The Tokaj wine region is not only one of the most unique regions of Hungary, but also one of the most unique regions in the world, and its brightest jewel is aszú. The tradition of making aszú wine goes back centuries. But what is aszú and how does the process of aszú fermentation work?

What is aszú?

Aszú is a very special, noble sweet wine, which is a characteristic of the Tokaj wine region. The grapes are almost completely dehydrated during the noble rotting process, while their sugar and acidity content is significantly concentrated. This process is triggered by Botrytis Cinerea, also known as grey mold , which appears on the grape bunches when the weather conditions are right. The grapes are harvested by hand, a time-consuming and laborious process.

Conditions for the development of grey mold:

1. Grapes should be at full maturity when wet weather is conducive to the onset of fungal infection.

2. The grapes must then be intact and undamaged.

3. A long, dry period should follow a period of humid, wet weather.

The selection of the grape variety is also important, as thin-skinned, compacted bunches are not conducive to noble rot. It is therefore essential that there is adequate air movement at the time of ripening.

How it's made?

The grapes are collected separately by the wineries, while the intact grapes are also harvested separately. The grapes are added to the wine made from the intact grapes, either during fermentation or in the already fermented wine. Once the flavours have been extracted from the grapes, the wine is gently pressed and then put into barrels. The wine is then bottled and left to age for a further period in the bottle.

The essence is a true rarity, made using only aszú grains, from the nectar that drips naturally from the collected aszú grains, only by itself, thanks to the weight of the aszú grains on each other.

What wines can be made from aszú grapes?

Wines made from aszú grapes are classified into several categories. The best known is Tokaji Aszú, which has different degrees of sweetness according to the number of puttony. The number of puttony comes from the traditional production process: how many puttony of asszú grains were added to a gönci barrel (136.6 litres) of new wine or fermenting must (one puttony was about 25 kg of asszú grains). The more aszú grains were added to the must, the richer and sweeter the wine became. The smallest was 3 puttonyos and the largest 6 puttonyos, but today only 5 and 6 puttonyos aszú are produced.

Aszú production is one of the most costly winemaking processes in the world, and therefore should not and cannot compete with other technologically sweet wines. Compared to an average wine, making aszú requires three times as much work and cost in the vineyard, and the yield is significantly lower. Tokaji Aszú can only be made in Tokaj, and although similar wines can be found in other wine regions, the true technology for making aszú is found only here.

The unique taste of aszú wines

Tokaj aszú wines stand out not only for their sweetness but also for their complex flavours. The aszú grains bring a rich dried fruitiness, honey, apricot, fig, candied orange peel, walnut, hazelnut, vanilla, and tropical fruit notes, while the noble rot adds a special spiciness (cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg). The aszú wines are aged for a long time to reach their final maturity and retain their freshness and complexity for decades.

The importance and specificity of aszú

Tokaji aszú is one of the world's finest natural sweet wines, which can only be produced under the most ideal conditions. The unique microclimate of the Tokaj wine region, its special soils and centuries-old winemaking traditions all contribute to the fact that Tokaj aszú wines are still at the top of the world's list.

The aim of Harsányi Winery is that every bottle of aszú should reflect the special harmony of nature and the winemaker, which only the Tokaj wine region can provide. Our wines are born from the meeting of tradition and modern winemaking and represent the values of Tokaj aszú.

Taste our award-winning aszú wines, the 2019 Hatputtonyos Tokaji Aszú and the 2017 Hatputtonyos Tokaji Aszú.