Hungary

Question 1

What two rivers play a big role for Tokaj producers in the northeastern corner of Hungary?

Answer 1

Tisza and Bodrog Rivers

Question 2

The Transylvanian Prince Rakoczy delimited 28 Villages in the region in what year?

Answer 2

1700

Question 3

What grape is a fundamental component of the best Tokaj wines?

Answer 3

Aszú

Grapes with high levels of sugar afflicted with botrytis cinerea

Question 4

What is the climate and soil of the Tokaj region?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

The Tokaj Renaissance

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are the two First Great Growths near the communes of Tokaj and Tarcal?

Answer 6

Szarvas and Mézes Mály

Question 7

What are the two principal grapes of Tokaj?

Answer 7

Furmint, the key to production of Tokaji Aszú

Harslevelu

Question 8

Other authorized grapes of Tokaj used in small quantities are

Answer 8

Sargamuskotaly (Muscat Blanc e Petits Grains), Zeta (Oremus), Kabar and Koverszolo

Question 9

Puttony

Answer 9

Containers which hold roughly 25 kg of Aszú grapes

Question 10

Esszencia

Answer 10

A tiny fraction of syrupy free run juice that is allowed to settle out of the Aszú must and vinified separately

Question 11

Gonci

Answer 11

A Hungarian oak cask of approximately 136 L.

Barrels of must or base wine from non Aszú grapes

Question 12

Tokaj Aszú was labeled with a 3-6 puttonys to indicate sweetness until major revisions eliminated these categories in time for what years harvest?

Answer 12

2013

Question 13

Modern Tokaj Aszú is simply labeled

Answer 13

Aszú

Question 14

The sugar rich Esszencia is the preferred Tokaj of

Answer 14

Czars

Richer than honey, the wine retains at least 450 grams per liter of residual sugar

Question 15

The style of Tokaji Szamorodni

Answer 15

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)

Question 16

Forditas and Máslás

Answer 16

Wines are the product of refermenting wine with the pressed paste or spent lees, respectively of Tokaji Aszú

Question 17

The talented Hungarian winemaker István Szepsy

Answer 17

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

Question 18

The three major geographical zones of Production in Hungary as of 2000

Answer 18

North Hungary

The western region of Transdanubia

The southern Great Plain

Question 19

Eger (In North Hungary)

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Szekszárd In Transdanubia

Answer 20

The only other region allowed to use the term “Bikavér” on labels

Szekszárd Bikavér requires only three varieties

Question 21

Other regions of Transdanubia include

Answer 21

Badacsony and Balatonfured Csopak on the shores of Lake Balaton, Somlo, Villány, Sopron

Question 22

White wines of Transdanubia

Answer 22

Furmint, Juhfark, Olaszrizling (Welschriesling)

Question 23

Red wine varietals in both the extreme south and north of Transdanubia include

Answer 23

Bordeaux varietals, Kekfrankos, and Kekoporto (Blauer Portugieser)

Question 24

Hungry’s largest region located in the Great Plain

Answer 24

Kunsang

Produces mass production whites and reds