Tokaj Wines Triumph at Prestigious International Competition

MTI-Hungary Today 2024.09.16.

Tokaj wines were the best at the 3rd Winelovers Wine Awards international competition, the results of which were announced on Saturday at the Corinthia Hotel in Budapest.

The best wines of Central and Eastern Europe were selected from 868 entries at a three-day blind tasting by international wine experts, including the world’s most renowned experts, masters of wine, master sommeliers and representatives of export markets.

This year, the jury decided that six wines, all made in the Tokaj wine region (northeastern Hungary), would be awarded the Grand Prix: an essence and two aszús, a fordítás (traditional Tokaj wine), a dry Furmint and a dry Hárslevelű.

Fact

According to the UNESCO World Heritage Center, the Tokaj Wine Region is home to some of Hungary’s most beloved varieties of wine. The region is spread over a romantic landscape of cellar labyrinths, vines, and slopes, nestled at the foothills of the Zemplén Mountains. Its winemaking history dates back over a thousand years. The most famous variety, aszú – was described by Louis XV of France as ‘Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum’ – the Wine of Kings, King of Wines. In addition, Tokaj has been selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the world’s best highlighted settlements, the first time a Hungarian municipality has won such a prestigious tourism award. The award is in recognition of the renovations carried out so far and is a driving force for further tourism developments on a historic scale, with the aim of making the eponymous village of the World Heritage wine region one of the most popular destinations in Hungary.

The highest score, 97 points, went to the 2008 Tokaji Eszencia from Matyisák Pince and Kádárüzem. Such a high score has never been achieved in the history of the competition.

The winner of the barrel-aged white wine category was István Balassa’s 2022 Kakas Tokaji Furmint, the winner of the reductive white wine category was Éva Dóka Pincészet’s 2021 Hárslevelű, and the best rosé was Szentpéteri Borpince’ 2023 Néró Rosé. The best sparkling wine was Kreinbacher Birtok Extra Brut Magnum 2019, the best red wine was Zsolt Maul’s Creator Blaufränkisch 2020, and the best tannic red wine was Fritz Birtok’s Primus Szekszárdi Prémium Cuvée 2020.

The sweet wine category was won by Matyisák’s 2008 Tokaji Eszencia.

The most successful domestic winery with 6 gold medals was Trifecta Wines Tokaj.

Tokaj wine region. Photo: Wikipedia

The event also saw the debut of Winelovers100 magazine, where wine enthusiasts can find out more about the best Hungarian drinks.

The full list of results can be browsed here.

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Via MTI; Featured image via Pexels