage, a restaurant where high curved ceilings frame views of rolling vineyards, and finally a panoramic terrace that opens to the vast Tokaj landscape. Inside, Tihany Design has created interiors that echo tradition — limestone, natural woods, and steel detailing recall the textures of the vineyard, grounding contemporary elegance in heritage craft.
Heritage Meets Modernity
Below the surface, precision winemaking takes place in concentric fermentation halls — stainless steel tanks encircling wooden barrels in a cathedral-like chamber of craft. Above, hospitality thrives, with gastronomy, tastings, and cultural experiences that elevate the winery into a destination. It is a duality: the cool, industrial calm of production set against the warmth and conviviality of shared meals and wines.
The Sauska Tokaj winery stands not only as a feat of architecture but also as a symbol of renewal for the region. By merging bold design with deep respect for heritage, it reaffirms Tokaj’s place as one of the world’s great wine landscapes — timeless, evolving, and alive.
Credits
Architecture: BORD Architectural Studio (Péter Bordás)
Interiors: Tihany Design
Client: Sauska Winery
Photography: Hufton+Crow
