Hungary Flashcards
What two rivers play a big role for Tokaj producers in the northeastern corner of Hungary?
Tisza and Bodrog Rivers
The Transylvanian Prince Rakoczy delimited 28 Villages in the region in what year?
1700
What grape is a fundamental component of the best Tokaj wines?
Aszú
Grapes with high levels of sugar afflicted with botrytis cinerea
What is the climate and soil of the Tokaj region?
Sheltered by the Carpathian Mountains, Tokaji enjoys a warm continental climate with long humid autumns, perfect for botrytis
Soils are predominantly volcanic loess and clay, with south-facing slopes
The Tokaj Renaissance
A producers association devoted to the production that divides vineyards and villages into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd growths
74 vineyards are recognized as first growths and 2 as great first growths
What are the two First Great Growths near the communes of Tokaj and Tarcal?
Szarvas and Mézes Mály
What are the two principal grapes of Tokaj?
Furmint, the key to production of Tokaji Aszú
Harslevelu
Other authorized grapes of Tokaj used in small quantities are
Sargamuskotaly (Muscat Blanc e Petits Grains), Zeta (Oremus), Kabar and Koverszolo
Puttony
Containers which hold roughly 25 kg of Aszú grapes
Esszencia
A tiny fraction of syrupy free run juice that is allowed to settle out of the Aszú must and vinified separately
Gonci
A Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136 L.
Barrels of must or base wine from non Aszú grapes
Tokaj Aszú was labeled with a 3-6 puttonys to indicate sweetness until major revisions eliminated these categories in time for what years harvest?
2013
Modern Tokaj Aszú is simply labeled
Aszú
The sugar rich Esszencia is the preferred Tokaj of
Czars
Richer than honey, the wine retains at least 450 grams per liter of residual sugar
The style of Tokaji Szamorodni
Tokaji Szamorodni (“as it comes”) produced from a mixture of Aszú and non Aszú grapes and is often oxidized, matured in cask for a minimum two years-sometimes under a film forming yeast similar to flor.
Wines may be edes (sweet) or szaras (dry)
Forditas and Máslás
Wines are the product of refermenting wine with the pressed paste or spent lees, respectively of Tokaji Aszú
The talented Hungarian winemaker István Szepsy
A key figure of Hugh Johnson’s Royal Tokaji Company and Királyudvar, he is a founding member of the Circle of Mad, a small group of producers committed to elevating the stature of dry wines
The three major geographical zones of Production in Hungary as of 2000
North Hungary
The western region of Transdanubia
The southern Great Plain
Eger (In North Hungary)
A region famous for Egri Bikavér-the “Bulls Blood of Eger”
Dominated by the low-tannin and light bodied Kadarka
Modern Egri Bikavér is a blend of at least four varieties including Kekfrankos (Blaufrankisch) and other Hungarian and international grapes
Szekszárd In Transdanubia
The only other region allowed to use the term “Bikavér” on labels
Szekszárd Bikavér requires only three varieties
Other regions of Transdanubia include
Badacsony and Balatonfured Csopak on the shores of Lake Balaton, Somlo, Villány, Sopron
White wines of Transdanubia
Furmint, Juhfark, Olaszrizling (Welschriesling)
Red wine varietals in both the extreme south and north of Transdanubia include
Bordeaux varietals, Kekfrankos, and Kekoporto (Blauer Portugieser)
Hungry’s largest region located in the Great Plain
Kunsang
Produces mass production whites and reds
