Hungary Flashcards
What is the capital of Hungary?
Budapest
Where in Hungary is the Tokaj region?
NW corner
At the confluence of what two rivers is Tokaj?
Tisza and Bodrog
What river actually runs along the eastern border of Tokaj
Bodrog
What was the Tokaj region formerly known as?
Tokaj-Hegyalja
Tokaj “foothills”
When was Tokaj first classified? By who?
- 1700 (or maybe 1730, not definitive)
- Transylvanian Prince Rákóczy
- delimited 28 villages
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd growths
What is aszú
- originally signified desiccated grapes
- evolved to indicate grapes of high sugar levels afflicted with botrytis cinerea
What came first, aszú wines of Tokaj or Rhine or Sauternes?
Tokaj came first!
-definitely by mid 1600s, about a C before Rhine
What wine is known as the “wine of kings and the king of wines?
Tokaji
Why did quality of Hungarian wines suffer in 19th c?
Communism
When was fall of communism
1989
Top estates in Tokaj
- Royal Tokaji Company (Hugh Johnson)
- Tokaj Oremus (Vega Sicilia)
- Disznókõ (AXA Millésimes - Ch.Pichon Long.)
- Királyudvar (Hwang fam - also owns Huet)
Tokaji vs Tokaj?
Tokaji - refers to wine - adjectival
Tokaj - region
What mountains shelter the Tokaji region?
Carpathian
also at base of Zemplen
Climate of Tokaj
warm continental
humid autumn
Soils of Tokaj
Volcanic loess and clay
Best aspect in Tokaj
South facing
What is the Tokaj Renaissance
Producers association devoted to protection of concept of 1st, 2nd 3rd growths initially declared by Rákócsy
How many 1st growth vineyards in Hungary?
What are the two Great 1st Growths?
74 vineyards are 1st growth
- Szarvas (near Tokaj)
- Mézes Mály (Near Tarcal)
2 principle grapes of Tokaj?
Other grapes?
Furmint, Hárslevelú
Sargamuskotály (muscat)
Zéta
Kabar
Kövérszóló
What makes Furmint ideal for Tokaji Aszú?
- particularly susceptible to botrytis
- high in acid
What is a puttony?
25 kg container for handpicked aszú grapes
Puttonyos is adjective
What is Esszencia
syrupy, free-run juice that settles out of the aszú must
-450 g/l RS
What is a gönc
Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136 L
How is final sweetness of Tokaji Aszuú determined?
number of puttony added to a gönc of must/base wine from non-aszú grapes