Hungary

Question 1

What is the average rainfall in Tokaj and when does it occur?

Answer 1

500mm to 600mm and usually half of this falls during growing season.

Question 2

Why does tokaj have ideal conditions for bortrytis?

Answer 2

Two major rivers (Tisza & Bodrog) meet in the town of Tokaj and the Bodrog floods regularly creating shallow marshes and water meadows.

Moist air results in frequent morning fogs in autumn.

Question 3

What is the Tokaj regions soil type?

Answer 3

Is a region of hundreds of extinct volcanoes.

Most significant soil types are:
NYIROK, a volcanic soil that is said to produce the most powerful wines.

&

LOESS, sandy silt with high clay content which produces the lighter, more delicate wines

Question 4

What are traditional vineyard management techniques for Tokaj?

Answer 4

Traditionally vines were grown on single posts at a density of up to 10000 vines per hectare.

Question 5

What are the modern vineyard management techniques in Tokaj?

Answer 5

Replacement-cane or cordon trained VSP trellising

4000-5000 vines per hectare.

Question 6

What are the main disease concerns in Tokaj?

Answer 6

Powdery mildew and in wetter years; grey rot.

Question 7

What are the main pests in Tokaj?

Answer 7

Wild boars and birds

Question 8

What are the yields for for Aszu berries?

Answer 8

2/3 hl/ha

Question 9

What are the average yields for dry wines in Tokaji?

Answer 9

30-40 hl/ha

Question 10

How many grape varieties are permitted in Tokaji PDO? And what are the most important?

Answer 10

Furmint.

Harslevelu

Sarah Muskotaly (Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains)

Question 11

What are the growing characteristics of Furmint?

Answer 11

Late-ripening and needs Tokaj’s long, sunny growing season to ripen fully.

Even when fully ripe, retains high levels of acidity.

Thick skinned yet particularly susceptible to bortrytis.
Naturally accumulate high levels of sugar

Question 12

What are the typical flavours of dry and sweet Furmint?

Answer 12

Lemon, apple, pear (all styles)

Dried apricots and mango (bortrytis affected)

Question 13

What is the second most planted grape in Tokaj?

Answer 13

Harslevelu

Question 14

What sort of wines does Harslevelu produce?

Answer 14

Wines which are fruited than Furmint with distinctive aromas of white peach and orange blossom.

Question 15

What does Harslevelu add to a blend?

Answer 15

Distinctive perfume

Question 16

What does Aszu mean?

Answer 16

Hungarian word for grapes affected by bortrytis and have shrivelled on the vine.

Question 17

What are the 3 options to extract sugars and flavours from Aszu berries and why are they not pressed like normal?

Answer 17

1. Macerated in must
2. Macerated in fermenting must
3. Macerated in base wine

The sugary juice inside the berries is so concentrated that it cannot be effectively extracted by normal pressing.

Question 18

What is the profile of classic Aszu wines?

Answer 18

Deep amber colour

High acidity

Low to medium alcohol

Intense aromas of orange peel, apricots and honey

Question 19

How do the choice of maceration methods differ?

Answer 19

Maceration in must gives the lightest styles followed by maceration in young finished wine.

Maceration in fermenting must gives the strongest extraction.

Question 20

What year did the classification of sweetness levels in Tokaj change?

Answer 20

2013