"King of wines and wine of kings" as Louis XIV called it, Tokaji is a unique wine where history, terroir and great know-how come together.
Tokaji wines have been renowned throughout the world for centuries because they are made from traditional grape varieties such as Furmint, Harslevelú and Muscat de Lunel, which undergo a very special vinification process.
Legend has it that when the Hungarian warriors returned from the war just as the harvest period was coming to an end, they were unpleasantly surprised to discover a curious rot on their grapes. They decided to harvest the dehydrated grapes anyway. What a surprise when they discovered the result: a wine with a superb balance between freshness and sweetness and a length that prolongs the pleasure on the palate. It was therefore only natural that Tokaji Aszú, a true symbol of Hungarian wine, was used as a diplomatic gift throughout the centuries. This is the origin of the reputation of Tokaji wines, which are made from late harvests that allow the development of the noble rot, botrytis.
Today, these Tokaj wines (the i in "tokaji" means "of") are mainly made from the indigenous Furmint. The grapes that develop this noble rot are called Aszú. They are then harvested in baskets, the puttonyos. The sweet wines are thus obtained according to the quantity of Aszú added. This can vary from 2 puttonyos to 6 puttonyos, beyond which the wine is called Aszú Eszencia, made from 100% Azsú grapes. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 3 to 10 years. The result of this slow and meticulous vinification is Tokaji wines with divine aromas.
