Lake Balaton Rosé or Siller? The Difference and When to Choose Each

Back to news

As spring and summer arrive, wine lovers increasingly reach for wines in shades ranging from pale pink to light red. Lake Balaton rosé has been popular for decades, while in recent years siller has also appeared on the lists of more and more wineries. Both are made from dark-skinned grapes, yet their character, flavour profile and gastronomic uses can be quite different. So what exactly separates the two styles, and when should you choose one over the other?

How is Lake Balaton rosé made?

The basic principle of rosé production is short skin contact. Dark-skinned grapes – around Lake Balaton often varieties such as Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir or Cabernet – are destemmed soon after harvest and allowed to remain in contact with their skins for only a short time, often just a few hours. Because the juice itself contains very little colour, the wine gets its pink hue from the grape skins. This brief maceration results in a pale pink, onion-skin or salmon-coloured wine.

The fresh style of rosé associated with Lake Balaton is usually produced with reductive winemaking in stainless-steel tanks. Typical aromas and flavours include raspberry, strawberry, cherry and citrus. Its lively acidity makes it particularly refreshing in warm weather, and in Hungary rosé is also often enjoyed as a spritzer with soda water.

What is siller, and what makes it special?

Siller is a traditional Central European wine style that sits between rosé and red wine. The key difference is again the length of skin contact. For siller, the must remains on the skins of dark grapes considerably longer than for rosé – sometimes for 24–48 hours – but for less time than would normally be used for a full-bodied red wine.

The result is a deeper, darker colour, often reminiscent of pomegranate or light ruby. Alongside red berry flavours, siller can show more spice and depth. It has more body than rosé and a small but noticeable amount of tannin, while remaining lighter and more refreshing than a classic red wine.

When should you choose rosé and when siller?

The best choice depends mainly on the occasion and the food you are serving.

Choose a Lake Balaton rosé if:

You are relaxing on the beach, a boat or a terrace on a hot summer day.
You want a light aperitif before an evening programme.
Your food is also light: fresh salads, grilled goat cheese, chicken or fish all work beautifully with rosé.

Choose a Lake Balaton siller if:

You enjoy red wines but want something that can be served slightly chilled, around 12–14°C, during the summer.
You are looking for a partner to paprika-rich Hungarian dishes such as fish soup, stew or lecsó. The spicy character of siller works particularly well with Hungarian cuisine.
You want a more complex, food-friendly wine for a longer evening with friends.

Both rosé and siller belong to the pleasures of a Lake Balaton summer. It is worth tasting both to discover two different, fruit-driven expressions of the region’s dark-skinned grape varieties.

Wines of the estate

Taste the stories in the glass as well

Behind the articles stands the same Felsőörs terroir, family work and Balaton character. Discover the wines of Szörényi Winery or request a personal offer for a tasting, programme or event.

View our wines Request an offer