Tokaj Sauska Winery by BORD Architectural Studio – A Floating Landmark in Hungary’s Historic Wine Region

The Tokaj Sauska Winery by BORD Architectural Studio stands as a striking contemporary landmark within the UNESCO-protected Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region of Hungary. Designed in 2024, the 5,830 m² winery hovers above the rich volcanic vineyards, merging cutting-edge architecture with centuries-old viticultural heritage. Its sculptural form, refined material palette, and immersive visitor experience contribute to the growing tourism potential of this world-renowned wine landscape.

A Winery Rooted in History Yet Shaped by Innovation

Tokaj-Hegyalja’s unique combination of volcanic soil, continental climate, and deep cultural traditions made it one of Europe’s earliest and most celebrated wine regions. Settlements developed around valleys where winemakers carved cellars into rhyolite tuff, producing the famous Tokaji Aszú aged in oak barrels. After decades of industrialized mass production during socialism, the region saw a revival in the early 2000s, with modern wineries re-establishing quality and identity.

The Sauska Tokaj Winery embodies this contemporary renaissance—showcasing the elegance, diversity, and vibrant energy of modern Tokaj dry white wines and sparkling varieties.

Architectural Vision – “The Untouched Untouchable”

Lead architect Péter Bordás envisioned a building lightly touching the land, inspired by the poetic image of vineyards as an “untouched untouchable.” The resulting concept features two intersecting lenses—gentle, floating forms perched atop the hills of Padi Hill. These elevated masses appear weightless, supported by slender steel columns that allow sunlight to glide across the curved undersides.

A beanbag model initially illustrated the playful idea of a hill with “eyes,” symbolizing an architecture that observes, integrates, and brings the landscape alive.

An Architectural Composition Floating in the Landscape

The winery’s design is defined by two 36-meter-diameter lens structures, accessible to visitors and framing dramatic views of the surrounding vineyards. Below ground lie the essential temperature-controlled production spaces, including circular fermentation rooms organized concentrically around a central barrel-aging zone.

The floating lenses house the bar and restaurant—spaces that blend hospitality, tourism, and architectural expression. These lifted volumes create a silhouette that feels simultaneously sculptural and organic, an iconic presence anchored lightly to the terrain.

A Choreographed Arrival Journey

Visitors approach the winery through a pathway seamlessly embedded in the slopes, allowing the architecture to reveal itself gradually. The concealed entrance ensures that the floating forms dominate the first impression.

A skylit corridor leads guests from the lobby toward the tasting areas and panoramic terrace. Inside, the design references the textures and tones of Tokaj’s vineyards through natural wood, local limestone, and refined steel detailing, masterfully curated by Tihany Design.

As guests move from the intimate, curved interiors to the expansive terrace, the architecture amplifies the contrast between enclosure and the sweeping horizon.

Precision Engineering Meets Artful Winemaking

The operational functions—pressing, bottling, and labeling—are organized within a rectangular underground zone connected to the fermentation rooms. A tunnel runs through the center of the production level, serving both logistics and mechanical systems.

All photographs are works of Marc Goodwin