Best of Hungary is a family-run UK specialist in Hungarian food and wine, working directly with artisan producers, family farms and boutique wineries across Hungary. Our approach to sourcing, product selection and specialist retail has received independent recognition from respected food and wine organisations, while individual products in our range have earned awards through blind tasting and international wine competitions.
This page brings together selected independent recognition of Best of Hungary and the products we represent. Wherever possible, we link directly to the original award result, article or industry source so that customers can verify the recognition for themselves.
Wine Industry Recognition
IWC Specialist Merchant of the Year 2022 – Southern & Eastern Europe
The International Wine Challenge named Best of Hungary IWC Specialist Merchant of the Year 2022 – Southern & Eastern Europe. The award recognised our specialist focus on Hungarian wines and our work bringing distinctive wine styles to UK customers.
Highly Commended – IWC “Unsung” Specialist of the Year 2025
Best of Hungary was also Highly Commended as an IWC “Unsung” Specialist of the Year in 2025, further recognising our continued focus on smaller and underrepresented wine categories.
Decanter Central & Eastern Europe Specialist Retailer Recognition
Best of Hungary was runner-up for Decanter Central & Eastern Europe Specialist Retailer of the Year 2022. Decanter’s judges noted that Best of Hungary does a strong job of introducing customers to a category that is more diverse than many people realise. The business had also been runner-up in the same specialist category in 2020 and 2021.
Recognised by Decanter for the Breadth of Our Hungarian Wine Range
In a dedicated feature, Decanter described Best of Hungary as having the largest Hungarian wine portfolio in the UK. The feature highlighted our direct relationships with boutique wineries and showcased medal-winning wines from several Hungarian regions, including Tokaj.
Recognition of Our Wine Buying Expertise
Best of Hungary co-founder Zoltan Kopacsi was shortlisted in the Rising Star category at the 2023 Wine Buyers Awards, a programme associated with the London Wine Fair that recognises professional wine buyers across the UK trade. Zoltan leads much of the company’s wine selection and works directly with Hungarian winemakers and wine educators.
Great Taste & Food Recognition
Best of Hungary Great Taste Case Study
The Guild of Fine Food has featured Best of Hungary in a dedicated Great Taste case study, exploring how independent judging has become part of founder Monika Gyenes' product selection and development process. The case study also discusses the role that Great Taste recognition has played in supporting our producer partners and helping customers discover lesser-known Hungarian foods.
Great Taste Golden Fork Nominations
Selected products from Best of Hungary have progressed beyond Great Taste star ratings to nomination for the scheme’s prestigious Golden Fork awards. These include Nativus Venison Salami with Black Truffle – Golden Fork from the Rest of Europe nominee 2024 and Rubin Sweet Smoked Paprika Powder – Golden Fork from the Rest of Europe nominee 2026.
Many other products across our paprika, charcuterie, organic rice, cold-pressed oils, raw honey, gourmet foods and pantry ranges have received Great Taste recognition. Exact awards and links to official Guild of Fine Food listings are shown on the relevant product pages where available.
Award-Winning Wines in Our Portfolio
Independent wine recognition also extends to individual bottles in the Best of Hungary range. Decanter has featured several wines stocked by Best of Hungary, including Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017, awarded 97 points and Platinum and included among Decanter’s world-class sweet wines, together with medal-winning Hungarian sparkling, white and red wines.
Individual wine pages identify current awards, scores and official competition listings where applicable, allowing customers to verify the recognition attached to a particular vintage.
Explore Best of Hungary
Independent recognition is only one part of how we assess quality. Our founders continue to visit producers, taste products, build long-term supplier relationships and select foods and wines for their provenance, character and suitability for UK customers.
Explore our Hungarian food and wine collections, learn more about our sourcing philosophy on the About Us page, or visit individual product pages for detailed award information.