Hungary Flashcards
What two rivers border Tokaj?
Tisza and Bodrog
When did Tokaj undergo vineyard classification?
1700, Prince Rákóczy delimited 28 villages in the region
What is the fundamental grape of the best Tokaji wines?
Furmint
What are some estates leading the way for Tokaji production?
Royal Tokaji Company, Vega Sicilia’s Tokaj Oremus, Disznókõ, and Királyudvar
What are some moderating weather influences in Tokaji?
sheltered by the Carpathian Mountains, warm continental climate with long, humid autumns: perfect for noble rot
What soils are in Tokaji? What is preffered slopes?
volcanic loess and clay, and many of the better vineyards occupy south-facing slopes
How what the original classification set up?
divided the vineyards of Tokaj and its neighboring villages into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd growths, remains relevant today.
What two vineyards have the designation of Great First Growths
Szarvas and Mézes Mály,
How many first growths are there in Tokaji?
74 vineyards
What are the two principal grapes of the region
Furmint and Hárslevelű;
Sárgamuskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains), Zéta (Oremus), Kabar and Kövérszőlő are authorized but generally used in small quantities.
Define puttonyos
grapes are handpicked individually and gathered in containers called puttony, which hold roughly 25 kg. Puttonyos is the adjective form
Define Esszencia
A tiny fraction of syrupy, free-run juice from the Aszu must, vinified separetely
What is a gönc
a Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136 L
Requirements for modern “Aszu”
Ages 2+ years prior to release/min 18 mon in barrel. 120 g/l RS min, actual alcohol content of at least 9%
Esszencia
Rare. Decades of fermentaion for 4-6% alcohol. Richer than honey, the wine retains at least 450 g/l RS
What is Tokaji Szamorodni
“as it comes” mix of aszú and non-aszú grapes,oxidative in style, in cask min 6 mon, sometimes under a film-forming yeast similar to flor. May be édes (sweet) or száras (dry).
How are Fordítás and Máslás wines made?
Fordítás - refermenting wine with the pressed paste
Máslás - with spent lees
What others styles may Tokaji wines produce?
Late harvest wines (in a wide range of styles) without the extended aging or dry varietal wines, made from non-aszú grapes
What is the Circle of Mád?
a small contingent of producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines in the region. A founding member is Hugh Johnson of the Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar
When did the EU prohibit the use of term “Tokaj” or its derivatives (Tokay, Tocai) on labels?
2007
What two other regins renamed grapes due to the 2007 EU mandate?
Alsatian producers for Pinot Gris as Tokay d’Alsace and Italian producers rechristened Tocai Friulano as simply Friulano.
How many regions qualify for PDO status?
31 PDOs with an additional 6 PGIs
What are the three major geographical zones of production?
Northern Massif, the western region of Transdanubia, and the southern Great Plain
What does the Northern Massif region contain?
Tokaj and Eger, a region famous for Egri Bikavér—the “Bull’s Blood of Eger.”
What grapes make up the modern blend of Egri Bikavér?
At least 4 varieties, Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), and other Hungarian and international grapes
Who is permitted to use the term “Bikavér” on labels?
Only Eger and Szekszárd in Transdanubia
What is is Mátra?
Hungary’s second largest wine growing region, west of Eger
What is one of Europe’s largest lakes?
Lake Balaton
When did phylloxera hit Hungary?
In the 1880s
What is Hungary’s hottest region?
Villány, just south along the Croatian border
What varieties does Villány produce?
good-quality wines from Bordeaux varieties, Kékfrankos, and Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser)
What varieties does Somló produce?
Mostly white from Furmint, Juhfark, Olaszrizling (Welschriesling), and a number of international varieties
What region has the most mass production whites and reds from indigenous grapes?
Kunság, Hungary’s largest region, is located in the Great Plain
