Hungary, in Central Europe, has gained its reputation in the wine world through just a couple of wine styles, but for centuries it has been a wine-producing nation of considerable diversity. In addition to the Sweet wines of Tokaj and the Deep Bull's Blood of Eger, the Hungarian wine portfolio includes Dry whites from the shores of Lake Balaton, Somló and Neszmély, and finer reds from various regions, notably Villány, Sopron and Szekszard.
Hungarian wine culture stretches back to Roman times and has survived numerous political, religious and economic challenges, including Islamic rule during the 16th Century (when Alcohol was prohibited) and the Phylloxera epidemic of the late 1800s.
The modern Hungarian wine regions are distributed around the country.
Sopron, in the north-west, is separated from Tokaj, in the north-east, by 370 kilometers (230 miles) and from Hajós-Baja in the South by about two-thirds of that distance.
Between these key areas lie the country's 22 official wine regions, each of which have their own particular blend of culture, history, Terroir and wine style. The quantity-driven vineyards of the southern plains, for example, are quite distinct from the lakeside vineyards of the west and the foothills of the north-east.
The eastern side of Hungary is Wrapped by the Carpathian Mountains, which have a considerable impact on the local climate, protecting the land from the cold winds that would otherwise blow in from across Poland and western Ukraine.
The generally continental climate is also moderated by lakes Balaton and Neusiedl, allowing for a longer, more temperate growing season.
The most important wine grapes currently grown in Hungary's vineyards are a mixture of traditional, regional varieties and the international varieties of French origin which are better known and more easily marketed. The traditional Hungarian white wine varieties include Furmint and Hárslevelu (the white grapes used in Tokaj), Olaszrizling, Leányka and Kéknyelukekfra. These have been joined lately by a raft of new crossings such as Irsai Olivér, Cserszegi Fuszeres, Zefír and Zenit, a number of which have been created locally by Hungarian ampelographers.
White muscat is a white grape variety of Greek origin. Present in several Mediterranean vineyards, it has several synonyms such as muscat de Die, muscat blanc and frontignac. In France, it occupies a little less than 7,000 ha out of a total of 45,000 ha worldwide. Its young shoots are downy. Its youngest leaves are shiny, bronzed and scabrous. The berries and bunches of this variety are all medium-sized. The flesh of the berries is juicy, sweet and firm. Muscat à petits grains has a second ripening period and buds early in the year. It is moderately vigorous and must be pruned short. It likes poor, stony slopes. This variety is often exposed to spring frosts. It fears mildew, wasps, grape worms, court-noué, grey rot and powdery mildew. Muscat à petits grains is used to make rosé wines and dry white wines. Orange, brown sugar, barley sugar and raisins are the known aromas of these wines.
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On December 10, 2020, four Hong Kong personalities discussed Chablis wines on a live webinar: Yang LU, Master Sommelier and Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador, Debra MEIBURG, Master of Wine, Ivy NG, Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador and Rebecca LEUNG, wine expert. In 80-second clip, Debra MEIBURG answers the question of an Internet user : what style should one expect from a good Chablis ? #Chablis #PureChablis ...
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Bussières, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneW ...
