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Hungary’s Tokaj: the first official wine region in Europe
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The Tokaj region, famous for its wines that have been prized since the 18th century, became an official appellation in 1737, some two centuries earlier than the famous Burgundy.
Take the road less traveled on your wine discovery tours, and you may find the oldest official controlled wine region in the world. It’s not necessarily where you might expect it – like in France or Italy. This region actually lies in Hungary (and, in a small part, Slovakia). It’s known as the Tokaj wine region.
The finest wine region
Tokaj wines (sometimes called Tokay in English) tend to be on the sweeter side, but you can’t blame them: that much sun and such idyllic conditions could make anyone sweet from head to toe. With 27 villages and towns, Tokaj in northeast Hungary is picturesquely nestled in the shadow of the Tokaj Mountains, formed by an extinct volcano. This adds to the unique microclimate and enriches the soil, creating the perfect wine-growing conditions.
It’s no wonder then that the first proof of vines growing in the region – a fossilized leaf print found in 1867 – dates back nearly 13 million years. Before years were counted in four digits, Hungarian tribes already knew techniques for producing wine and putting these vines to good use. Later the mighty oaks from around contributed to the perfection of local wines. Tokaj became known not only for the grape quality but for how the wine was matured in oak casks.
