D3 - Tokaj for WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World

What does the term Aszú indicate?

A sweet wine made from shrivelled and botrytized grapes.

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Select the correct answer:

The Tokaj region is situated in the:

a. northwest corner of Hungary
b. northeast corner of Hungary
c. exact center of Hungary

b. northeast corner of Hungary

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The Tokaj region extends into the foothills of which mountain range?

Zemplén Mountains

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What is the climate of Tokaj?

Moderate continental

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The Tokaj region is sheltered from cold, northerly winds by:

The Zemplén Mountain range.

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The vineyards of Tokaj are generally planted where?

a. Slopes, which help reduce the risk of winter cold and frost damage;
b. Valley floor, which helps keep warmth due to the region being such a northerly latitude;
c. Above the fog line facing north, which helps maximize solar interception.

a. Slopes, which help reduce the risk of winter cold and frost damage

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What is the number of sunshine hours Tokaj sees during the growing season?

1400 - 1500 hours of sunshine

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What is the latitude of Tokaj?

48°– 49°N

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In which directions do the slopes of Tokaj face?

South, south-west and south-east to take maximum advantage of sunlight.

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What is the average annual rainfall in Tokaj?

500-600 mm/year

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Half of Tokaj’s annual rainfall falls during which season?

a. Winter
b. Autumn
c. The growing season

c. The growing season

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Irrigation in Tokaj is or is not permitted?

Is NOT permitted

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Select the correct answer:

Autumns in Tokaj are:

a. Warm and dry
b. Wet and cool
c. Short and hot

a. Warm and dry

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What are the two major rivers in Tokaj?

Tisza
Bodrog

The two rivers meet in the town of Tokaj.

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Which of the two rivers in Tokaj floods regularly?

What does this flooding create?

Bodrog River
Shallow marshes and water meadows, resulting in moist air and frequent morning fog in the autumn – perfect for the development of botrytis

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Describe the soil of the Tokaj region.

Deep volcanic bedrock overlaid by a complex range of soils:

most significant is nyirok, a volcanic soil which produces the most powerful wines
loess, a sandy silt with high clay content found mostly around the Tokaj hill (to the west of the town) which produces more light, delicate wines

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What factor in the soils of Tokaj contribute to the lack of water stress and nutrient deficiencies there?

The soft volcanic bedrock means vines can root very deeply.

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What is Zasmidium (previously Cladosporium) cellare?

Grey-black fungus (it looks cushiony) that grows in the cellars of Tokaj, which is believed to help regulate humidity.

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How were vines traditionally grown in Tokaj?

On single posts at a density of up to 10,000 vines/ha.

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Today, how are vines more commonly grown in Tokaj?

They are grown on trellises using replacement-cane pruning or cordon training with VSP
Planted at lower densities than the traditional vineyards

This modernization allows for mechanization.

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Select the correct answer:

Aszú berries:

a. can be machine harvested
b. must be hand harvested

b. must be hand harvested

In fact, Aszú berries are picked individually in several passes through the vineyard.

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What are the two predominant disease concerns in Tokaj?

Powdery mildew
Grey rot

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Name two main pests in Tokaj.

Wild boars
Birds

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There are 6 allowed grape varieties in Tokaji PDO.

Name the 3 most important.

Furmint
Hárslevelű
Sárga Muskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)

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Which grape variety in Tokaj is the most planted?

Furmint | (63% of all plantings)

# Select the correct answer: Furmint is: a. an early-ripening variety b. a mid-ripening variety c. a late-ripening variety

c. a late-ripening variety

Even when fully ripe, Furmint has what level of acidity?

High

# Fill in the blank: Furmint is quite susceptible to botrytis even though it has \_\_\_\_\_ skin.

Thick

What is the typical profile of Furmint when it's young, when it's aged, and when it's affected by botrytis?

* Young: lemon, apple and pear which can be identified in all styles of wine * Aged: honey and nuts * Botrytis: dried apricot and mango

# Fill in the blank: The second most planted grape in Tokaj is \_\_\_\_\_.

Hárslevelű | (19% of total plantings)

Which variety in Tokaj is more fruity with notes of white peach and orange blossom: Furmint or Hárslevelű?

Hárslevelű

What are the aromatic notes that Sárga Muskotály (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) adds to wines?

Floral notes

What is the Hungarian word for grapes that have been infected with botrytis and have shrivelled *on the vine*?

Aszú

Describe the profile of a classic Aszú wine.

* Deep amber color * High acidity * Low to medium alcohol * Intense aromas of orange peel, apricots and honey * Premium to super-premium prices

Why is the production of Aszú reduced in hotter, drier years in Tokaj?

Because the region needs the warm, humid autumns (not dry, hot autumns) to develop botrytis.

What do most winemakers do to the Aszú grapes **prior to maceration**?

**Mash the Aszú berries into a paste**, usually by passing them through a pump.* ## Footnote ***Some producers don't do this and leave their berries uncrushed to avoid bitterness** that could potentially be extracted from the skins and seeds.

Normal pressing doesn't work for Aszú grapes as their juice is so sugary and concentrated. Describe **the technique used to extract** the sugar and flavors from Aszú grapes.

The grape mash or intact berries are **macerated in grape must, fermenting must, or base wine** in order to draw out their sugars and flavors.

How many hours do the Aszú paste or grapes macerate with the must, fermenting must, or base wine?

12-60 hours ## Footnote If uncrushed grapes are being used, they will be punched down regularly.

At what temperature does maceration of Aszú grapes typically take place?

* 12–15°C (54–59°F) * May rise to 16–20°C (61–68°F) with a robustly fermenting must

When a Tokaji producer is **determining what style** of wine they want to make, what do they consider?

Which **maceration method** they will use.

When making Aszú wine in Tokaj, if a winemaker wants to make the **lightest style** of wine, **at what point will they macerate** the Aszú berries?

1. Maceration **in must** (pre-fermentation) 2. Maceration **in young finished wine**

# Select the correct answer: In Tokaj, Aszú berry maceration in *fermenting* must gives which style of wine? a. lightest extraction b. strongest extraction

b. strongest extraction ## Footnote Berries must be ripe and clean otherwise unpleasant bitterness and unripe characteristics will also be extracted.

How does the timing of Aszú berry maceration affect the final style of wine?

* Lightest extraction (3 ways): in must, when must is in the later stages of the fermentation process, or in young finished wine. * Strongest extraction: when must is fermenting most actively early in the fermentation process.

When base wine is used for maceration, what is the minimum potential alcohol required?

12% ## Footnote The base wine is often 14.5-15.5%, but this is lowered when the Aszú berries/paste is added.

Describe the winemaking steps taken after Aszú maceration finished.

1. Juice is drained 1. Aszú paste/berries pressed 1. Must fermented (or continues to ferment) to gain desired balance of sugar and alcohol 1. Both stainless steel tanks and barrels are used for fermentation

Why do some producers in Tokaj prefer to use cultured yeast when fermenting their Aszú wines?

Cultured yeasts are reliable for fermenting wines with high sugars.

In g/L, at what high level of sugar will a wine stop fermenting naturally (as seen in Tokaj)?

180 g/L

Even though a wine will be naturally stable at 180g/L of residual sugar, some producers will avoid the risk of refermentation in the bottle by doing what to the wine?

Stopping fermentation of the wine by chilling, racking, or adding SO₂. ## Footnote This also helps to control the house style of the wine.

# Fill in the blank:L Aszú wines must be stored for a minimum of \_\_\_ months in oak (though some are aged longer).

18 months

# Select the correct answer: What type of oak is widely used for the fermentation and aging of Tokaji wines? a. French oak b. American oak c. Hungarian oak

c. Hungarian oak

What is the traditional barrel name and size used for Aszú wines?

Gönci, small 136L barrels.

What is the barrel size most Tokaj producers are using today when making Aszú wines?

300-500L

Describe the traditional bottle used for Tokaji Aszú wines.

Clear-glass, 500 mL.

# Fill in the blank: In 2013, Tokaj regulations changed for Aszú wines. The minimum level of residual sugar is now \_\_\_ g/L.

120 g/L ## Footnote Equivalent to the previous minimum of 5-puttonyos; but today, as long as the Aszú wine has at least 120g/L they can be labeled as 3- or 4-puttonyos.

As of 2013, wines with residual sugar lower than 120g/L are now labeled as what?

Late Harvest or Tokaji Édes Szamorodni, depending on how they are made.

What is the minimum residual sugar level for 6-puttonyos?

Above 150 g/L.

What is Tokaji Eszencia made from?

The tiny volume of syrupy free-run juice that trickles from Aszú berries.

What is a typical ABV for Tokaji Eszencia wines?

Less than 5%.

What is the legal minimum residual sugar level for Tokaji Eszencia?

450 g/L

What is the name of the (new-ish) sweet wine produced in Tokaj where the maceration process is NOT used?

Late Harvest ## Footnote It's produced in a similar way to sweet wines found in other wine-producing regions.

# Select the correct answer: In relation to Aszú wines, Late Harvest Tokaji wines are produced with: a. a lower proportion of botrytized grapes b. a higher proportion of botrytized grapes c. the same proportion of botrytized grapes

a. a lower proportion of botrytized grapes

# Select the correct answer: Late Harvest Tokaji wines tend to be: a. Lighter bodied + less concentrated than Aszú wines b. Fuller bodied + more concentrated than Aszú wines

a. Lighter bodied + less concentrated than Aszú wines

# Fill in the blanks: In Late Harvest Tokaji wines, the legal minimum residual sugar level is \_\_\_\_ although most wines are between \_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_.

* 45 g/L * 90 and 110 g/L

Why are most Late Harvest Tokaji wines stored in stainless steel and not in oak?

Producers wish to emphasize the fruit characteristics.

When are Late Harvest Tokaji wines typically released to market?

12-16 months after harvest.

What does the word Szamorodni mean in Tokaji wines?

'As it comes', indicating that this traditional style is made from whole bunches with varying amounts of healthy and botrytized grapes.

Szamorodni is produced in either a sweet or dry style. What are the words in Hungarian for these styles?

Sweet - **édes** Dry - **száraz** ## Footnote Sweet (édes) is the more common style.

What is the minimum residual sugar level for Szamorodni?

45 g/L ## Footnote Though most are bottled around 90-110 g/L.

As of 2016, Szamorodni wines need only be aged in oak for how many months?

6 months

Szamorodni édes wines must be bottled in what kind of bottle?

The same one as Tokaji Aszú: a clear, 500mL bottle. ## Footnote Szamorodni édes wines tend to be fresher in style to Aszú wines.

What is the specific aging process used for Szamorodni dry (száraz) wine?

It is aged under a thin film of flor* for up to 10 years without topping up. ## Footnote *much thinner than flor formed in Sherry production.

Because dry Szamorodni is aged under a thin layer of flor, what aromatic notes are expected on this style of wine?

Nutty and green apple aromas (showing light oxidation, not excessive oxidation).

What does Dűlő mean in Hungarian?

Single vineyard.

# Fill in the blank: For still Hungarian wines made under the Tokaji PDO, a single varietal wine must contain at least \_\_\_% of the named grape.

85%

What wines are allowed to be made under the Zempléni PGI?

* Wines made from other grapes, in particular international varieties; * Inexpensive wines produced at yields higher than those permitted by the PDO.

# Fill in the blank: Aszú wines account for around \_\_\_% of total wine production in Hungary.

10%

# Fill in the blank: Dry wines account for around \_\_\_% of total wine production in Hungary.

15%

D3 - Tokaj Flashcards

Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Tokaj. (77 cards)