The 8th wine tasting and the 4th pig-eating dinner took place on March 9 at Remetea. The event was organized in the commune’s cultural house, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Crişul Negru valley. Within the wine competition five experts were part of the jury.

According to the organizers, the event was attended by about one hundred and sixty people, who were not to be announced because locals and local people knew about this event and expressed their intention to participate in time. I had the opportunity to meet with residents from Finis, Beius, Tarcaia, but also with representatives from Kecskemét, Békéscsaba and Szentpéterszeg. Szentpéterszeg and Remetea are twinned localities, usually Szentpéterszeg, with Mayor Mihály Olajos’s leadership, participate at all cultural events organized in Remetea. The event was honored by the presence of UDMR’s parliamentarian, Ödön Szabó, the mayor of Bors, Géza Bátori and parliamentarian Bogdan Gheorghe, as well as the mayor of the commune, Adrian Călin Ştefanica. In the case of wine tasting, the event organizers organized a wine contest for local farmers, with a jury of five members: Bogdan Gheorghe (president), István Zatykó, István Kurucz, Csaba Fenesi and Palcut Florin. 21 local farmers participated in the contest. Until the jury made the final decision, the participants were invited to a pig-eating dinner. Of course, there was not missing the local wine.

György Bálind, the forestry engineer, the main organizer of the event, the local president of the organization for the protection of the interests of the Hungarians, told us that about eight years ago, about 25 inhabitants gathered and the idea of the event was born. Their idea has been realized and they have already reached the eighth wine tasting session, where several members of the Romanian language community participate in the local Hungarians. The culmination of this cohabitation is the fact that the mayor is also involved in these activities. “Even today, about 20-25 Romanians are present at the event, the rest are Hungarian tenants and guests from three locations in Hungary,” said György Bálind. To come and the ladies, wine tasting was extended four years ago with a pomegranate dinner and every year the musician Péter Antal is present. In the competition are accepted only wines obtained from grapes produced on the territory of the village Remetea, nor are they accepted from the villages belonging to the commune. These wines are usually brought by Hungarian farmers, with one exception, the local Orthodox pastor is also participating in the contest, whom the organizers receive with the greatest dear.

Mihály Olajos, the Mayor of Szentpéterszeg, said their good relationship had been with Remetea for four years. They are regularly present at the events of Remetea, but this is reciprocal. “Our relationship is based on an EU competition that supports the creation of relations between two localities, which is not necessarily based on a written agreement, but rather on joint cooperation. The more settlements we contact at an event, and even with localities across borders, the more support we receive. We come here with pleasure, and they are coming at us with pleasure too”, the prefect said.

The awarding (Awarding the prizes)

The awards were handed by Mayor Adrian Călin Ştefanica, who welcomed the ladies on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. Ödön Szabó welcomed the participants in both Romanian and Hungarian. He appreciated the exemplary Romanian-Hungarian cohabitation, which was remarkable in the event as well. Bogdan Gheorghe, parliamentarian, and György Bálind, the main organizer of the event, thanked the collaboration of the people who participated in the organization. In the competition took the first place, as in previous years, Orthodox pastor Toma Vlas with 90.7 points, finished second Mihály Molnár with 88.5 points, and took the third place János Fila with 86.7 points . After the award ceremony the participants enjoyed the excellent music.

Source: Erdon
(TFP translation)