Tokaj in pictures

db went on a whirlwind trip to Tokaj this week, soaking up the spectacular autumn colour and getting a little hands-on experience picking Aszú berries. Hosted by Disznókö, the visit also took in the wineries of Zoltán Demeter and Patricius.

The harvest is well underway in Tokaj after what has been a very hot and dry season. The grapes destined for dry white wines were gathered in over late August and September and attention has now turned to the late harvest, Szamorodni and Aszú picking.

Disznókö’s director, László Mészáros, shows the novices what it takes to harvest Aszú berries.

Healthy grapes with some botrytis taking hold but what’s needed is something more like this…

The full spectrum of grapes from healthy to completely botrytised.

The Dsznókö winery and its surroundings.

The view of Tokaj near Mád.

Photo: Aidy Smith

Mike Turner strikes a power pose as he takes in the view, while db‘s Rupert Millar wonders where exactly it was he parked his car…

Photo: Aidy Smith

Photo: Aidy Smith

László in the cellar with some of this year’s new Eszencia. Some of the must from this year’s aszú harvest contains over 900 grams of residual sugar, a sign of the concentration in the grapes as a result of the hot season. The picture below shows another sample where the sugar has crystallised at the bottom.

Photo: Aidy Smith

Finished bottles of Aszú awaiting their eventual release.

A vertical tasting of 5 to 6 Puttonyos wines from 2015 to 1993 (the year Disznókö was resurrected) to cap off the visit and reinforce just how well this delicious sweet wine can age.