Tokaj, located in the northeastern region of Hungary, is one of the country's most illustrious wine regions, famed for its unique sweet dessert wine, Tokaji Aszú. This cherished nectar, once applauded as the "Wine of Kings, King of Wines", holds a regal reputation, steeped in history and tradition.
The wine region is nestled in the charming Zemplén Hills, spread across a modest 5,500 hectares, which, despite its small square footage, has continually pumped out exceptional quality wines since the Middle Ages. Tokaj has an emblematic terroir that favours the production of botrytised wines. The area's natural conditions of early morning humid breezes from two rivers, Bodrog and Tisza, followed by warm, dry afternoons, are ideal for the onset of 'noble rot' that imparts the distinct sweetness to the wines.
The wines of Tokaj are born from traditional Hungarian white grape varieties, primarily Furmint, Hárslevelű, and Muscat de Lunel. The Furmint grape variety with its high acidity counters the sweetness, giving Tokaji wines their characteristic clean finish.
The legendary Tokaji Aszú, an opulent sweet wine, is renowned for its complex flavours and astounding longevity. Every drop of this golden nectar reveals hints of honey, apple, and citrus, layered between zesty touches of marmalade and nuts. Beyond its sweet offering, dry Furmint wines from Tokaj have gained international acclaim for their minerality and balanced acidity.
Tokaj, blessed with its favourable climatic features, unique terrain and historic grape varieties, was the first vineyard in the world to be classified and it still maintains its original 18th-century land division. In 2002, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The wine legacy of Tokaj is indeed a testament of Hungary's viticultural heritage, and continues to be a source of national pride, serving up palate pleasing pours steeped in tradition and historical charm.
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