Tokaj wine tasting from Košice
It is only an hour’s drive from Košice and is regularly ranked among the top 10 wine regions in the world. Yes, we are talking about Tokaj!
How did it all start?
At the beginning of the 13th century, the Mongol horde galloped into Europe, leaving no survivors. A large part of Central and Eastern Europe remained destroyed and depopulated. Therefore, the Hungarian king Belo IV. decided to revive these areas and invited settlers from all around Europe. Most often, they were German miners and builders, but also Italians who, besides trading also excelled in viticulture. It didn’t take long before they found out that the conditions for growing wine in the Tokaj region are excellent…
What makes Tokaj so unique?
- It is located on a volcanic, tufa subsoil that drains water well and at the same time retains and accumulates heat, which is excellent for the vines.
- Thanks to the unique climate – there are short morning fogs in autumn, which help the growth of the noble rot Botrytis cinerea. It attacks the grape berries, which slowly dry up and shrink, due to which the concentration of sugar in them increases. These berries are used in the production of legendary sweet Azsú wines (wine of kings king of wines).
- Wines are stored in ancient cellars, many of which were dug as far back as the 13th century, as a shelter from the Mongol invaders. People later discovered that if you store wine in them, it achieves exceptional qualities. The reason is – wine cellar fungus Cladosporium cellare. It lives on wine vapors and in return helps to maintain ideal humidity and temperature in the cellars.
Tokaj are not only sweet wines!
One of the most common mistakes that people associate with Tokaj is that Tokaj wines are sweet. However, that is no longer the case. Besides traditional sweet wines, you can also find fantastic dry wines, sparkling wines, orange wines, and straw wines. You have a lot to discover here!
Tokaj wine tasting from Košice
If you want to get to know Tokaj, we will be happy to take you there. We most often cooperate with small, family winemakers from Veľká Trňa. In addition to great wines, you will get to know their personal stories, visit old cellars, and experience the unique atmosphere. Tokaj wine tasting from Košice is the best thing you can do especially on rainy days, when you have nothing to do.
