The Tokaji
Grape
A region in Hungary famous for its sweet wines made primarily from Furmint and Hárslevelű grapes, affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), which concentrates their sugars and flavors. Tokaji Aszú wines are celebrated for their complexity, acidity, and sweetness, offering flavors of apricot, honey, and spices, with a remarkable aging potential.
Tokaji
Grape History
The Tokaji grape, also known as Furmint, is a Hungarian grape variety primarily grown in the Tokaj region of Hungary, as well as in Slovakia and parts of Austria. The history of Tokaji wine dates back to the early 17th century, making it one of the oldest established wine regions in the world. Legend has it that the Tokaji grape was actually discovered by a soldier serving in the Hungarian army who accidentally stumbled upon grapes affected by noble rot, also known as botrytis cinerea, which is a fungus that can concentrate the sugars in grapes and give the resulting wine a distinct sweetness.
Tokaji wines are renowned for their sweetness and complexity, with a rich history of being enjoyed by royalty and nobility throughout Europe. In fact, Tokaji wine was famously referred to as the "wine of kings, king of wines" by Louis XIV of France. Tokaji wine is typically made in both dry and sweet styles, with the most famous being the sweet Tokaji Aszú, which is made from botrytis-affected grapes that are then added to a base wine.
Tokaji wines are characterized by their high acidity, which balances out the sweetness and gives them incredible aging potential. Tokaji Aszú wines, in particular, can age for several decades, with some examples lasting over a century. This aging ability has earned Tokaji wines a reputation as some of the most sought-after dessert wines in the world.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Tokaji wines, both in Hungary and internationally. Producers are experimenting with different styles of winemaking to showcase the versatility of the Tokaji grape, including producing dry and off-dry wines that appeal to a wider range of consumers. Additionally, the Tokaj region was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002, further cementing its reputation as a wine region of significant cultural and historical importance.
Overall, the future looks bright for Tokaji wines, with increasing recognition and demand for these unique and flavorful wines. As more consumers seek out distinctive and high-quality wines, Tokaji is poised to continue its legacy as one of the world's most beloved wine grape varieties.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel