What is the climate of Hungary?
Moderate Continental
2
Where in Hungary is the Tokaj region?
Northeast Hungary
3
Tokaj is situated at the confluence of which 2 rivers?
Tisza and Bodrog Rivers
4
What is the main grape used in Tokaji?
Furmint
Furmint is textural and redolent of freshly cut apples with high acidity and concentration; as it
ages it develops nutty and honey flavors.
5
What is the secondary grape used in Tokaji?
Hárslevelű
Hárslevelű is a spicy, aromatic grape with elevated acidity.
6
What is the third grape used in Tokaji?
Sárga Muscotály, aka Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
Sárga Muscotály is perfumed and floral.
7
What is the bottle size for sweet wines in Hungary?
50cl, or 500ml
8
What does Aszú mean?
Aszú indicates the grapes were affected by Botrytis/Noble Rot.
9
What is Tokaji Szamorodni?
Szamorodni translates to "as it comes," so Tokaji Szamorodni means "Tokaji as it comes."
This means that there was no selection between normal ripe, non-Botrytis grapes and aszú grapes
- all grapes were harvested together, pressed together, and vinified together. Even a smidge
of Botrytis will display the notes of noble rot in even a dry wine.
Because there was no selection the wine may come out dry or semi-sweet, depending on how
much Botrytis was present at time of harvest.
10
What is the minimum aging requirement for Tokaji Szamorodni?
Aged in cask at least 1 year
Must be at least 2 years old prior to release
11
What does száraz mean on a bottle of Tokaji Szamorodni?
Dry
12
What does édes mean on a bottle of Tokaji Szamorodni?
Sweet
How sweet the wine is depends on how much Botrytis was present when the grapes were
harvested.
13
Sometimes a Hungarian winemaker will not fill up their Szamorodni barrels all the way.
What happens to the wine if it isn't topped up?
The wine may develop flor-like yeast which will lead to flavor characteristics in the wine
similar to a Fino Sherry.
14
What is a trend, or style of wine, coming out of Tokaj these days that doesn't involve sweet
wines?
Dry white wines made primarily from Furmint, often fermented and/or matured in oak (neutral
or new).
15
How is Tokaji Aszú made?
Botrytis-affected (aszú) berries macerate with non-botyrtis affected must (a standard base
wine) either before, during, or after fermentation for half a day up to 60 hours. The aszú
infuses the must or wine with botrytis characteristics.
The must or wine is pressed and afterward it is matured in oak.
How many aszú berries were used will determine the final sweetness of the wine.
16
As of 2013, what is the minimum residual sugar for Tokaji Aszú?
120g/L
17
What is a puttony?
Study These Flashcards
It is the unit of measurement used for aszú grapes that are added to dry wine to make Tokaji
Aszú, and the number of puttony indicates the level of sweetness.
A puttony is a woven or wooden basket, usually with shoulder straps, that holds 20-25kg. See
photo.
18
What is the minimum aging requirement for Tokaji Aszú?
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At least 18 months in oak
Cannot be released until January the 3rd year after harvest
19
What is Eszencia?
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Made only in the best vintages, Eszencia is made with the free-run juice (nectar, really) that
seeps out from botrytis-affected grapes (aszú) after they've been hand harvested, berry by
berry, and placed in a vessel.
The free-run nectar is fermented on its own and it takes years, sometimes up to a decade, to
achieve just 4% abv.
20
What is the minimum level of residual sugar for Eszencia?
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450g/L
21
What's the difference between a Late Harvest wine and Tokaji Aszú?
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Tokaji Aszú uses a maceration process of aszú grapes with base wine.
Late Harvest wines are made with grapes that were harvested late and which may or may
not be affected by botrytis. If any grapes are aszú, they go right into the fermentation vessel
along with the late harvest grapes.
Late Harvest wines are usually aged a shorter time than Tokaji Aszú.
22
How are sweet Tokaj wines labeled if they have less than 120g/L of residual sugar?
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