jump to the content
Advanced search

Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape

NHK World Heritage 100 Series

Donwload

Narration Text

These are the vineyards of the Tokai Region of Hungary. The region's wine-producing tradition has been passed down from medieval times. The underground cellars of Tokai are an interconnected labyrinth of tunnels. They have made "la pourriture noble" – noble rot wines for sixteen generations here. Louis XIV of France once said: "This is the wine of kings and the king of all wines."

But why are noble-rot wines produced in this region? It is due to the fog. Two rivers converge in the Tokai region and a thick blanket of fog covers the area during the autumn and winter months. The damp holds the secret to producing these special grapes.

The bottom of this bunch of grapes is rotting – the mould is caused by high humidity. The rotten grapes are known in French as "la pourriture noble". The rotting process concentrates the sugar content and makes the grapes incredibly sweet. The combination of moisture and sunshine creates just the right environment to produce grapes of perfect sweetness. The noble rot spreads to the whole bunch within two weeks. The grapes are then ready for harvesting.

Ottoman Turks invaded the Tokai region in the 17th century. When farmers returned to the villages, grapes that had gone un-harvested were found shrivelled and rotting. Left without a choice, the farmers went on to produce wine from them, and what they came up with had astonishing flavour. But the wine-making process also requires more time and skill to create the taste. At least 3 to 4 years is needed. A vintage wine can take several decades to mature.

The scale shows 80% humidity. The ceiling and walls are covered with fungus, a sign that the cellar is nice and humid. The wine is maturing perfectly.