Grape-harvest on Kossuth Hill

The article called Kossuth Hill on Halmaj was put on cicsero.net on 05/05/09. We intend to show now the craft of grape-harvesting and must, the way the gypsies see it. The fruit of the work has a great value in the eyes of the grapery owners. Gypsy families harvest happily and proudly, the whole process has a tremendous atmosphere.

VIDEO

Grape-harvest and making wine on Kossuth Hill

-What do you think about the intention to sell these properties quite cheap to the gypsies? Do you think it is worth working with these vineyards?
-Yeah, I think it is a good idea. It is worth the work, one shouldn't take anything from someone else. When I come to the vineyard, I know I go to my own property, the peasants won't say „look, the gypsy came here to steel". I come here proudly, I can take anything home, let it be grape or apricot, it is mine.
-I see you have help, the relatives are here.
-Yes, my brother is here, and some other relatives. I really thank them for their help, they help a lot.

-How much wine will there be?
-600 liters, hopefully.
-Only 600? I hope we will have 750 liters.
-750, not 600!
-You know what, we should leave some for Christmas.
-You know, what I count on?
-What?
-That because of this great economic crisis there won't be fuel in the winter, and the situation is that we will need the wine to make ourselves warm from inside.

-Will it be the same good as last year?
-Oh, it will be better! A lot better. The sun shined a lot, so the quality will be good.
-Well, if I see it right, the nicely filtered must will go into this barrel, won't it?
-Sure.
-How do you clean the barrel?
-We wash it with natrium-phosphate, then with warm water, we treat it witn sulfur. We wash it at least for an hour so the old wine can be cleaned form the barrel's wall.

Halmaj
02/09/2009
filmed and edited by
Elemér and Balázs Horváth