About the Region

Tokaj is Hungary’s most famous wine region.  Situated northeast of Budapest, in Tisza river valley, it is a cold region where the grapes are often affected by the “noble rot”, bortrytis cinerea. Tokaj is made in many forms, from dry to sweet, from bortrytis affected grapes and normal grapes.  The most well-known style is called Aszu.

            In the production of Tokaj-Aszu, botrytized grapes get added to and soaked in regular grape must (or wine).  The traditional measure of botrytized grapes is the “puttony”, a back-carried wood harvesting vessel with a container with a capacity of 20-25 kg.  The Tokaj wine is classified as 3,4,5or 6 puttonys according to the ratio of botrytized grapes to regular juice.  The higher the number, the sweeter the wine.