Tokaj Flashcards
Where does Tokaj lie, and what is the climate?
In the north-eastern corner of Hungary, extending from the town of Tokaj into the foothills of the Zemplèn Mountains, towards the Slovakian border (a small part of the region continues into Slovakia).
Moderate continental: summers are warm and winters can be cold, though the region is sheltered from the worst of the cold, northerly winds by forested mountain peaks.
What is the general topography of vineyard area?
Mainly planted on slopes, reducing the risk of winter cold and frost damage.
At this latitude, 48-49°N, slopes fave south and south-west to take maximum advantage of sunlight (hours are between 1,400-1,500 in the growing season)
What is the average rainfall?
500-600mm per year. Although low, around half falls in the growing season. Irrigation is not permitted.
What is the general climate in autumn? What causes this?
Warm and dry, providing ideal conditions for the shrivelling of grapes.
Two major rivers (Tisza and Bodrog) meet in the town of Tokaj; the Bodrog floods regularly creating shallow marshes and water meadows. The moist air results in frequent morning fogs in autumn, ideal for the development of botrytis. In the autumn, the warm, sunny, dry afternoons control the development of botrytis and limit grey rot.
What are the two main soil types of Tokaj?
It is a region of hundreds of extinct volcanoes.
The deep volcanic bedrock is overlaid by a complex array of soils. The most significant is nyirok, a volcanic soil said to produce powerful wines, and loess, a sandy silt with high clay content (found particularly around the Tokaj Hill (to the west of the town) thought to produce lighter, finer wines.
What are other benefits of the soft volcanic bedrock?
Vines can root deeply, making water stress and nutrient deficiencies rare.
Ideal for digging the cellars which are widely used in the region for ageing wine. These cellars are famous for the cushiony growths of the cellar fungus Zasmidium (previously Cladosporium) cellare, which is believed to help regulate humidity.
How are vines typically trained?
Traditionally, grown on single posts at densities of up to 10,000 vines per ha. Still occasionally seen in small old plots.
Now, almost all vines are grown on trellis, using replacement cane pruning or cordon training with VSP, and at lower densities of 4000-5000.
How have modern vineyard management techniques influenced viticulture?
Allowed mechanisation.
However, many are still worked by hand, especially on steeper slopes, and in any case, hand harvesting is required for the careful selection of Aszú berries.
Labour availability is not currently a problem here, but may be in the future.
What are key hazards in the vineyard?
Powdery mildew, and in wetter years, grey rot. Managing the vineyard to ensure good air circulation is especially important for grapes intended for dry wine.
Pests include wild boar and birds.
What are the typical yields?
For Aszú, 2-3hL/ha.
To ensure quality, yields are kept low for dry wines too (on average 30-40hL/ha).
It is possible to have higher yields in warmer, sunnier vintages, but in poor years yields must be kept low to ensure ripeness.
Which varieties are permitted?
Six in the PDO.
The most important are Furmint, Hárslevelű and Sárga Muskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains).
What is the breakdown of plantings in Tokaj?
Furmint 68%
Hárslevelű 19%
Sárgs Muskotály 9%
What is the typical style of wine produced by Furmint?
Come in a range of styles, from those intended to be drunk young to more ageworthy examples; the latter often matured in oak.
Due to high sugar levels, they can have high alcohol. However, due to improved viticultural practices it is now possible to get wines that are ripe and at medium alcohol.
Single varietal wines are becoming increasingly common.
What role does Hárslevelű play in production?
Mainly appears as a supporting role in blends, adding distinctive perfume, although sometimes made as a varietal wine, both dry and sweet.
What role does Sárga Muskotály play in production?
Adds floral notes to the blend of both dry and sweet wines, but also appears as a varietal wine, mainly dry but occasionally sweet.
