Tokaj

Tokaj, formerly known as Tokaj-Hegyalja, is a wine-growing region of Hungary that has gained a high international reputation thanks to the fame of its sweet nectar-like wines, a product so esteemed that it is also mentioned within of the Hungarian national anthem. Located in the north-east near the border with Slovakia, it covers an area of about 40 km. Its main production centers are the cities of Mad, Tarcal and Tokaj, from which the region takes its name. The climate is relatively warm, protected by the rising mountain range of the Carpathians. The soils are very varied, with volcanic clays in the highest parts of the hill slopes and layers of loess and other soils of sedimentary origin to cover the base. Sandy soils prevail near the banks of the Bodrog River, especially around the city of Tokaj. The grape varieties with which Tokaji wines are produced are Furmint, Harslevelu, and Muscat Blanc (Sárga Muskotály in Hungarian). Dominating the blend, Furmint has naturally high acidity and high sugar levels that guarantee phenomenal aging potential, as well as a pleasantly spicy flavor profile unlike any other sweet passito wine. Tokaji is obtained by means of botrytized grapes (aszú), that is covered by the noble rot Botrytis cinerea which dehydrates the berries, concentrating the sugars and leaving a characteristic honeysuckle aroma. The sweetness of botrytized Tokaji wines is expressed in puttonyos. A puttonyo is a large basket used for harvesting grapes: the number of puttonyos added to a 136-liter barrel of base wine is a traditional measure of the sweetness of the wine. Nowadays this sweetness is expressed in grams of sugar per liter, with 3 puttonyos corresponding to 25 grams per liter, the lowest sugar content, up to Eszencia, with 800 grams per liter, which is sweet and so low in alcohol. not even be considered a wine. Tokaji also produces non-botrytized wines which are gradually gaining more popularity. Since Hungary has imposed stringent regulations on the production of Tokaj wines, there have been several legal disputes concerning the use of the name as Tokay is the name that has always been used as a synonym for Pinot Grigio, in Alsace, and in Friuli it is preceded traditionally the prefix Tocai to the Friulano variety.