Egri Bikavér — Bull's Blood of Eger — is Hungary's most famous wine and one of the best-known Central European reds internationally. It is a blend, required by law to include at least three grape varieties, with Kékfrankos as the dominant component. The legal requirements also specify minimum ageing times for the "superior" designation. The result, when well made, is a deep, full-bodied wine with good structure and a characteristic earthiness from the volcanic soils of the Bükk foothills.
The best place to try a range is in the wine bars and cellars of the Valley of the Beautiful Woman, where producers from across the Eger wine region sell directly. The annual Eger Wine Festival in July brings the best producers together in the castle grounds. A visit to one of the winery estates on the hills south and west of the city gives more context than the tourist-oriented cellar tastings, but requires more planning.