Tokaj

Question 1

What are the latitude and climate of Tokaj?

Answer 1

48°N
The climate is moderate.

Question 2

What are the Mountains & two rivers important in Tokaj?

Answer 2

The Carpathian Mountains
The Bodrog & the Tisza Rivers

Question 3

What are the 3 principal white grape varieties used to make Tokaji?

Answer 3

-Furmint
-Hárslevelű
-Sárga Muskoláti (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)

Question 4

The dry wines without botrytis are gaining popularity. What are these wines?

Answer 4

-Based on Furmint (High acidity with flavors of apple developing into nuts and honey with age)
-from simple, unoaked for early drinking to more concentrated age-worthy blends.

Question 5

Explain the process to make Tokaji Aszú

Answer 5

-Start with a base wine made from healthy grape
-Macerate aszú (rotten) grapes uncrushed for 12 to 60 hours (can be before, during or after the complete fermentation of the base wine)
-Press the wine and mature in oak

Question 6

What determines the level of sweetness in a Tokaji Aszú?

Answer 6

The amount of aszú berries added.
Traditionally labeled in number of baskets (Puttonyos) of rotten berries added. (ie: 8 Puttonyos is sweeter than 6 Puttonyos)

Question 7

Describe a classic Tokaji Aszú

Answer 7

Medium to deep amber
Pronounced aromas of orange peel, apricot & honey
Sweetness balanced by high acidity.
Long lingering finish