Page 277 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

WHA T T O DRINK  275

A dry white wine Spritzers
Egri Bikavér, “Bull’s Blood”, from the Badacsony
a full-bodied red wine vineyards On hot days, Hungarians
enjoy drinking refreshing
spritzers. The various types are
differentiated by the proportion
of white wine to soda water:
Quantity of Quantity of
wine water
Small spritzer (Kisfröccs)
10 cl 10 cl
Large spritzer(Nagyfröccs)
20 cl 10 cl
Long step (Hosszúlépés)
10 cl 20 cl
Janitor (Házmester)
30 cl 20 cl

Tokaji
Ződszilváni, Hárslevelű and Unicum
Szürkebarát, medium-sweet The dessert wine Tokaji has a
Tramini and the aromatic very different style. Its bouquet Invented in 1790 to subdue
Muskotály, which is produced and flavour come from a mould indigestion, Unicum is made
in Badacsony, Balatonboglár, that grows only in the fork of from a blend of 40 Hungarian
Csopak and Somló. the Bodrog and Tisza rivers and herbs. The herbs, which are
Among red wines, the dry the vol canic soil in which the gathered in three separate
Kékfrankos, Burgundi, Oportó, vines grow (see p232). Tokaji areas, are combined to
Cabernet and Pinot Noir are ranges from sweet to dry and produce this bitter liqueur.
popular, as is the medium-dry is full-bodied and rich. Worth Unicum can be drunk
Merlot, which is produced in sampling is Aszú, which is either as an apéritif before
Siklós, Sopron, Szekszárd, Tihany made with the addition of a meal or afterwards as
and Villány. overripe grapes harvested a digestif with coffee.
Another vine-growing after the first frost. The The recipe has been
dis trict is Eger, which is famous proportion of these held by the Zwack
for its aromatic, robust red Egri grapes added to the family, and remained
Leányka and the dry red must (grape juice) a secret, since the
Egri Bikavér, or “Bull’s Blood”, determines the body reign of Austrian
which is produced from a and sweetness. The Emperor Joseph II.
combination of three grape more grapes used, Originally, Unicum
varieties. Other Hungarian the richer and sweeter Unicum herb liqueur was prescribed as a
wines take their names from the Aszú. remedy for the king
their place of origin or the Although cheap varieties by the court phys ician, who
variety of grape from which of Tokaji do exist, they lack the was himself a mem ber of the
they are produced. quality of the genuine article. Zwack family.

Sweet Tokaji Dry Tokaji Tokaji Aszú, a renowned golden Pear-flavoured Sisi, an apricot
Szamorodni Szamorodni dessert wine Vilmos liqueur liqueur

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