'''Tokaj'''[http://english.tokaj-turizmus.hu] is a small town in north-eastern Hungary, famous worldwide for its white wines. It is the center of Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region.

Understand

Remember that Tokaj produces only white wines and most of them are sweet dessert wines.

Get in

Take a train from Budapest (Keleti pu) to Nyiregyhaza and step out at Tokaj. The ticket costs about 10-12 euros. With direct connection it takes about 2.40 from Budapest.

Get around

'''On foot''', easily.

You can order '''wine bus''' at the Tourinform Tokaj (Tel.:+36-47-352259; e-mail: [mailto:tokaj@tourinform.hu tokaj@tourinform.hu]).

'''By ship''' on the River Bodrog and Tisza (You can take part in a wine ship trip, more inf. at Tourinform Tokaj).

'''By train''' to the neighbour villages, towns at the wine region (eg. Tarcal, Szerencs).

Buy

The best place to buy wines in Hungary. Nowadays Tokaj has plenty of independent wine producers and the quality of wine varies a lot. So take a tour in cellars and taste before you buy. Hetszőlő (see picture) and Himesudvar wines are good choice.

Do

  • '''Climb Kopasz-hegy''' (Bald Mountain).
  • '''Visit all the wine cellars and try all their wines'''.
  • '''Wine seminars''' (More information: Tourinform Tokaj, tel: +36-47-352259, [mailto:tokaj@tourinform.hu tokaj@tourinform.hu]).
  • Take part in a '''wine ship tour''' on the River Bodrog and Tisza.
  • Visit the '''Tokaj Museum'''.
  • Visit the '''Tokaj Wine Festival''' at the last weekend of May.
  • Visit the Harves festival at the first weekend of October.
  • '''Fishing''' in the two rivers.
  • Take part in '''Kenue tours'''.
  • Eat

    '''Fish soup (Halaszle)''' - a special Hungarian soup from many fish from the Tisza and Bodrog rivers

    '''Fried keszeg / harcsa /sull?''' - a fried fish. You can eat them at Bonchidai Restaurant.

    '''Tokaj wine cream soup''' - a sweet soup from Tokaj wine.

    As there is a perfect balance between sugar and acidity even in wines with high residual sugar (like 5 or 6 puttonyos aszu) due to the soil and climatic conditions as well as the traditional grape varieties of the region, it is a golden rule that Tokaj wines are not restricted to the role of dessert wines. Also, the high extract content and the minerality of the wines never let sweetness become overwhelming. As they have a clean and long finish and they are never cloying, Tokaj wines are ideal as an aperitif.

    Apart from the classic foie gras, it is worth trying different entrees based on meat, fish, or vegetables. A surprising range of main dishes, mainly fish or poultry in sauce can be accompanied by Tokaj wines, including sweet wines.

    Tokaj wines can form perfect harmony with some cheeses having a strong taste (blue cheeses, aged cheeses).

    Tokaj wines are ideal with desserts based on fruit (primarily apricot, peach, quince, melon, mango), cheese cakes or sweets prepared with nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds).

    Drink

  • '''Tokaji Aszu''' These are the wines that have made Tokaj famous since the 16th century. The region provides ideal conditions for the development of the fungus called botrytis cinerea (also called noble rot, or pourriture noble), which pertorates the skin of the grapes and thus allows the autumn sunshine to concentrate sugar and aroma in the grapes to extreme levels unknown in any other wine region in the world. The raisin-like, botrytised grapes (aszu berries) are picked one by one, traditionally in 25 kg hods (puttony). The aszu grapes (usually 3 to 6 hods) are added to a base wine usually still in fermentation, the traditional measuring unit of which is the Gonc cask (136 l). The number of hods of aszu grapes added to 136 litres of base wine determines the concentration of the aszu wine (3 to 6 Puttonyos, or Aszu Eszencia if even more concentrated). Aszu wines are aged in oak barrels in the traditional Tokaj cellars keeping constant temperature (10-12 oC) and humidity (over 90%).
  • '''Tokaji Szamorodni''' This word of Polish origin means: as it grew. This wine is made from partly botrytised bunches without selection of the botrytised (aszu) berries. Both its dry and sweet versions are excellent aperitifs
  • '''Tokaji Forditas''' this noble wine of Tokaj is made by leaving Aszu grapes on the skins to absorb sugar and aromatic substances.
  • '''Tokaji Eszencia''' An absolute rarity. This mythic nectar is gained by racking off the must pressed by the weight of the aszu grapes waiting to be added to the base wine. The concentration of the Eszencia is such that it takes years until it reaches a few per cent of alcohol.
  • '''Dry varietal''' Tokaji Furmint and Tokaji Harslevel? are full-bodied white wines that are a perfect accompaniment not only to fish and seafood but also to white meat. Tokaj Muscat Lunel unites the typical muscat aromas with elegant acidity.
  • '''Late Harvest''' These wines are made from the over-ripened (sometimes partly botrytised) grapes of the traditional Tokaj varieties.
  • Sleep

  • '''Grof Degenfeld Castle Hotel''' as part of the Degenfeld estate is situated at Tarcal, next to the Grof Degenfeld Winery, in the heart of the worldfamous Tokaj wine region.
  • '''Toldi Inn - "The Wellness House of 5 Puttonyos"''' is situated in the historical center of Tokaj, and lives up to all the expectations of the 21st century, and its guest seeking relaxation and rest.
  • Get out