Nestled in the UNESCO-protected Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region of Hungary, the family-owned Sauska Tokaj winery blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Designed by BORD Architectural Studio, its hovering form appears to float above the vineyards, at once complementing the landscape and making a strikingly ethereal statement. Beyond its architectural presence, the winery plays an important role in strengthening the region’s tourism and winemaking prestige.
Tokaj’s winemaking legacy
For centuries, the volcanic soils and continental climate of Tokaj have shaped one of Europe’s most celebrated wine regions, famed above all for its sweet aszú. The socialist era in Hungary brought mass wine production, stifling innovation. Since the early 2000s, following the country’s political transition, new wineries and tourism have driven a revival in Tokaj. Sauska Tokaj, founded in 2003 by Krisztián and Andrea Sauska and now led by the next generation, has been part of this renewal, producing dry whites and sparkling wines alongside the region’s traditional styles.
Architectural vision
The design brief called for a contemporary, eye-catching winery with a focus on fresh, dry white wines and sparkling wines. At the same time, the building needed to accommodate gastronomy and hospitality, positioning it as a destination for visitors. The elevated site, set amongst the region’s most significant settlements, provided both inspiration and challenge.
BORD Architectural Studio’s concept was guided by the notion of the “untouched untouchable” — the uninterrupted views of rolling vineyards. Their aim was to create a form that seemed to float lightly above the land. In one playful presentation, a beanbag model illustrated the idea, depicting the building mass as if the hillside itself had eyes, animating the landscape.
“What I create should not touch the untouchable — it should float or sit, like a sphere on an unidentifiably tiny surface. The goal is to create a seemingly implausible structure, one that is there, yet physically independent of its environment,” explains Péter Bordás, CEO and Founder of BORD Architectural Studio.
A landmark above the vineyards
Perched on the southern slopes of Padi Hill near the village of Rátka, the winery is defined by two intersecting, 36-metre-wide lens-shaped volumes. These visible, elevated structures are open to visitors, while the functional areas that require stable temperatures, such as fermentation and storage, are placed underground. On the cellar level, dramatic circular halls contain stainless steel tanks arranged concentrically around a central wooden barrel ageing area. Above, the restaurant and bar occupy the floating lens volumes, supported by slender steel columns. The effect of levitation is heightened by the way sunlight glides across the underside of the forms.
The visitor journey
The entrance is discreetly set into the slope, allowing the sculptural architecture to retain its uninterrupted presence. From the parking area, a broad path reveals sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards. Guests then enter an intimate transition space leading into the lobby, followed by a skylit corridor that opens to the main visitor areas and a panoramic terrace.
Inside, the high, curved ceilings of the restaurant and bar gradually narrow to 2.26 metres — a dimension drawn from Le Corbusier’s Modulor system, intended to align with human scale and create a naturally pleasing sense of proportion — before opening outwards to the terrace. This feeling of compression makes the transition to the outdoors more dramatic, where the sweep of the landscape appears all the more striking.
The interiors, designed by New York-based Tihany Design, draw inspiration from Tokaj’s winemaking traditions. Natural wood, local limestone, and steel accents form a refined yet welcoming atmosphere. The material palette reflects the essence of the vineyard: timeless, natural, and elegant.
Technology and production
Operational areas for pressing, bottling, and labelling are arranged in a rectangular layout, directly connected to the fermentation spaces. Grapes arrive and finished wines depart through a tunnel that runs along the building’s longitudinal axis. This tunnel, likened to a massive built-in turbine, also houses essential mechanical equipment. The cool, metallic aesthetic of the cellar contrasts with the vibrant, warm-toned visitor spaces floating above.
Sustainability strategies
The winery incorporates a number of low-carbon strategies. More than two-thirds of the building is set underground, using the surrounding soil for natural temperature regulation. Excavated material was reused, reducing waste and the demand for new materials: soil was transported to a nearby abandoned quarry, helping heal a long-standing scar in the UNESCO World Heritage landscape, while stone was repurposed for retaining walls.
Planted green roofs with native meadow vegetation provide insulation and support biodiversity, while energy efficiency is enhanced by heat pumps, heat recovery systems, and an on-site wastewater treatment plant. Photovoltaic panels are now being installed to extend renewable energy use.
A contemporary icon
The Sauska Tokaj winery is more than a place of production — it is an architectural landmark that honours the region’s heritage while embracing modernity. By fusing tradition with bold design, it reflects the evolving spirit of Tokaj and its world-renowned wines.
