Hungary

Question 1

When did Tokaj’s vineyards first undergo classification?

Answer 1

1700 by Transylvanian Prince Rákóczy who delimited 28 villages for production.

There is evidence that it was actually 1730 but both are mentioned.

Rákóczy’s original classification, which divided the vineyards of Tokaj and its neighboring villages into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd growths, remains relevant today through the efforts of the Tokaj Renaissance, a producers’ association devoted to the protection of the concept.

74 vineyards are recognized as first growths; Szarvas and Mézes Mály, near the communes of Tokaj and Tarcal, respectively, share the superlative designation of Great First Growths. The two principal grapes of the region are Furmint and Hárslevelű;

Question 2

What does Aszú mean?

Answer 2

It originally meant dried desiccated grapes, but has evolved to indicate grapes of high sugar levels afflicted with botrytis cinerea—the noble rot

Question 3

Who is Szepsi Laczkó Máté and what did they do?

Answer 3

They definitively produced botrytis-affected aszú wine by the mid-17th century.

Thus, the aszú wines of Tokaj predated the botrytised wines of Germany, and probably Sauternes as well.

Question 4

Name 2 estates that are currently leading the way in Tokaj production after the fall of communism.

Answer 4

Royal Tokaji Company
Vega Sicilia’s Tokaj Oremus
Disznókõ
Királyudvar

Question 5

*Which two rivers converge at the commune of Tokaj?

Answer 5

The Tisza and Bodrog Rivers

Question 6

• mountain range shelters the Tokaj region?

Answer 6

The Carpathian Mountains

Question 7

*What are the predominant soil types in Tokaj?

Answer 7

Volcanic loess and clay

Question 8

*How many designated first growths are there in Tokaj?

Which 2 vineyards are called “Great First Growths”?

Answer 8

74

Szarvas and Mézes Mály (located near the communes of Tokaj and Tarca)

Question 9

What are the 2 predominate grapes of the Tokaj region?

Answer 9

Furmint and Hárslevelű

Sárgamuskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains), Zéta (Oremus), Kabar and Kövérszőlő are authorized but generally used in small quantities

Question 10

What qualities make Furmint key to the production of Tokaj Aszu?

Answer 10

It’s susceptibility to botrytis and its high acidity

Question 11

*What is a gönc?

Answer 11

A Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136L

Question 12

*What are puttony

Answer 12

The traditional containers the Aszu grapes are gathered in. The hold roughly 25 kg of grapes

Question 13

How are Tokaji Aszú grapes harvested?

Answer 13

By hand

Question 14

What is Esszencia?

Answer 14

A tiny fraction of syrupy, free-run juice is allowed to settle out of the aszú must—that will be vinified separately as Esszencia

450grams sugar/liter and 3-6% ABV

Question 15

What is the process for making Tokaji Aszú?

Answer 15

• Aszu grapes are hand harvested and placed in 25L puttony’s.
• They are pressed and the syrupy free run is turned into Esszencia
• The remaining aszu grapes are then stomped into a paste and a number of puttony of the paste is then mixed with gönci barrels of must or base wine from non-aszú grapes.
• The number of puttony added to a gönc (a Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136 L) determines the final sweetness of the Tokaji Aszú wine
• The wine ages for 3 years prior to release - 18 mos min in barrel and min 120g/l RS, ABV min 9%

Question 16

What are the aging requirements for Modern Tokaj Aszú?

Answer 16

Tokaj Aszu ages for three years prior to release (with a minimum 18 months in barrel) and must contain at least 120 g/l of residual sugar and achieve an actual alcohol content of at least 9%.

Question 17

How long does Esszencia take to age? What ABV does it usually reach?

Answer 17

Esszencia ferments at a glacial pace, sometimes taking DECADES to reach 4-6% alcohol. Many times it does not reach an ABV higher than 3%.

Richer than honey, the wine retains at least 450 grams per liter of residual sugar. Esszencia, or Natúresszencia, is rarely available commercially, and it is everlasting nectar, unique in the entire world of wine.

Question 18

What are Tokaji Szamorodni wines?

Answer 18

Tokaji Szamorodni (“as it comes”) are wines produced from a mixture of aszú and non-aszú grapes and are often oxidative in style as they are matured in cask for a minimum of two years—sometimes under a film-forming yeast similar to flor. Szamorodni wines may be édes (sweet) or száras (dry)

Question 19

What does száras mean?

Answer 19

In Tokaji Szamorodni, Szaras means dry.

Question 20

What are Fordítás and Máslás wines?

Answer 20

Fordítás and Máslás wines are the product of refermenting wine with the pressed paste or spent lees, respectively, of Tokaji Aszú.

Question 21

*Which Tokaji wine sometimes develops flor?

Answer 21

Tokaji Szamorodni - can be finished sweet (edes) or fermented dry (szaras)

Question 22

Name the different styles of wine Tokaj produces

Answer 22

+Aszu
+Dry wine
+Late harvest wine
+Szamorodni (mixture of Aszu and non-aszu grapes produced in an oxidative style, generally seeing 2 years in cask
+Fordítás - made by refermenting wine with pressed Tokaji Aszu paste
+Máslás - Made by refermenting wine with spent lees of Tokaji Aszu

Question 23

*Who is István Szepsy?

Answer 23

A key figure in the establishment of Hugh Johnson’s Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar.

He is also a founding member of the Circle of Mád, a small contingent of producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines in the region.

Question 24

What is the Circle of Mad?

Answer 24

A small group of Tokaj producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines in the region.

Istvan Szepsy was a fouding member

Question 25

Where is Eger located? What wine is it known for?

Answer 25

Eger is located in north/north east Hungary in the same large delimited wine region as Tokaj.

Eger is famous for Egri Bikavér— Bulls Blood of Eger. Traditionally it was made with Kedarka but now REQUIRES it is a blend of at least 4 grapes incorporating Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), and other Hungarian and international grapes.

Only Eger and Szekszárd in Transdanubia are permitted to use the term “Bikavér” on labels. (In Szekszárd Bikavér requires only three varieties.)

Question 26

What are the 3 major geographical zones of wine production in Hungary?

Answer 26

North Hungary, the western region of Transdanubia, and the southern Great Plain

Question 27

Where are Badacsony and Balatonfüred-Csopa located?

Do white or red grapes dominate?

Answer 27

They are located in Transdanubia on the shores of lake Balaton, one of Europe’s largest lakes

White grapes dominate this region: Furmint, Juhfark, Olaszrizling (Welschriesling), and a number of international varietals

Question 28

Where is Somló located? What types of wine does it produce?

Answer 28

It is locate to the north west of Lake Balaton and produces white wine, similar varietals to Badascony and Balatonfured-Csopa: Furmint, Juhfark, Olaszrizling (Welschriesling), and a number of international varietals

Question 29

Which region is the warmest in Hungary?

Answer 29

Villány which is along the southern Croatian border and produces Bordeaux varietals along with , Kékfrankos, and Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser).

Question 30

Where is Sopron located and what does it produce?

Answer 30

It is located in the north west of the country on Austria’s border (Burgenland) and produces Kekfrankos. Both sides of the border produce Kekfrankos.

Question 31

Which is Hungary’s largest region?

Answer 31

Kunság is Hungary’s largest region and is located in the Great Plain (a large region with sandy soils) and produces a sizable amount of mass production white wine (and some reds) from indigenous grapes.

Question 32

What two Tokaj vineyards are recognized as great first growth vineyards?

Answer 32

Szarvas and Mézes Mály