The Okanagan guest studio — named for the wine region in Canada where I spent my childhood — is located in my home, a centuries-old stone house in the beautiful village of Erdőbénye. Renovated with warmth and style, Okanagan reflects tradition, history and memories through its 100-year-old ceramic tiles, original art, retro and industrial furniture, and travel mementos from around the world. The guest studio features a queen-size bed, foldout sofa bed suitable for a child, private bathroom with walk-in shower, dining area, and well-equipped kitchen complete with induction cooker, fridge-freezer, electric kettle, toaster, French press coffee maker, kitchen utensils, cookware and crockery. The house is set in an attractive, lavender-filled garden shaded by a huge walnut tree. The guest studio has its own garden entrance, as well as a private terrace with outdoor furniture, sun umbrella and barbecue. Okanagan is the perfect place to unwind and chill and makes an ideal starting point for exploring this beautiful village and amazing region.

I’m a Canadian with Hungarian heritage and I grew up in the Okanagan wine region in British Columbia. I have lived and worked in Europe since the early 1990s. A keen follower of the Hungarian food and wine scene, I fell in love with the Tokaj wine region and in 2019 purchased and renovated an old stone house in the beautiful village of Erdőbénye, one of the region’s gems. As an avid traveller, I have experienced adventures, sampled traditional cuisines, and sipped my way through local tipples in close to 80 countries around the globe in the last 25 years or so. Together with my long-time friend and travel partner, in 2018 I started Hungry Grape, a company offering bespoke tours that introduce small groups of guests to the top winemakers in Hungary’s most renowned wine regions. Eager to share my accumulated knowledge and experience with other travellers, I recently launched Hungary Grape Guests to welcome visitors to my village home.

The enchanting village of Erdőbénye is located in the middle of the legendary Tokaj wine region, home to some amazing family-run wineries. Visitors can enjoy endless hiking and biking opportunities in the surrounding Zemplén hills, cool off at the nearby Bodrog and Tisza rivers, or savour the region’s culture, heritage and history by visiting its landmarks and castles. Or you could take part in a Hungry Grape tasting tour! Erdőbénye is the birthplace of one of Hungary’s most famous products — the sweet dessert wine Tokaji aszú. Legend has it that, due to the Ottoman invasion, local rector László Máté Szepsi was obliged to postpone the harvest, causing the grapes to botrytise. The winemaker decided to use them anyway, and the result was aszú. There are currently 14 wineries within walking distance of the house, several of which offer wine tastings. On request, tasting tours can be organised either to these local wineries or to cellars in the neighbouring towns and villages. The ‘Bor, mámor, Bénye’ festival takes place in Erdőbénye each August and is one of Hungary’s best wine festivals. Don’t miss it!