Tokaji Aszú: Difference between revisions

Created page with "'''Tokaji Aszú''' is a historic sweet wine style produced in the Tokaj wine region of north-eastern Hungary, made from grapes affected by noble rot (''Botrytis cinerea''). It is among the earliest codified botrytised wines in Europe and is protected today under the Tokaj PDO.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015.</ref> == Origins and historical significance == Written references to Tokaji Aszú date..."
 
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== Origins and historical significance ==
== Origins and historical significance ==
Written references to Tokaji Aszú date back to the seventeenth century, by which time the [[wine]] had already achieved prominence in royal and aristocratic courts across Central and Western Europe.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000.</ref> Its reputation was closely linked to the political and commercial importance of the Tokaj-Hegyalja region within the Kingdom of Hungary and later the [[Habsburg Empire]].<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991.</ref>
Written references to [[[[Tokaji]] Aszú]] date back to the seventeenth century, by which time the [[wine]] had already achieved prominence in royal and aristocratic courts across Central and Western Europe.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000.</ref> Its reputation was closely linked to the political and commercial importance of the Tokaj-Hegyalja region within the Kingdom of Hungary and later the [[Habsburg Empire]].<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991.</ref>


Tokaji Aszú is frequently cited as one of the first wines to be produced deliberately from botrytised grapes rather than as a by-product of late harvesting, marking a significant development in the history of sweet wine production.<ref>McGovern, ''Ancient Wine'', Princeton University Press, 2003.</ref>
Tokaji Aszú is frequently cited as one of the first wines to be produced deliberately from botrytised grapes rather than as a by-product of late harvesting, marking a significant development in the history of sweet wine production.<ref>McGovern, ''Ancient Wine'', Princeton University Press, 2003.</ref>
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The Tokaj wine region lies at the confluence of the Bodrog and Tisza rivers and is characterised by [[volcanic (soil)|volcanic soils]], autumn mists and a continental climate that favours the development of noble rot.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', Mitchell Beazley, 2019.</ref> These conditions promote gradual dehydration of grapes while preserving [[acidity]], a key structural element in Tokaji Aszú.
The Tokaj wine region lies at the confluence of the Bodrog and Tisza rivers and is characterised by [[volcanic (soil)|volcanic soils]], autumn mists and a continental climate that favours the development of noble rot.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', Mitchell Beazley, 2019.</ref> These conditions promote gradual dehydration of grapes while preserving [[acidity]], a key structural element in Tokaji Aszú.


The cultural and viticultural significance of the region has been recognised by its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title ''Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape''.<ref>UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape”.</ref>
The cultural and viticultural significance of the region has been recognised by its designation as a [[[[UNESCO]] World Heritage [[Site]]]] under the title ''Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape''.<ref>UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape”.</ref>


== Grape varieties ==
== Grape varieties ==
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== Legal status and classification ==
== Legal status and classification ==
Tokaji Aszú is protected under the Tokaj PDO within the European Union, with strict regulations governing [[grape varieties]], production methods, minimum sugar levels and labelling.<ref>European Commission, eAmbrosia GI Register, “Tokaj PDO”.</ref> These rules are aligned with [[OIV]] definitions for special wines produced with noble rot.<ref>OIV, “Special wines produced with noble rot”.</ref>
Tokaji Aszú is protected under the Tokaj PDO within the [[European Union]], with strict regulations governing [[grape varieties]], production methods, minimum sugar levels and labelling.<ref>European Commission, eAmbrosia GI Register, “Tokaj PDO”.</ref> These rules are aligned with [[OIV]] definitions for special wines produced with noble rot.<ref>OIV, “Special wines produced with noble rot”.</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==