Grapevine

Tokaj, “the wine of kings and the king of wines”, is famed for its sweet aszú wines made from grapes touched by noble rot.

A climber of the grape family that clings to supports with tendrils, with lobed leaves and small greenish flowers borne in panicles. The fruits are juicy, sugar-rich berries borne in bunches. Cultivated for about 8,000 years, it has thousands of varieties – in Tokaj the white Furmint and Hárslevelű dominate, in Eger and Villány the red Kékfrankos and Kadarka. In autumn, in the humid valleys of Tokaj, a noble rot develops on the grapes, concentrating their sugars and aromas and giving the famous aszú wines.

Significance in the country

The Hungarian national anthem mentions the nectar dripping from the vines of Tokaj, and the Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape is on the UNESCO list. Eger’s “Bull’s Blood” and sweet Tokaji wines have been export goods known for centuries, including in Poland.

Where it grows

Vineyards lie in 22 wine regions across almost the whole country – the most famous are Tokaj in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Eger in Heves, Villány in Baranya, Szekszárd in Tolna and the northern shore of Lake Balaton; the largest areas are on the sands of Kunság.

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