Bárkányi Ildikó szerk.: A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Ethnographica 7. (Szeged, 2011)
Mód László: „Ilyen még nem volt." Szőlészeti-borászati kiállítások Szegeden a 19. század végén és a 20. század elején
Viticulture Exhibitions in Szeged at the End of the 19 t h and Beginning of the 20 t h Centuries by LÁSZLÓ MÓD Present study introduces viticulture exhibitions organized in Szeged at the end of the 19 t h and at the beginning of the 20 t h centuries. Due to the fact that large territories of wine-growing area - reaching almost 12 000 cadastral acres - were recorded around the city of Szeged in the discussed period, the city hosted numerous viticulture exhibitions of national importance. These exhibitions were to present the characteristic viticulture of the sandy soil region. The question rises, however, to what extent it is possible to reconstruct the agricultural conditions of the given period by analysing the exhibitions. In one aspect these exhibitions may be regarded as source for reconstruction: they represent vineyard owners who played a leading role in the community displaying their grapes, wines and innovations. The viticulture exhibitions organized in Szeged at the end of the 19 t h and beginning of the 20 t h centuries may be regarded both as agricultural displays, and as professional forums of winegrowing; since acknowledged experts of the period lectured on current problems of the field in conferences accompanied the agricultural expos. In 1899 and 1910 even study tours were organized for the participants in order to make them acquainted with modern model farms of the region. These exhibitions presenting mainly the winegrowing of the Great Hungarian Plain may be considered as of being regional importance, compared to the viticulture expo organized in 1896. While in 1899 several vine-growers from the mountainous district took part in the exhibition, in 1910 or in 1912 vine-growers from the sandy soil region dominated the display. As contemporary press report told, it was not earlier than in 1910 that there was a possibility to also taste wine in the exhibition. This then contributed to growing marketing possibilities. The organization of these viticulture exhibitions indicate that the city of Szeged was regarded as a remarkable centre of viticulture in the sandy soil region during the discussed period. These exhibitions organized 100 and 110 years ago may be considered as predecessors of present day wine festivals and expos. 123
