Hungary Flashcards
The Tokaj region is in the NE corner of Hungary at the confluence of what two rivers?
Tisza and Bodrog Rivers
What was the Tokaj region formerly known as?
Tokaj-Hegyalja, or Tokaj “foothills”
What is Tokaj-Hegyalja?
Tokaj “foothills”
- Tokaj region formerly known as Tokaj-Hegyalja
In what year did Transylvanian Prince Rákóczy delimit 28 villages in the region of Tokaj?
1700
- One of the 1st in modern Europe to undergo vineyard classification
- Started golden age for wine that lasted 2 centuries
Who delimited 28 villages of Tokaj in 1700?
Transylvanian Prince Rákóczy
- One of 1st in modern Europe to undergo vineyard classification
- Started golden age for wine that lasted 2 centuries
In what year was the final legal recognition of Tokaj?
1772
- 1700 - Transylvanian Prince Rákóczy delimits 28 villages
- 1732 - some sources date Tokaj’s classification
What is aszú?
grapes of high sugar levels afflicted botrytis cinera
When did aszú wines first start to appear in Tokaj?
- Appears in works published as early as 1571
- Szepi Laczkó Máté definitely produced botrytis-affected aszú wine by mid-17th century
- Predated botrytised wines of Germany and probably Sauternes
Name four estates that are leading the way in restoring Tokaj to its former glory.
- Royal Tokaji Company
- Vega Sicila’s Tokaj Oremus
- Disnókõ
- Királyudar
What is the difference between Tokaj and Tokaji?
- Tokaj - name of overall region and the commune at the convergence of the two rivers
- Tokaji - adjectival form used to indicate the wine
Tokaj is sheltered by what mountain range?
Carpathian Mountains
What is the climate in Tokaj?
warm continental - long, humid autumns
- Sheltered by Capathian Mountains
- Perfect encouragement for botrytis
-
What are the soils of Tokaj?
predominantly volcanic loess and clay
- Better vineyards on S-facing slope
What is the Tokaj Renaissance?
Producer’s association - devoted to the protection of Rákóczy’s original classification which divided Tokaj vineyards and neighboring villages into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd growths
How many vineyards are recognized as first growths?
74
-
Great First Growths:
- Szarvas - near Tokaj
- Mézes Mály - near Tarcal
Name a Great First Growth located near the commune of Tokaj?
Szarvas
Name a Great First Growth near the commune of Tarcal?
Mézes Mály
- Tarcal - NE Hungary, W of Tokaj
What are the two principal grapes of Tokaj?
- Furmint
- Hárslevelu
Besides Furmint and Hárslevelu, what are four other authorized grapes for Tokaj?
- Sárgamuskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains)
- Zéta (Oremus)
- Kabar
-
Kövérszolo
- All authorized, but used in small quantities
What is Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains known as in Tokaj?
Sárgamuskotály
How much will a puttony hold?
25 kg
What is Esszencia?
Esszencia - tiny fraction of syrupy, free-run juice allowed to settle out of the aszú, and vinified separately
What happens to aszú after they allow a little free run juice to settle out of the must?
- Aszú is then trampled into a paste, or dough
- A number of puttony containing aszú paste is mixed with gönci barrels of must or base wine from non-aszú grapes
What is a gönc?
gönc - Hungarian oak cask, common in Tokaj, appx 136 L
What determines the final sweetness of a Tokaji Aszú wine?
- The number of puttony added to a gönc (136 L Hungarian oak cask)
When were the revisions that eliminated the 3-6 puttonyos labeling?
-
Eliminated in time for the 2013 harvest
- Modern Tokaj Aszú is simply laved “Aszú”
What are the aging requirements for Tokaj Aszú?
- 3 yrs
- min 18 mo barrel
What is the min rs required for the must of Tokaj Aszú?
120 g/l rs
What is the min alcohol required for Tokaj Aszú?
min alc 9%
How much residual sugar is found in Esszencia?
450 g/l rs
- Richer than honey
How long does it take Esszencia to ferment?
- Sometimes decades
- Just to reach 4-6% alcohol
What is Tokaji Szamorodni?
Tokaji Szamorodni (“as it comes”)
- prod from mixture of aszú and non-aszú grapes
- often oxidative
- min 2 years in cask
- sometimes under film-forming yeast similar to flor
- may be édes (sweet) or szára (dry)
What is édes?
édes = sweet
- vs száras (dry)
- Labeling for Tokai Szamorodni
Wat does száras mean?
száras = dry
- vs édes (sweet)
- Labeling for Tokaji Szamorodni
What is Fordítás?
- Fordítás - product of refermenting wine w/ pressed paste of Tokaji Aszú
- vs Máslás - refermenting w/ spent lees
What is Máslás?
Máslás - product of refermenting wine w/ spent lees of Tokaji Aszú
- vs Fordítás - refermenting w/ pressed paste
Who is István Szepsy?
István Szepsy
- Talented Hungarian winemaker
- Key figure in est. of Hugh Johnson’s Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar
- Founding member of Circle of Mád - small contingent of producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines in the region
What is the difference between Fordítás and Máslás?
- Fordítás - refermenting w/ pressed paste of Tokaji Aszú
- Máslás - refermenting w/ spent lees of Tokaji Aszú
What is Cirlce of Mád?; name a founding member.
- Circle of Mád - small contingent of producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines in the region
- István Szepsy - winemaker, key figure in est. of Hugh Johnson’s Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar
As of what year, are all other countries in the European Union prohibited from using the term “Tokaj” or its derivatives (Tokay, Tocai)?
2007
- Pinot Gris in Alsace no longer Tokay d’Alsace
- Friulano in Italy no longer Tocai Friulano
In 2000, two decades after the fall of communism, how many wine appellations were identified in Hungary?
22 wine appellations
- w/ recent EU reforms - now 30 PDO, 5 PGI
In what year were 22 wine appellations identified in Hungary?
2000
- Two decades after the fall of communism
- w/ recent EU reforms 30 PDO, 5 PGI
With recent EU reforms, how may regions qualify for PDO status?; how many PGI?
- In 2000 - 22 appellations identified
- Now: 30 PDO, 5 PGI
30 PDOs and 5 PGIs are divided among what 3 major geographical zones?
- North Hungary
- Transdanubia - W
- Great Plain - S
In what major geographical zone are Tokaj and Eger located?
North Hungary
Eger is famous for what?
Egri Bikavér - the “Bull’s Blood of Eger”
- historically - dom by Kadarka - indigenous, low-tannin, light-bodied, not particularly sanguine grape
- modern - blend of at least 3 varieties - Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) plus Hungarian and Intern grapes
What 2 regions are permitted to use the term “Bikavér” (“Bull’s Blood”)?
- Eger
- Szekszárd
Egri Bikavér (“Bull’s blood of Eger”) is historically dominated by what grape?
Kadarka
- Indigenous, low-tannin, light-bodied, nto particulary sanguine
- vs modern Egri Bikavér - blend of at least 3 varieties - Kékfrankos plus Hungarian and International
Modern Egri Bikavér (“Bull’s Blood of Eger”) is made with what grape (s)?
- blend of at least 3 varieties, Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch) plus Hungarian and International
- vs. historically - dom by Kadarka - indigenous low-tannin, light-bodied, not particularly sanguine
Badacsony and Balatonfüred-Csopak are regions in Transdanubia (W) located on the shores of what lake?
Lake Balaton
- One of Europe’s largest lakes
Where is Somló located within Hungary?
Northwest - Somló
- On slopes of extint volcano
Badacsony, Balatonfüred-Csopak and Somló are dominated by white wine production from what 3 grapes?
- Furmint
- Juhfark
-
Olaszrizling (Welschriesling)
- in Badacsony, Balatonfüred-Csopak, and Somló
Are Badacsony, Balatonfüred-Csopak, and Somló dominated by white or red wine production?
white wines - Badacsony, Balatonfüred, Somló
- Furmint
- Juhark
- Olaszrizling (Welschriesling)
What is Hungary’s hottest region?
Villány
- Southern Croatian border
- Quality from Bordeaux varieties, Kékfrankos, Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser)
Where is Villány located?; what type of wine is Villány known for?
Villány
- Southern Croatian border
- Hungary’s hottest region
- Quality from Bordeaux varietals, Kékfrankos, Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser)
What is Blauer Portugieser known as in Hungary?; where are you likely to find it?
- Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser)
-
Villány
- Along southern Croatian border
- Hungary’s hottest region
- Good quality also from Bordeaux vaietals and Kékfrankos
Where is Sopron?; what grape is it most associated with?
Sopron
- Contiguous w/ Austria’s Burgenland (NW Hungary)
- Kékfrankos is cultivated on both sides of border
Where is red wine more common?
Extreme North and South of Transdanubia
What is Hungary’s largest region?
Kunság
- Located in the Great Plain
- Sizeable amount of mass production white wine (some reds) from indigenous grapes
What are the soils of the Great Plain?
sandy soils
- Welcome habitat after phylloxera struck in the 19th centruy
- Great plain contains a majority of Hungar’s acreage under vine
What is the majority of production from the Great Plain?
Great Plain (east of Transdanbia)
- Every day quality, consumed locally
- Sandy soils - welcome habitat post phylloxera
- Kunság - Hungary’s largest region, sizeable mass white prod w/ some red from indigenous
Where is the Great Plain in relation to Transdanubia?
Great plain is east of Transdanubia
What’s Hungary’s largest region?
Kunsag (great plains)
What is Somlo?
a white wine-dominated region, with Furmint , Juhfark, Olaszrizling.
What words indicate late harvest on a bottle of tokaji?
Kesoi Szuretelesubor
What Hungarian region runs continuous with Austria’s Burgenland?
Sopron
The region of Tokaj is sheltered by what mountains?
Carpathian Mountains
What’s Maslas?
Tokaji Aszu that has spent time on lees.
What is a gonc?
a hungarian oak cask of 136l
How many villages are classified for Tokaj?
28
What’s the major grape of Sopron?
Kekfrankos
How many countries does Hungary border with?
Seven - Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia
What is a puttony?
Originally, basket where aszu grapes were gathered (20 - 25kgs)
What rivers flank the Great Plain region?
The Duna (Danube) and Tisza
What is the aging time for Tokaji Aszu Esszencia?
5 years, 3 in barrel
Kekfrankos is what grape?
Blaufrankisch
What are the six districts comprising the Lake Balaton region?
Badacsony
Balatonboglar
Zala
Nagy-Somlo
Balaton-felvidék
Balatonfured-Csopak
In what year was Tokaj region made a UNESCO World Heritage site?
2002
Percentage of vines grown in Tokaj of three grape varieties?
Approx Furmint (70%), Harslevelu (20-25%), Sarga Muskotaly (5-10%)
Sarga Muskotaly is a local name of which grape variety?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
What is the Hungarian name for the Neusiedler See?
Fertő
What is the principal grape that appears in contemporary Egri Bikavér or Bull’s Blood?
kékfrankos
That said could you produce a monovarietal bottling of any of the approved varieties?
No, not even kékfrankos which is to form 30-50% of the blend. At least 4 varieties must appear in the blend and none of them may form less than 5% of said blend.
What are the three quality levels for the wines of Eger?
Classicus, Superior, Grand Superior
What is the minimum residual sugar for Eszencia?
450 g/L
What word on a Tokaji bottle would indicate that it is dry?
Száraz
What is Szamorodni?
A wine made from gathering all the grapes of a vineyard healthy, shriveled, & botrytized and fermenting them together. It may be either sweet or dry but may also experience the growth of a veil in cellar
What would the phrase ‘Jégbor’ on a bottle signify?
Icewine
Name the famous bitter liqueur produced by Zwack
Unicum
Slivovitz might be considered a subtype of this fruit liquor that may only be produced in Hungary and when, made from apricots, four provinces of Austria:
Palínka
What is Fröccs?
Hungarian wine spritzer, very popular
What is the word for Hungarian sparkling wine?
Pezsgő
What is the PGI that occupies the same boundary as Tokaj PDO?
Zemplén
Barrel name, capacity, and Forest name used for Tokaj PDO?
Gönc, 136L, Zemplén
Vörös is the name for what in Hungary?
Red- red wine/vermouth, also a nickname for redheads socially/culturally- shout out to all my Vörös brothers and sister out
T/F Olaszrizling is grown everywhere except Tokaj?
True
What is the Austrian/German/Canadian/Swiss synonym for Olasrizling?
Welschriesling, in Croatia= Graševina
Aszú wines may not be released prior to January 1 of the third year after harvest. They must be aged in barrel for at least _____ months.
Aszú wines may not be released prior to January 1 of the third year after harvest. They must be aged in barrel for at least 18 months.
Szamorodni, Máslás and Fordítás wines must be aged for a minimum of ____ months in barrel.
Szamorodni, Máslás and Fordítás wines must be aged for a minimum of 6 months in barrel.
Name 2 producers of the Circle of Mád?
What is the difference between Egri Bikáver and Egri Bikaver Superior?
Superior mandates min 30% comb. CS / CF
What is fordítás?
Wine made by refermenting with aszu paste