Tokaji

 
Term: 
Tokaji
Region: 
Other
Country: 
Hungary
Type: 
05 sweet
Alcohol percent: 
12.5%
Consumption temperature: 
10
Tokaj-hegyalja is Hungary's first wine producing region and one of the most beautiful places in the country. This famous historic wine region is situated in the north-east of Hungary, extending over the southern slopes of Zemplén mountain. Its characteristic, triangular position, the rolling plain, the declivous hillsides among Tokaj, Abaújszántó and Sátoraljaújhely, and the river Bodrog will charm the visitor in any season. The fine natural endowments of this magic region along with the secret skills of generations of hard-working wine-makers and viticulturists have resulted in the development of the "Wine of kings, king of wines" - the TOKAJI. The excellent position of vineyards on the southern slopes of the Zemplén mountain, the volcanic soil, the autumn sunshine and the mist rising majestically from the nearby river Bodrog have all contributed to the formation of this unique fine wine.

The Tokaj wine region encompasses 27 settlements in total. The region was the first controlled wine region in the world; the royal decree in which settlements were listed in the outskirts of which grapes could be grown that were suitable for the production of Tokaj wines was issued in 1737. The survival - in its unchanged, original form - of viticultural traditions which developed over the past thousand years and the millennia of territorial integrity justified the elevation of the wine region into a World Heritage site.

The most outstanding growing sites of the wine region - altogether 9 settlements - comprise the core of the world heritage area; these include the Ungvári Pince (Ungvár Winery) in Sátoraljaújhely, the Rákóczi Pince in Sárospatak, the Gomboshegyi Pincesor (Winery Row on Gombos Mountain) in Hercegkút, the Oremus wineries in Tolcsva, and the Wine Museum of the Tokaj Kereskedoház (Tokaj Trading House). The other settlements of the wine region form a protective zone around the core settlements of the world heritage site in accordance with the UNESCO convention concerning the world heritage sites.
Tasting Note: 
The basic varieties grown in this chiefly white wine producing region are the furmint, the hárslevelu and, though not so important, the yellow muscat. The pre-autumn rain and early morning mist trigger intensive Botrytis rottening. Thanks to the unique microclimate, the rainy weather is normally followed by a long, sunny period accelerating the shrinkage of the berries, raising their sugar content and producing unique aromas. The locals call this process aszúsodás.<br /><br />Aszú is still made by means of secular traditions. The berries are picked one by one from the bunches. Then they are poured into tubs with holes on the bottom through which the weight of the berries presses out the so-called essencia or nectar. The quality of aszú wines depends on how many buttful of berries were used to a certain number of "Gönc barrels". To make a Gönc barrel (136 litres) of three butt aszú, three butts of crushed berries (3x25 kgs) are put in a tub and then weakened with a Gönc barrel of new or old wine. The blend is stirred up several times, as the weather requires, and then it is let to rest. Finally, it is drained into casks and matured in cellars for years. The cellar walls are covered by fluffy mildew that assists in the maturation of the wine and maintains humidity at a permanent level.
Star: 
3
Ranking: 
Külongés Minöségi Bor (Qualitätswein Edelfaul)
Producers: 
Tokaj
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