Hungary
Wine traditions in what is now Magyar territory go back to Roman
times and the Emperor Trajan. Most noted today is Tokaj, the
delightfully sweet dessert wine. With the fall of Communism and the
return to tradition, Hungary looks to have a bright wine future.
Wine traditions in what is now Magyar territory go back to Roman
times and the Emperor Trajan. Most noted today is Tokaj, the
delightfully sweet dessert wine. With the fall of Communism and the
return to tradition, Hungary looks to have a bright wine future.
Suggest a Wine
Know a wine you
think we'd like?
Recommend it
right here »
Know a wine you
think we'd like?
Recommend it
right here »
Naturally, it was the Romans who first brought vines to what was then called
Pannonia in the days of the Emperor Trajan. After the Magyar conquest of the
9th century, A.D. the formerly Roman vineyards were taken over by the victors,
who became superb viticulturists in their own right. Over following centuries,
grape varieties continued to come in via trade from Italy, France and Spain. It's
likely that the grapes today known as Tokaj made their way into the country this
way.
Shaped by War
In the 16th century, the Turks, led by Suleiman the Magnificent invaded the
Southeastern Europe, displacing the Serbs who brought in the red Kadarka
grape used to make the thick, hearty red wine blend later known as Bull's
Blood, after the supposed secret ingredient in the wine that fortified the
defenders of the Hungarian city of Eger in 1552. During the Turkish reign, the
Tokaj region became known for dessert wines which were called Vinum
Regum, Rex Vinorum, or the "Wine of Kings, King of Wines."
After the Ottoman Empire ceded Hungary to the Austrian Empire in 1699,
German grape varieties began to appear, and the first classification system for
Hungarian wines began to take shape.
As elsewhere in Europe at the end of the 19th century, Hungary was hit by the
phylloxera epidemic hit Hungary hard, and many of the traditional vineyards of
Tokaj were replaced. Under 20th century Communism, quality was neglected
in favor industrial level production, but since 1989 and the opening of the
Eastern Bloc there has been new investment and renewed interest in the
traditional varieties, especially Tokaj.
Major Hungarian Wine-growing Regions
Eger
Known for its Egri Bikavér (no, I can't pronounce it either) , or Bull's Blood red
wine, Eger is Hungary's traditional wine capitol, which boasts an extensive
cellar and cave system under the city. Bull's Blood is a hearty, blended wine
that contains Kadarka and Blaufränkisch often blended with Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Blauburger or Zweigelt.
The Blood's got a hearty, beefy, warming reputation that goes well with heavy
dishes.
Lake Balaton
The biggest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton has a cool, damp climate
that allows sweet wines from shrivelled ( or aszú) grapes to be made. In
addition, surrounding vineyards grow Welschriesling, Müller-Thurgau and
some Pinot Gris. South of the lake some red grapes are grown as well as
Welschriesling and Királyleányka.
Tokaj
Hungary's most famous wine region, Tokaj lies at the foot of the Carpathian
Mountains (yes, near Transylvania and Dracula's Castle). The area's long,
warm fall and misty climate are ideal for botrytis, or the "noble rot" essential to
making sweet dessert wines from shrivelled (aszú) grapes. Tokaj is made in
a very peculiar way from these aszú grapes. First, they are picked late, mid-
November, and are then crushed to a paste. The aszú paste is then added to
non-aszú must, or grape juice, made from a blend of Furmint, Muscat Blanc,
Hárslevelű and Orémus grapes. This concoction is then fermented. The wine
is aged in small barrels in underground caves the walls of which are covered
with a thick blanket of fungus that regulates the humidity naturally. The Tokay
or Tokaj that results truly is Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum
.
Somló
Somló is the smallest but also one of the most famous wine regions in
Hungary. Located around an extinct volcano, the soil of the region is loose in
structure and clayey, similar to that around the Mediterranean, which is no
doubt why Somló wines are similar to Mediterranean ones. High alcohol
content and tannin characterize this region's wines. Grape varieties include:
Furmint, Italian Riesling and "Sheep's Tail" or Juhfark.
Southern Hungary
Central Plains
The great Hungarian Plain is home to huge vineyards originally planted to
keep the area from becoming desert, making the region noted more for the
quantity wine they produce rather than quality. Recently, however, there has
been renewed interest in quality wines, with areas like Tolna beginning to
produce tolerable Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser varieties.
Western Hungary
With condition similar conditions to Champagne, in France, Western Hungary
once had a thriving sparkling wine trade, sadly wiped out by the twin ravages of
the Great Depression and Soviet-style Communism. Today, the Mór valley is
home to the indigenous Ezerjó grape and international white varieties like
Chardonnay and Traminer.
List of Recognized Wine Regions
Csongrád
Hajós-Baja
Kunság
Ászár-Neszmély
Badacsony
Balatonfüred-Csopak
Balatonfelvidék
Etyek-Buda
Mór
Pannonhalma
Somló
Sopron
Balatonboglár
Pannonia in the days of the Emperor Trajan. After the Magyar conquest of the
9th century, A.D. the formerly Roman vineyards were taken over by the victors,
who became superb viticulturists in their own right. Over following centuries,
grape varieties continued to come in via trade from Italy, France and Spain. It's
likely that the grapes today known as Tokaj made their way into the country this
way.
Shaped by War
In the 16th century, the Turks, led by Suleiman the Magnificent invaded the
Southeastern Europe, displacing the Serbs who brought in the red Kadarka
grape used to make the thick, hearty red wine blend later known as Bull's
Blood, after the supposed secret ingredient in the wine that fortified the
defenders of the Hungarian city of Eger in 1552. During the Turkish reign, the
Tokaj region became known for dessert wines which were called Vinum
Regum, Rex Vinorum, or the "Wine of Kings, King of Wines."
After the Ottoman Empire ceded Hungary to the Austrian Empire in 1699,
German grape varieties began to appear, and the first classification system for
Hungarian wines began to take shape.
As elsewhere in Europe at the end of the 19th century, Hungary was hit by the
phylloxera epidemic hit Hungary hard, and many of the traditional vineyards of
Tokaj were replaced. Under 20th century Communism, quality was neglected
in favor industrial level production, but since 1989 and the opening of the
Eastern Bloc there has been new investment and renewed interest in the
traditional varieties, especially Tokaj.
Major Hungarian Wine-growing Regions
Eger
Known for its Egri Bikavér (no, I can't pronounce it either) , or Bull's Blood red
wine, Eger is Hungary's traditional wine capitol, which boasts an extensive
cellar and cave system under the city. Bull's Blood is a hearty, blended wine
that contains Kadarka and Blaufränkisch often blended with Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Blauburger or Zweigelt.
The Blood's got a hearty, beefy, warming reputation that goes well with heavy
dishes.
Lake Balaton
The biggest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton has a cool, damp climate
that allows sweet wines from shrivelled ( or aszú) grapes to be made. In
addition, surrounding vineyards grow Welschriesling, Müller-Thurgau and
some Pinot Gris. South of the lake some red grapes are grown as well as
Welschriesling and Királyleányka.
Tokaj
Hungary's most famous wine region, Tokaj lies at the foot of the Carpathian
Mountains (yes, near Transylvania and Dracula's Castle). The area's long,
warm fall and misty climate are ideal for botrytis, or the "noble rot" essential to
making sweet dessert wines from shrivelled (aszú) grapes. Tokaj is made in
a very peculiar way from these aszú grapes. First, they are picked late, mid-
November, and are then crushed to a paste. The aszú paste is then added to
non-aszú must, or grape juice, made from a blend of Furmint, Muscat Blanc,
Hárslevelű and Orémus grapes. This concoction is then fermented. The wine
is aged in small barrels in underground caves the walls of which are covered
with a thick blanket of fungus that regulates the humidity naturally. The Tokay
or Tokaj that results truly is Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum
.
Somló
Somló is the smallest but also one of the most famous wine regions in
Hungary. Located around an extinct volcano, the soil of the region is loose in
structure and clayey, similar to that around the Mediterranean, which is no
doubt why Somló wines are similar to Mediterranean ones. High alcohol
content and tannin characterize this region's wines. Grape varieties include:
Furmint, Italian Riesling and "Sheep's Tail" or Juhfark.
Southern Hungary
Central Plains
The great Hungarian Plain is home to huge vineyards originally planted to
keep the area from becoming desert, making the region noted more for the
quantity wine they produce rather than quality. Recently, however, there has
been renewed interest in quality wines, with areas like Tolna beginning to
produce tolerable Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser varieties.
Western Hungary
With condition similar conditions to Champagne, in France, Western Hungary
once had a thriving sparkling wine trade, sadly wiped out by the twin ravages of
the Great Depression and Soviet-style Communism. Today, the Mór valley is
home to the indigenous Ezerjó grape and international white varieties like
Chardonnay and Traminer.
List of Recognized Wine Regions
Csongrád
Hajós-Baja
Kunság
Ászár-Neszmély
Badacsony
Balatonfüred-Csopak
Balatonfelvidék
Etyek-Buda
Mór
Pannonhalma
Somló
Sopron
Balatonboglár
| About Vinapedia Contact Us Legal Notices Copyright, Bon Vivant Media, Inc. Some rights reserved. |
Pécs
Szekszárd
Villány
Bükkalja
Eger
Mátra
Tokaj
Balatonmelléke
Tolna
Szekszárd
Villány
Bükkalja
Eger
Mátra
Tokaj
Balatonmelléke
Tolna
Fast Facts
- It was believed, falsely, that Egri Bikavér, or
the Bull's Blood wine of Eger was named
for the bull's blood that was supposedly
added to the brew to give the city's
defenders courage against the Turk - When the Great Depression failed to kill the
Hungarian wine industry, Communism
stepped in and nearly completed the
process, but not quite, thank heavens
Vinapedia.net
Wine knowledge for the wine novice
Shop for Wines
Take your pick...
click here »
Take your pick...
click here »