Tokaj

Question 1

Where is the region of Tokaj located?

Answer 1

In the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the far north east of Hungary and close to the Slovakian border.

Question 2

What type of wine is Tokaji?

Answer 2

Premium botrytised sweet wine.

Question 3

What is its climate and where are the best vineyards located?

Answer 3

Moderate climate. The best vineyards are on hillside slopes with southerly aspects.

Question 4

What is the name of the two rivers in Hungary that generate the early morning humidity necessary for development of noble rot?

Answer 4

Bodrog and Tisza and their many tributaries.

Question 5

Name the three principal white grapes used in the making of Tokaji?

Answer 5

Furmint, Harslevelu and Sarga Muskotaly.

Question 6

What is the most widely planted of the three varieties?

Answer 6

Furmint.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of Furmint?

Answer 7

It is a concentrated, high acid white wine with flavors of apples when young, developing into nuts and honey as it ages. It can make premium quality dry whites but due to its late ripening and susceptibility to botrytis it is better known as the principal grape variety for sweet Aszu wines.

Question 8

What are the characteristics of Harslevelu?

Answer 8

Late ripening and contributes perfume to a blend.

Question 9

What is another name for Sarga Muskotaly and what does it contribute?

Answer 9

Muscat Blanc a Petis Grains. It contributes aromatic qualities.

Question 10

What are aszu grapes?

Answer 10

rotten grapes.

Question 11

What are the three different categories of grapes?

Answer 11

Aszu (rotten); bunches that remain unaffected by noble rot; Szamorodni, or “as it comes” which are partially affected by noble rot.

Question 12

Dry wines are gaining in popularity. What is the principal grape used in dry wine production?

Answer 12

Furmint. Allows producers to make wine in years where there is not much noble rot. Vary in style from simple, unoaked made to be drunk young to more concentrated age-worthy blends, which can be fermented and aged in new oak.

Question 13

Is Tokaji Szamorondi dry or sweet?

Answer 13

Either, depending on the amount of noble rot that is present. If dry, it is szaraz. If sweet, it is edes. They must be aged in cask for one year and minimum of two years old before released.

Question 14

Why are casks for the dry wines not completely filled?

Answer 14

To enable Flor-like yeasts to form naturally on the wine. It develops a character similar to a Fino Sherry.

Question 15

Describe the production of Tokaji Aszu.

Answer 15

It starts with a base wine made with healthy grapes. Before, during or after fermentation the aszu berries are macerated in the base wine for 12 to 60 hours.

Question 16

Why would a winemaker chose to use uncrushed aszu berries as opposed to the traditional paste?

Answer 16

To avoid the extraction of bitter flavors. This wine is pressed then matured in oak.

Question 17

What determines the sweetness of the final wine?

Answer 17

The amount of Aszu berries used.

Question 18

What is the unit of sweetness used to determine the sweetness of the final wine?

Answer 18

Puttony.

Question 19

Describe the characteristics of classic Tokaji.

Answer 19

Deep amber with high acidity and intense aromas. Flavors of orange peel, apricots and honey. They become more concentrated and intense as they rise up the sweetness scale.

Question 20

What is Tokaji Eszencia (or essence or nectar)?

Answer 20

Extremely rare wines seldom available outside the region of production. Made with free run juice of the Aszu berries. Can take years to ferment. Usually less than 5% in alcohol. Balanced by very high acidity. Enormously concentrated flavors. Can age for a century or more.

Question 21

How are “modern style” sweet tokaji wines made?

Answer 21

Late harvest grapes. Maybe botrytis affected fruit. Where noble rot is present they are produced by fermenting the botrytised grapes rather than by macerating.

Question 22

Name two distinguishing characteristics of Catalunya?

Answer 22

It has a generic DO for still wines that covers the entire region to enable the blending of wines from various regions. It is also where nearly all of the Cava is made.

Question 23

Name the two DO’s within Catalunya.

Answer 23

Penedes and Priorat.

Question 24

Describe the climatic zones of Penedes.

Answer 24

There are three. Mediterranean on the coast; inland slightly cooler but still warm; in the hills of up to 800 meters, moderate.

Question 25

In Penedes, what are the most planted white grapes?

Answer 25

Those used in Cava production.

Question 26

What other grapes are planted in Penedes?

Answer 26

Significant and numerous international varieties,

Question 27

What is Tempranillo known as in Penedes?

Answer 27

Ull de Liebre.

Question 28

What is the best soil of the Priorat?

Answer 28

Llicorella, layers of red slate with small particles that sparkle in the sun. They help ripening, conserve heat and retain water. Cool night temperatures provide some relief from the heat of day.

Question 29

Where is Priorat located?

Answer 29

In Catalunya, within the hills and inland from Tarragona.

Question 30

What is the climate of Priorat?

Answer 30

Summers are long, hot and dry; rainfall is very low.

Question 31

What varieties predominate in Priorat?

Answer 31

Old vine garanacha and Carinena. Both are late ripening and benefit from the climate with long, hot summers.

Question 32

Name the factors that contribute to the cost of Priorat wine.

Answer 32

Bush vines and steep slopes mean mechanization is almost impossible; vineyards are expensive and time consuming to maintain; low nutrient of the soil and small yields from old vines produce small yields of grapes;

Question 33

Describe a red Priorat.

Answer 33

Deeply colored with high tannins, medium to high alcohol, concentrated black fruit with toasty aromas from new French oak. Garnacha and Carinea remain the core, with some international varieties, especially cab.

Question 34

What are the three regions in the Duero Valley?

Answer 34

Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda.

Question 35

Describe the climate of Ribero del Duero.

Answer 35

Short, hot and dry summers. Very cold winters. Cut off from maritime influences by a ring of mountains.

Question 36

Where are the vineyards of Ribero del Duero situated?

Answer 36

Highest part of the Meseta Central (over 850 meters). The altitude and cool temperatures at night maintain acidity and fresh fruit flavors.

Question 37

What types of wine are produced in Ribero del Duero?

Answer 37

Red and rose only.

Question 38

What is the dominant grape and the only variety in most of the best red wines?

Answer 38

Tempranillo. Generally dark in color with high tannins. Cab, Malbec and Merlot are permitted but rarely used.

Question 39

What is done with the Garanacha in Ribero del Duero?

Answer 39

Made into dry rose.

Question 40

How are winemakers in Duero del Duero accentuating the concentrated fruit flavors and tannins?

Answer 40

Long macerations and aging the wine for a short time in new oak barrels. Increasingly made from French rather than American oak.