What is Hungarian wine? Is it mostly red or white? What are the best wines?
The world of wine has fascinated me for several years. I will therefore provide you with the answers as precisely as possible.
Hungarian wine is famous for its red wines with notes of red fruits and spices, but especially for its Tokaji, a white wine of which only Hungary has the secret.
In this article, we will see:
- Wine in Hungary
- What is Tokaji
- Memorable Hungarian wines
After reading, you will know everything about this ideal wine to surprise your guests! Without further ado, let’s get started.
Hungarian wine
Wine in Hungary is a bit like a religion. In Hungary, you can drink wine all year round, whether it’s refined red wines or much sweeter white wines.
Hungary produces high-quality wines, but also low-alcohol wines. The country also produces table wines, such as Tokaji Aszú, which is a famous white wine made from white grape varieties. Wine is a popular drink among Hungarians. They consume about 10.5 liters per year per person.
Most Hungarian wines are produced by the major wine regions of the country, such as Tokaj, the Tokay region and the Sopron wine region. The country has a great diversity of climates, which range from mountainous areas to plains and valleys.
In the regions of Pannonia and Tokay, Hungarian red wine is produced. In the regions of Tokay, Sopron and Pannonia, white wines are produced.
The wine of this country surprises the whole world with its sensory qualities in taste and smell. This makes it a product of exceptional quality and of great interest to wine lovers.
Typicity of Hungarian wine
You can recognize a typical Hungarian wine with its intense color, with notes of red fruits, wildflowers and dried fruits. They also have aromas of spices, leather and tobacco, which give Hungarian wines a very characteristic taste. They are also known for their acidity, which gives wines a freshness and a fruity taste.
As for the price, the price range for Hungarian wines is quite wide. It goes from less than 15 euros to more than 100 euros a bottle. Also, if you want to taste this type of wine, you should have no problem finding one at a wine shop anywhere in France.
Wines from Hungary are very popular in France, and have been for centuries. Hungarian wine production was revived in the early 1980s. It continues to be a valuable business even today. The productions are highly appreciated by wine lovers, and have become a symbol of Hungarian prestige and refinement.
Each year Hungary offers us more and more qualitative wines, perhaps you will find the rare pearl in these vineyards?
What is Tokaji
Tokaji is a Hungarian liqueur wine, produced from Furmint, Harslevelu and Muscat de Lunet grapes. We practice what is called a “late harvest”, in October. Noble rot allows the grapes to be dehydrated naturally.
When the grapes are harvested, they are put in baskets called “Puttonyos”, with an average capacity of 20 to 25 liters. Harvested in this way, the grapes form a very sweet paste called “Aszu”.
The grapes are fermented in oak barrels called “Gonc” filled with 130 liters of dry white wine. This is how the drink is more or less sweetened. 3 baskets of 20 liters will therefore offer a Tokaji 3 Puttonyos wine, 5 baskets a Tokaji 5 Puttonyos wine. We very rarely exceed the cap of 7 Puttonyos, but it does exist. As you will have understood, the higher the number of Puttonyos, the sweeter the wine.
Tokaji are considered luxury wines. They are truly appreciated by wine lovers, who value them for their complexity and uniqueness.
Tokaji has a deep golden yellow color and a rich aroma, which is often described as having the flavor of plums. Tokaji has a sweet taste, with a slightly spicy finish and high acidity.
In addition, Tokaji wines are considered by specialists as the best Hungarian liqueur wines.
Memorable Hungarian wine
Here are some Hungarian grape varieties that will undoubtedly make you want to taste one of the wines of this country:
Oremus
Apartment of the famous Spanish group Vega sicilia, this property with an extraordinary cellar offers us various white wines. Mandolas is a dry wine with the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, made from Furmint. There are also Tokaji wines between 3 and 6 Puttonyos.
Disnökö
This winery is also a famous Tokaji producer. The teams are Franco-Hungarian because the group to which the estate belongs is none other than the Axa Millésime group.
Vesztergombi
Ferenc Vesztergombi and Csaba are the winegrowers of the number 1 estate in the Szekszard appellation. They offer us harmonious and aromatic red wines in 4 distinct vintages, which are all to be discovered.
Attila Gere
In the south of the country stands proudly this wine estate, installed on the slopes of Mount Villany. The wines created here are remarkable for their minerality and harmony on the palate. The grape varieties used are the same as in Bordeaux: Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc!
Bikaver
In the region of Eger, in the northern part of Hungary, this superb red wine is produced. Moreover, “bull’s blood” is the name given to this wine. The grape varieties that compose it are mainly Kadarka, which is an ancestral grape variety in this country. To vary the pleasure, there are also a dozen other grape varieties that can be added. We find Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir.
Wines to discover in Hungary
Whether it’s during a trip to this country or by going to your favorite wine shop, I can only recommend that you taste one of the wines of this country!
Although the fame of Tokaji overshadows other wines, it is still fascinating to taste one of its wines if the opportunity arises. Red wines and especially dry white wines produced in Hungary can present some nice surprises.