Tokaji Aszú – The King of Wines

Overview

Tokaji Aszú is a sweet, topaz-colored wine from Hungary. 

The wine derives its name from the Tokaj-Hegyalja district of Northeastern Hungary. The region lies on the edge of the great Hungarian plain, dominated by the extinct Tokaj volcano and the Zemplen Hills.

Tokaji Aszú is made from late-ripened grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, a mold that concentrates grape sugars and flavours into honeylike sweetness.

The Tokaj-Hegyalja district was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002 on account for its viticultural traditions and landscape. It covers a total of 28 towns and villages.

Tokaji Aszú is also proudly cited in the Hungarian national anthem.

History

Crowned as the “king of wines and wine of kings” by Louis XIV, Tokaji Aszú has a long and distinguished history.

It is believed the first aszú was made by Laczkó Máté Szepsi in 1630. It then quickly became a favourite among the royal households of Europe.

Tokaji wine became the subject of the world’s first appellation control, established several decades before Port wine, and over 120 years before the classification of Bordeaux. Vineyard classification began in 1730 with vineyards being classified into 3 categories depending on the soil, sun exposure and potential to develop noble rot, botritys cinerea, first class, second class and third class wines. A royal decree in 1757 established a closed production district in Tokaj. The classification system was completed by the national censuses of 1765 and 1772.

After World War II, Hungary became a Soviet-influenced state with a Communist central-planning system. Tokaji production continued with a limited number of producers, but the bottling and distribution were monopolized by a state-owned organization. As a result, the quality of the wine plummeted and most of the bottles became inaccessible to the world.

Since the collapse of the communist regime in the early 1990’s, Hungary’s vineyards have regained their status with foreign investment.

Tokaji Aszú is now recognized as a highly esteemed wine and has won numerous international awards over the years.

Grape Varieties

There are six grapes varieties that produce Tokaji wine.

• Furmint
• Hárslevelü
• Sárga Muskotály or Yellow Muscat
• Kövérszolo
• Kabar
• Zéta

Taste Profile

In Hungary, “Aszú” wines are traditionally drunk at the end of the evening or as an aperitif. However, they also make a fine accompaniment to white meat in sauce, game, blue cheeses, and desserts. It should be noted that a bottle, once opened, can be kept for several weeks in the refrigerator. The wine should ideally be served between 10 and 12°C.

Wine producers

Below are a few listings of wine producers for Tokaji Aszú.

Crown Estates of Hungary
http://www.crownestates-tokaji.com

Disznóko Vineyards and Winery Inc.
http://www.disznoko.hu

Patricius Tokaj
http://www.patricius.hu

Royal Tokaji Wine Company
http://www.royal-tokaji.com

Tokaj Hetzsolo
http://www.tokaj.com

Tokaj Kereskedoház
http://tkrt.hu/eng

Further information

For more information about  Tokaji Aszú and the wine region, you can visit these websites as listed below.

Official Website of the Tokaj Town in Hungary
http://www.tokaj.hu

Tokaj Renaissance Classified Vineyards of Tokaj
http://tokaji.directinfo.hu

Time Magazine 
“The Sweet Sensation of Hungary’s Tokaj” by Sudi Pigott
http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,1884266,00.html

The New York Times
“Hungary Returns to a Sweet Past” by Eric Asimov
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/dining/27wine.html

Straight.com
“From Hungary, here’s Tokaji: how sweet it is” by Jurgen Gothe
http://www.straight.com/article-194029/hungary-heres-tokaji-how-sweet-it

Related posts:

1. My Travel Photos – Tokaji Aszú
2. Hungary and Slovakia Battle Over Tokaji Wine
3. Tokaji – Hungary’s Golden Wine
4. Celebrating 20 years of The Royal Tokaji Wine Company
5. 2009 Tokaji Wine Festival In Hungary

Tags: Beer & Spirits, hungarian food, Hungarian wine, Tokaji, Tokaji Aszú, Wine

Category: Wine