Viničky: Tokaj vineyards, wine cellars and the Bodrog

Viničky combines the Tokaj wine landscape with historic traces, regional cuisine and the waters of the Bodrog. The Tokaj vineyards of Viničky stretch across tuff soils on the southern slopes of the Zemplín Mountains. The history of the village is also connected with the family of Count Július Andrássy: in Viničky, they owned large wine cellars, wine houses and a chapel in addition to the vineyards.

Wine and cuisine

Viničky is one of the villages along the Tokaj Wine Route where, in addition to wine tastings in cellars, you can also enjoy local gastronomic specialities. A closer look at the local wine culture leads to the historic Zlatý Strapec cellar. The family winery is now run by the third generation of winemakers and offers tastings in a medieval cellar with two tasting rooms. The tasting room offers Furmint, Lipovina, Yellow Muscat, sweet and dry Spontaneous, as well as Selection.

The Zlatá Putňa restaurant also represents regional cuisine: its menu features Zemplín cuisine with traditional Slovak and Hungarian dishes, as well as various seasonal specialities. Viničky also hosts the 11th edition of the Tokaj Open Farm Cellar Day from 9 am to 6 pm. Access to the farm cellars includes a tasting of three wine samples each.

Culture and history

The Viničky Filagoria is a preserved light fortification structure from the period of the First Czechoslovak Republic and is used as a lookout point. The estate of the Andrássy family is home to the Chapel of St Joseph, which was built in the Baroque style in the late 18th century and is now used for Roman Catholic Masses.

The living culture includes the female folklore singing group Tokajský strapec, founded in 1972. It performs at various cultural events in the Medzibodrožie and Použie regions. Through its repertoire, the group seeks to preserve the old customs and traditions of its ancestors.

Nature and protected landscapes

The Tarbucka Nature Reserve was designated in 1986, covers 148.98 hectares today and is subject to the fifth level of protection. Tarbucka is home to breeding birds and rare vegetation that thrives in sandy conditions, including the late carnation and one of the few Slovak sites where the Hungarian pasque flower is found.

Borsuk is located in the northern cadastral area of Viničky, a protected landscape with thermophilic vegetation. An obsidian site was discovered in the andesite area of Borsuk. Tajba, a protected oxbow lake, is also part of the natural area along the Bodrog. It provides a habitat for the endangered European pond turtle and waterfowl.

Cycling and water on the Bodrog

The public Cross-bike cycling system in Viničky was made accessible to everyone. As part of the Cross-bike project, Viničky provided eight electric bicycles, a charging station and a rest area; a 1.75 km-long cycle path was also renovated.

Boat trips on the Bodrog begin at the harbour behind Viničky and continue to neighbouring Hungary. The trips include explanations of the river's special features as well as the flora and fauna of protected areas. Tokaj wine tastings and refreshments are available on board. The Horseshoe oxbow lake on the Bodrog River is suitable for fishing and boat trips.

Other places

Find other places via these links: Veľká Tŕňa, Sečovce, Čierna Nad Tisou, Veľký Kamenec, Dobrá, Trebišov, Biel, Veľaty.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trebišov District.