Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

32  INTRODUCING HUNGAR Y A POR TR AIT OF HUNGAR Y  33

The Wines of Hungary number of puttony (units denoting the Key to Wine Regions
Tokaji Aszú wine is defined by the
level of sugar in the wine) added per Sopron
With warm, dry summers and highly fertile soil, Hungary has barrel for fermentation. Previously, three Somló
the ideal conditions for winemaking. It has produced wine or four puttonyos wines were considered Badacsony
since the 3rd century BC, although its industry was badly Aszú, but regulation amendments mean
neglected during the Communist regime. Large-scale that now only wines with five or more Balatonfüred-Csopak
puttonyos can be called Aszú.
private investment has recently revived wine production Essencia is the rarest wine that Pannonhalma-Sokoróalja
in some areas, most notably in Tokaj, which is famous for requires six to eight years to ferment. Ászár-Neszmély
its wines. Quality reds and whites, as well as sparkling wines, Mór
are produced all over the country. In Aszú, the golden wine Sweet, aromatic white wines Etyek-Buda
of Tokaj, Hungary has one of the world’s most fêted dessert have been produced in Mátraalja
wines; in Bull’s Blood – a full-bodied red from Eger – it has Volcanic red soil typical of the since the 14th century. Mátraalja
one of the most legendary (see p223). Balatonfüred-Csopak vineyards Eger
gives the wines made here – M3 M3 Bükkalja
especially the world-class Pinot Tokaj-Hegyalja
Gris – a unique flavour with a
Miskolc
hint of vanilla. Miskolc Kiskunság
The wines of northwestern Hungary Nyíregyháza
Nyíregyháza
are characterized by their rich and Csongrád
vivid colours. The dessert wines Hajós-Baja
M1
of the Sopron region are M1 Győr M3
M3
Győr
Sopron
light and refreshing, and Sopron Szekszárd
the relatively high T Tatabányaatabánya M1 Mecsekalja
Tisa (Tisza)
M1
humidity of Ászár- Budapest Tisa (Tisza) Debrecen
Debrecen
Budapest
Neszmély is perfect Villány-Siklós
for growing M7 M7
Chardonnay Székesfehérvar M5
Székesfehérvar
Szombathely
M5
and Sauvignon Szombathely Szolnok
Szolnok
Blanc grapes. V Veszprémeszprém The first vineyards
Kecskemét
Zalaegerszeg
Bükkalja in the 1960s,
Zalaegerszeg Danube (Duna) Danube (Duna) Kecskemét were planted in
Balaton
Balaton making it Hungary’s
M7 M7 newest wine region.
Nagykanizsa M5 Grape-picking in Hungary is
Nagykanizsa
M5
considered an art, and many
Szeged
Szeged families have long, proud
traditions of serving vineyard
owners for generations.
Villány-Siklós is Pécs Although days are long during
Pécs
dotted with cellars the harvest, pickers are among
and wine-press 0 kilometres 50 the highest paid agricultural
houses, many of Kiskunság specializes in workers in the country.
which date back fine table whites made 0 miles 50
to the end of the from Chardonnay and
18th century. Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Hungarian Sparkling Wine
Tokaj Wine Region Much as Reims competes with Epernay, so the
Immigrant Italian farmers introduced wineries of Pécs and Etyek-Buda vie for the
viticulture to the Tokaj-Hegyalja region title of best Hungarian Méthode Champenoise.
in the 12th century, after finding Sparkling wine was first made in Hungary in
outstanding conditions for growing 1859 at the Pannonia winery in Pécs. Three of
grapes on the slopes of Mount Tokaj. its brands – Pannonia, Hungaria and Törley
The golden Aszú wine that made the (perhaps the best known) – offer a broad
range of excellent sparkling wines, including
area famous was first produced in extra-dry, semi-sweet and rosé. Hungary’s
the 16th century, using overripe grapes sparkling wine is today widely regarded as one
infected with Botrytis cinerea (noble of the finest non-vintages produced outside
rot). After pressing, the wine is left the Champagne region in France. Hungarian Grande Cuvée
to ferment slowly over several years, Tokaj’s landscape – ideal for Overripe grapes with noble rot, Aszú ageing for several years in sparkling wine
producing an intensely sweet taste. winemaking used to make Aszú barrels in cellars
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