The legend of the life-saving wine of Bogács

Not only the present residents of the Bükkalja region are delighted by the colour and flavour of the Riesling, it was the same centuries ago, too. The grapes grew on their hills in long rows, the wine quenched their thirst and crowned their festivals. What is more, it saved lives during the Turkish invasion! Although the resourcefulness of a young man from Bogács was also necessary for this...

According to the legend, quite a big group separated from the huge Turkish army marching against Eger and “popped in” to see Bogács. They stole livestock, but fortunately at that time all the locals were in Jács Valley, where they were having a party to say farewell to the men going into battle in Eger. After the villagers had heard the news they had some time to make sticks and come up with a plan. They lured the Turks up to Kőkötő (a quarry), where they threw stones at them making them flee – however it was obvious that only for one day.

The next day the champion of the village, Barna the Valiant had a plan: the women, the children and the old should hide in the wine cellars. However, that much even the Turks could have found out, so he also devised how to make the cellars invisible. The men would pull down the front of each wine cellar, then through a secret opening in the woods they join the others inside. Not everybody liked this plan, but for lack of a better one, that was what they did.

The Turks did not find them! But they didn’t leave either, they set up camp in the woods. Two weeks passed. The locals of Bogács had air to breathe in those small places, but were running out of food and water very quickly. Barna the Valiant then ordered the following: adults could only drink wine, water was only available for the children – but even so it was mixed with a little Riesling. Not very easily but they were able to hold on for two more weeks without anyone getting sick. At the end of the fourth week Barna the Valiant, who had been watching the Turks daily, saw that another small group of riders had arrived. The newcomers didn’t stay, however, but took the 500 Turkish soldiers camping in the woods with them! As it turned out later by that time their absence had been noticed in Eger, so they were ordered to join the siege immediately.

This way the locals of Bogács were rescued. They were able to come out of the cellars and on Saint Martin’s name day they celebrated the wedding of Barna the Valiant and his beautiful love, Borbála. They continued growing their beloved grape and making tasty wines in the cellars

(on the basis of Imre Hajdu’s documents)