This channel is truly exceptional, I don’t think there’s any other channel like this. The content is outstanding and being able to learn from someone with so much knowledge and passion is a blessing.
If you like this, I recommend checking out "Alexander the Guest". He's a millionaire owner of a Michelin starred restaurant who reviews mostly 3 Michelin star restaurants all around the world.
Thank you for the Tokaj episode. I came from Poland in 2010 to Debrecen, Hungary, for Erasmus, studying medicine. At that time, the university offered wine history classes (Hungarian wine). I even earned 2 ECTS points. One day, a man from Tokaj presented his wines. It was amazing. The 2000 and 2006 vintages were present. I have visited Tokaj and tried these wines. The Furmint was so intense in smell. That was Patricius Winery, and that is when I started drinking wine. Now I live in Frankfurt, and I still have a few bottles of Patricius Tokaj in my cellar that I find very good. However, it is so difficult to drink these wines. You need people, good company, and a certain amount of time to open them. It is not a wine for everyday drinking. Tokaj Essencia is superb; it tastes like honey. And what I would like to do: I think Tokaj Aszú will go very well with spicy Asian food, with a lot of chili.
Tokai is an overlooked gem, I wish we could get more of it over here in the States. I've also immensely enjoyed they dry wines I've been able to get, furmint, harslevelu, and olazrisling, . Hoping Hungary gets more recognitionfor its world-class wine so I can more easily buy it in Chicago. Thank you for another great episod!
As a long time Hungarian follower of your channel and work I would like to thank you for the excellent video about my country’s most important, famous and exceptional wine region! I’ve been waiting for the Tokaj topic in your channel and finally here it is! Early Christmas!❤
What a fascinating video! I have a much better understanding of Tokaj after watching. I’m such a visual learner and even though I have studied this wine/region, being able to actually see what the grapes and caves look like put a much better picture of how special this wine really is.
I've had both dry and [very] sweet Tokaji and while I know it is under-appreciated, it is always a pleasant a memorable experience when I get to enjoy a little. I opened a half bottle of Essencia once and it served a party of 50 people!! Everyone got about a small spoonful of it and that was more than enough. I've still been sitting on a vintage Tokaji and since I am usually not a fan of dessert wines, I will eventually gift it to someone. Unrelated, I really miss your weekly quiz on TH-cam. I hope you can go back to having your subscribers guess "what is in your glass". Cheers!
Tokaji - one of the great open secrets of wine in the world. If you’ve never tasted aszú, you really owe it to yourself to try this reliably fantastic wine. It can be affordable and remains high quality at the low end of the price range of selections and mind-blowing as you get towards the high end. Reasonably priced aszú is also much easier to find than an affordable Beerenauslese or equivalently good Spätlese in my experience.
Thanks again for this great video. Tokaj is a sensational wine, especially 5/6 Puttonyos and Essencias when they have several decades of maturity. I love the wines of Oremus from the 70s and 80s.
Yes! I've been needing someone to explain this region for me. I was blown away by the distinct flavor profile of an excellent bottle of furmint when visiting budapest a year ago. Thank you!
I’m just a hobbyist, I don’t work in the industry. I first tried Tokaj two years ago during WSET level 2. I was surprised how much I liked sweet wines. Now they’re some of my favourite
Tokaj is a unique region with a rich history, the diversity of styles dry, semi-sweet, semi-dry, dry Szamorodni, traditional method sparkling wines, sweet Szamorodni, Aszu and Eszencia. There are so many wineries and producers making wines at different price points. There are an increasing number of options to choose from; I enjoy the smaller family/boutique wineries. After 10 years, Aszu becomes truly amazing , so I can easily imagine the best vintages lasting for 20 or 30 years.
The last thing I ever thought I'd see was a statue of Hugh Johnson. lol. This channel is such a vibe. Nothing else like it. I get the same feeling as when I used to open photo books of wineries or those glorious special issues of Wine Spectator back when I had the cash to be more of a wine maven.
Even though your tasting videos are my favorite I also enjoy being able to visit wine regions through your channel. It is absolutely amazing to see how different wines are cultivated, processed and stored. I also enjoy learning the history of these vineyards. Grapes and wine have been and continue to be such an important and integral aspect of human culture and reflect the success that can be achieved when people assert diligence, creativity and care to working with one of the great bounties that nature provides us. Wonderful video. Thanks.
Tokay wines have not risen to my thoughts for a very long time. Very interesting video, thank you, Konstantine. We love your broad experiences; wine is endlessly fascinating.
It was great to see such an informative video of my home country's probably most famous region. I would also like to see you tasting some samples from Villány or Szekszárd, I think they have very good value for money red wines, which would deserve more attention in my opinion!
Terrific video. Coincidentally, I have just taken delivery of a half case of Tokaji: 2x Royal Tokay Aszu, 5 Putts; 2x Sweet Szamoradni; and 2x dry Furmint. Really enjoyed this.
Such a great topic! Very well researched and summarised. Great to see Tokaj receiving more attention outside of Europe thanks to the work being done by smaller producers producing dry wines today. Sauska is also producing great wines of all styles.
I remember one weekend morning in my 1970s childhood when my parents emerged slowly from their bedroom in our house in the Chicago suburbs with what they both described as a bad hangover. They'd been out for dinner the night before with their friend (and legend of the US wine world) Sandy McNally, and they'd been somewhat...over-served. Sandy McNally had created the Heublein Wine Auction and was in Chicago to preside over it. I remember being told that the ultimate culprit that night was a Tokaji he'd opened, which my mother described as pretty much the most delicious thing ever: how could she not have drunk too much of it?! Sadly my parents and Mr. McNally are all gone now, but Tokaji remains, and I think of them all whenever I'm reminded of it. Thank you for this great video and for all your work.
I really like your videos and this one is nice as well. However, it overlooks an important fact - the Tokaj wine region is divided into two parts: the Slovak and Hungarian sections. (Although during the times of the Kingdom of Hungary, Tokaj formed a single unit and the Slovak Tokaj wine-growing villages were also included in the Hungarian law of 1908, the Hungarian side began rejecting Slovakia's efforts for the official international recognition of its part of Tokaj from the 1950s onwards. The European Commission ultimately recognized the Slovak part of Tokaj as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), and since 2012, Slovakia has had the right to use this name for wines produced from approximately 908 hectares of the Slovak Tokaj region.)
I may never taste these wine as well as many others you bring here but,,, I enjoy learning about them and who knows,, maybe someday I WILL get to enjoy one of them! Thank you Master Baum!
I may not personally be a wine connoisseur, but I love watching these videos. I am into cigars, and the way Konstantin describes the different aromas, and flavor notes of different wines reminds me a lot of what I experience when trying different cigars with different blends of tobaccos. Keep up the good work!
I've tasted a Tokaji, it was bottled in clear glass and I remember thinking how delicious it looked even in the bottle.. I was not disappointed! A really remarkable balance, considering the concentration of intense sweetness from the shrivelled, botrytised grapes, with counterpoise of acidity and some grip. It's great to have some background on this, definitely a gap in my knowledge. Nice one Konstantin! 🎄✨🌟👍
G'day from Australia Konstantin. Loving your channel, thank you for the detail and the enthusiasm. I drank my first Tokay in 1972 as young trainee sommelier. I suspect that post the Soviet era the quality is far higher. I would love to see an episode on Vermouth. A few years ago we were in Haro and were served an outstanding Vermouth from La Questa which turned out to be just down the road. It started a bit of a drinking fad for me and on trips to Europe I have drunk some fascinating and complex Vermouths. I would love to know more about them, especially the rarer more interesting Vermouths that we simply don't see "Downunder". Such a lovely aperitif over ice.
Did you know that Tokaj has a small part also in Slovakia? You didnt mention it in video so I suppose you didn't know it. I suggest you come to visit also this part of Tokaj one day. We have amazing wines and vineyards too. Anyway thanks for a video of my Homeland
Tokaji is one of my favourite wines, it’s got that acidity so not cloying. It’s the sweet wine I’d serve to someone who thinks they don’t like sweet wines. Didn’t realise that 5 Puttunyos is now the minimum but that makes sense for keeping quality and reputation high. Wonderful stuff and very interesting video Konstantin, lovely to see the geography of that part of Hungary and the last part in the cellars was fascinating.
We had a bottle of Tokaji Aszúeszencia from 1990’s. When my sister got married we drank it. I was in heaven 🤩
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Thank you for making a video about Tokaj wines! Did you know that two professor ladies found a special Trichoderma fungi (~10 years ago) inside the vineyard which saves the plant from other fungus?
Yesterday watched, today I already ordered a dry Tokaj (Moric HT Nr. 1 Gergö Filep). Usually I like Moric ´s Hungarian line of "Hidden Treasures", totally curious what to expect! Thank you a lot for your exzeptionell content, also this style was also refreshing, entertaining and different!
Excellent video as always. Although I was a bit sad that you did not mention that part of tokaj region is in slovakia (my home country). I am looking forward to the day you will do some slovak or czech(moravian) wine tasting.
Tokaj is amazing dry or late harvest and doesn’t get enough attention in the wine world. I’m fine with that in some ways because the dry wines are still affordable! The dry wines are workhorses for food pairings!
this is the time when i slightly regret what i drank in my youth and did no keep. there was a time when i was introduced to tokaji; 3, 4, 5, 6 puttonyos, and all quite, quite affordable. i fell in love, and acquired and drank what i could get my hands on and lips against. at its most common a great experience; at best nectar of the gods.
I had Royal Tokaji 2017 at Clover Hill in Brooklyn, it was literally one of the best wines I’ve ever had. I typically gravitate towards Bordeaux’s ( specifically haut medoc and Margaux ) but that tokaji was easily top 5. Clover Hill is AMAZING btw 10/10 if anyone’s interested
@Konstantin, your weekly videos are my highlight and I've learned so much from you! Thanks. May I place a request, would you be open to touch a super hot topic, which all over youtube is being ignored by wine experts and that's the Primitivo grape, it's such a mass phenomena and it seems that experts try to almost ignore it, but really all folks I know appreciate and turn often to Primitivo di Manduria as it's heavily palatable, can you do a deep dive please?
This past year I've come to love Furmint, and wonder why more people aren't drinking it. Just as much acid as the usual Sauv Blanc, wonderful aromatics, and delicious! I recently had my first Tokaji Aszu(Disznoko, 5 Puttonyos 2013)..... Absolutely lovely!. I prefer it to comparable Sauturnes. All your tastings notes were spot on 😋
Great video! I love Tokaji wines and Essencia/eszencia is one of my all time favorites, I always have a few bottles of it from different brands in my cellar (as well as many bottles of exceptional regular Tokaji wines). Truly special wines and very worthy of your great video, thank you for casting more like on them! They don’t get the attention that they deserve. Still trying to track down a crystal angel here in the US though!
About fifteen years ago, there was a Tokaji Aszú tasting in Vienna. They were all Essencia and made in the 18th century. The bottles were imported by German and Russian merchants. The bottles were retrieved from the airport under police escort... The Bolshoi Ballet performed before the tasting...
I have only had dry Tokaj wines. We had one on special at work for a month and it was quite nice. The salinity always threw people off since Hungary isn't exactly close to the coast. Would love to do a tasting of Aszu wine at the renaissance faire where my group presents Elizabeth and her court. We have done stuff like traditional Aztec chocolate, so this would be fun.
I've had the Royal Tokaji Essencia. Veronika in NYC used to serve it. The price was high, like $75 for an ounce (this was in early 2020), and it was served in a spoon, as you said. It was fine but I don't recall being "wowed" by it. I had a 2005 Rieussec at the same place for a fraction of the price and that one did "wow" me.
That looked like another tough day at the office, Master 😂. Love Tokaj, unfortunately the offer in the US seems to be very limited, at least in my region (Florida). I never saw or tasted a bottle of the dry variety. Excellent vid as usual!! Cheers 🥂!
I've tasted several Eszencia wines (which are actually not even considered wine). It is fascinating that they are really different: just like regular wines, various producers and various vintages result in completely different wines.
would really a appreciate a video about a wine tasting with interesting flavor profiles. Notes like, saffron, tar, truffels etc. would be an interesting video
Freue mich, dass Du nach Tokaj gekommen bist und die Geschichte dieses großartigen Weinbaugebiet ausbreitest. Leider konnten wir uns nicht treffen (ich arbeite beim Patricus by the way) Schöne Grüße und super Video :)
You have omitted the fact that a part of Tokaj vineyards (approx. 900 ha) are located in Slovakia (and the winds from north actually flow from Slovakia, not Poland). Slovak Tokaj wines are made in an older, more oxidative manner and are less approachable to the broad public compared to the lighter, less oxidative style that the majority of Hungarian wineries produce. There is sadly though a lot less development in the Slovak Tokaj and unlike the main part in Hungary, it never got through a boom or had a comeback. The reasons are lack of investments, strong marketing on the Hungarian side as their national heritage and also the fact that because it's a border part of the whole region, as in all wine regions of the world, the border parts usually have the lesser vineyards, which here manifests by the lower yields of botrytis and lesser complexity of the wines. That being said, it was still a great video, Tokaji is one of my overall favorites and I do admit that the Hungarians are doing an amazing job there with their improvements, especially with their single vineyard Furmints and their reinvention of the Szamorodni style.
Thanks for a great wine journey! I am a huge fan of Tokaji wines, sweet and dry. Last time I had some sweet one without the putonyos mentioned, but rather Late harvest on the label. What does this mean? Can you tell between Tokaji Aszu and TBA Riesling in blind tasting? It's very interesting to understand just how does the terroir show in sweet wines, or it's mostly technical wines.
thx for putting a little spotlight on the oooold world. you mentioned Sauska, their cuvée 5 won decanters best bdx red - just one among lots of other prizes for lesser known Hungarian reds, such as Solus which beat Petrus in a decanter blind testing. when can we get to see more of those? Merry Christmas!
So that's why I couldn't find any 3 or 4 puttonyos wines anymore... damn it. I've been to a wine tasting in Tokaj once as a tourist, actually loved the 3-4-puttonyos even more than the sweet ones.
A local restaurant has royal tokaji in frequent rotation on its menu; their sommelier (and staff!) have never steered us wrong. That glass brought me to near tears. I'd love for more Hungarian expressions to make it stateside.
Humanity is just wild. "See those rotten, infected berrys?" "Yeah they look terrible" "We turn those into a drink and we like them more than the berrys that aren't rotten."
If I had to pick a favorite wine, it'd be Tokaji. Clean sweetness, fresh acidity and interesting aromas - humans are made to like these things. Aszus might be the easiest wine for non wine drinkers to like (I guess unless they find them too sweet)
Could you make a video about AurumRed Gold, the 25000 euro Spanish wine which production supposedly involves dozens of scientific innovations like injecting the water used to irrigate the vines with ozone gas? The creator also claims that depending on the direction one spins the wine in the glass it has different aromas. It's very hard to believe everything he says but the 150 bottle per year release is always pre reserved and it's impossible to get a Gold bottle so there's a market for it apparently. Maybe you could find a Silver edition or the cheap white wine he also makes and try making a deep dive into his claims? Thank you very much, I love your channel!
5 puttonos used to be affordable. Not market priced now imo. Compare to sauternes. The dry Hungarian and Romanian whites are marvelous but not appreciated. Thank you for an informative video.
Konstantin, I though you might be interested: Jewish winemaking in Hungary has a rich and complex history tied to the broader cultural and economic presence of Jews in Central Europe. This history reflects both the contributions of Jewish communities to Hungary’s viticulture and the challenges they faced over centuries, including discrimination and persecution. Medieval Beginnings Jews in Hungary were already present by the 10th century, but their significant involvement in winemaking began in the Middle Ages. During this period, Hungary developed as a major center of viticulture, with regions like Tokaj, Eger, and Sopron becoming renowned for their wines. While Jews were often restricted from land ownership due to legal and religious discrimination, many found opportunities in ancillary roles within winemaking, such as trade, distribution, and wine cellaring. Jewish merchants became prominent in the wine trade, connecting Hungary to broader European markets. However, periodic expulsions and restrictions-common across medieval Europe-limited their ability to participate fully in agriculture and wine production. The 18th and 19th Centuries: Economic Expansion During the 18th century, under the Habsburg Monarchy, Jewish communities in Hungary were granted increased, albeit conditional, rights to participate in commerce. Jews began to play a more direct role in winemaking, particularly in the Tokaj wine region, famous for its sweet Tokaji Aszú wine. The high value of Tokaji wines attracted Jewish traders who helped expand its markets to Western Europe and beyond. By the 19th century, under the influence of economic reforms and emancipation efforts, Jewish families in Hungary became successful as vineyard owners, winemakers, and wine merchants. Jewish winemakers were instrumental in modernizing the industry, introducing advanced techniques and fostering international trade connections. Regions like Tokaj and Mád had Jewish communities that directly influenced the quality and reputation of Hungarian wines. The strong Jewish presence in Tokaj is evident in the architecture of synagogues and historic Jewish wine cellars. Jewish Contributions to Tokaj Wine The Tokaj region is particularly important in the story of Jewish winemaking in Hungary. Jewish winemakers helped build the fame of Tokaji wines across Europe, often serving as intermediaries between vineyards and distant markets. Jewish-owned wine cellars in towns like Mád and Tokaj played a crucial role in storing and aging wines. During this period, many Jewish families developed their expertise in winemaking and maintained kosher wine production for the local Jewish communities and export. This kosher winemaking tradition persisted even as Hungary secularized. Challenges in the 20th Century: World Wars and the Holocaust The 20th century brought immense challenges to Jewish communities in Hungary, including those involved in winemaking: 1. World War I disrupted agriculture and trade, weakening Hungary’s economy. 2. By the 1930s, antisemitic laws (similar to Germany’s Nuremberg Laws) excluded Jews from owning vineyards and businesses. Jewish winemakers were gradually dispossessed of their property and livelihoods. 3. The Holocaust devastated Hungary’s Jewish population. Over 400,000 Hungarian Jews were deported to concentration camps, primarily Auschwitz, in 1944. Entire Jewish communities in wine regions like Tokaj and Mád were wiped out, and their vineyards were confiscated. Post-Communist Revival After World War II and during the Communist era, many Jewish-owned vineyards were nationalized and absorbed into state-run cooperatives. Jewish winemaking traditions all but disappeared. However, since the fall of communism in 1989, there has been a gradual revival of Jewish cultural and historical heritage in Hungary, including in the wine industry. Today, initiatives in places like Mád and the Tokaj region celebrate the historical role of Jewish communities. Some winemakers are producing kosher wines once again, reviving a long-dormant tradition and honoring the Jewish contributions to Hungarian viticulture. Legacy and Preservation Jewish winemaking in Hungary is remembered through: • Historic Wine Cellars: Many still bear Hebrew inscriptions or were once operated by Jewish families. • Kosher Wine Production: A niche but growing sector in regions like Tokaj. • Cultural Heritage Projects: Synagogues, cemeteries, and Jewish wine cellars are being restored in towns like Mád. The story of Jewish winemaking in Hungary is a testament to resilience and cultural integration, reflecting both the flourishing and tragic moments of Jewish history in Central Europe. Today, efforts to preserve this heritage continue to shine light on the deep ties between Hungarian Jews and one of the world’s most renowned wine regions.
Your Hungarian pronunciation has still much room to improve, but the video is great🙂You could make a tasting video on still, as well as sweet Tokaj wines, I would be very interested.
Several remarks: 1. A lot of pronunciation mistakes, barely in each word. Google translate would help easily before making a video. 2. Famous wineries don’t equal good wineries in Tokaj. 3. Tokaj produces very well sparkling wines as well. 4. Finding a really good Aszú wine in Tokaj isn’t easy. Those who taste it first time may love any, but later on you will understand that what you’ve tried might be a very low level Aszú. It just surprises (even a bad bottle) because it’s very unusual. 5. Sauska bottle in the video is not a coincidence…if you know what I mean
Think the 90s are coming back. Including Tokaji, Bordeaux, Riesling, Foie Gras, fur coats, Barbour jackets, holidays in the swiss alps, white table cloth restaurants and big Mercedes. If ppl spend, they want the big guns. No more understatement. No more minimalism. No more natural wine from a political correct winemaker who genders better, then making wine.
This channel is truly exceptional, I don’t think there’s any other channel like this. The content is outstanding and being able to learn from someone with so much knowledge and passion is a blessing.
Thank you!
Agreed. Thanks for the awesome content. It is very well done and informative. @@KonstantinBaumMasterofWine
If you like this, I recommend checking out "Alexander the Guest". He's a millionaire owner of a Michelin starred restaurant who reviews mostly 3 Michelin star restaurants all around the world.
Thank you for the Tokaj episode. I came from Poland in 2010 to Debrecen, Hungary, for Erasmus, studying medicine. At that time, the university offered wine history classes (Hungarian wine). I even earned 2 ECTS points. One day, a man from Tokaj presented his wines. It was amazing. The 2000 and 2006 vintages were present. I have visited Tokaj and tried these wines. The Furmint was so intense in smell.
That was Patricius Winery, and that is when I started drinking wine.
Now I live in Frankfurt, and I still have a few bottles of Patricius Tokaj in my cellar that I find very good.
However, it is so difficult to drink these wines. You need people, good company, and a certain amount of time to open them. It is not a wine for everyday drinking.
Tokaj Essencia is superb; it tastes like honey.
And what I would like to do: I think Tokaj Aszú will go very well with spicy Asian food, with a lot of chili.
Tokai is an overlooked gem, I wish we could get more of it over here in the States. I've also immensely enjoyed they dry wines I've been able to get, furmint, harslevelu, and olazrisling, . Hoping Hungary gets more recognitionfor its world-class wine so I can more easily buy it in Chicago. Thank you for another great episod!
As a long time Hungarian follower of your channel and work I would like to thank you for the excellent video about my country’s most important, famous and exceptional wine region! I’ve been waiting for the Tokaj topic in your channel and finally here it is! Early Christmas!❤
What a fascinating video! I have a much better understanding of Tokaj after watching. I’m such a visual learner and even though I have studied this wine/region, being able to actually see what the grapes and caves look like put a much better picture of how special this wine really is.
I felt the same way. This is a visual wine style!
I've had both dry and [very] sweet Tokaji and while I know it is under-appreciated, it is always a pleasant a memorable experience when I get to enjoy a little. I opened a half bottle of Essencia once and it served a party of 50 people!! Everyone got about a small spoonful of it and that was more than enough. I've still been sitting on a vintage Tokaji and since I am usually not a fan of dessert wines, I will eventually gift it to someone. Unrelated, I really miss your weekly quiz on TH-cam. I hope you can go back to having your subscribers guess "what is in your glass". Cheers!
This is the best wine channel… thank you for another amazing video. Super informative and presented in such a great way.
Have drunk a number of tokaji wines, some recent and some old. I liked them all. Hungarian wine is much under appreciated.
Tokaji - one of the great open secrets of wine in the world. If you’ve never tasted aszú, you really owe it to yourself to try this reliably fantastic wine. It can be affordable and remains high quality at the low end of the price range of selections and mind-blowing as you get towards the high end. Reasonably priced aszú is also much easier to find than an affordable Beerenauslese or equivalently good Spätlese in my experience.
Thanks again for this great video.
Tokaj is a sensational wine, especially 5/6 Puttonyos and Essencias when they have several decades of maturity. I love the wines of Oremus from the 70s and 80s.
Yes! I've been needing someone to explain this region for me. I was blown away by the distinct flavor profile of an excellent bottle of furmint when visiting budapest a year ago. Thank you!
Glad you enjoy it!
I’m just a hobbyist, I don’t work in the industry. I first tried Tokaj two years ago during WSET level 2. I was surprised how much I liked sweet wines. Now they’re some of my favourite
Tokaj is a unique region with a rich history, the diversity of styles dry, semi-sweet, semi-dry, dry Szamorodni, traditional method sparkling wines, sweet Szamorodni, Aszu and Eszencia.
There are so many wineries and producers making wines at different price points. There are an increasing number of options to choose from; I enjoy the smaller family/boutique wineries.
After 10 years, Aszu becomes truly amazing , so I can easily imagine the best vintages lasting for 20 or 30 years.
The last thing I ever thought I'd see was a statue of Hugh Johnson. lol. This channel is such a vibe. Nothing else like it. I get the same feeling as when I used to open photo books of wineries or those glorious special issues of Wine Spectator back when I had the cash to be more of a wine maven.
Thank you for this Tokaj episode.
Well done with pronanciating the Hungarian words 👍
Even though your tasting videos are my favorite I also enjoy being able to visit wine regions through your channel. It is absolutely amazing to see how different wines are cultivated, processed and stored. I also enjoy learning the history of these vineyards. Grapes and wine have been and continue to be such an important and integral aspect of human culture and reflect the success that can be achieved when people assert diligence, creativity and care to working with one of the great bounties that nature provides us. Wonderful video. Thanks.
Tokay wines have not risen to my thoughts for a very long time. Very interesting video, thank you, Konstantine. We love your broad experiences; wine is endlessly fascinating.
I just happened to buy a Tokaji Aszu 6 puttonyos yesterday! Such a gorgeous wine.
It was great to see such an informative video of my home country's probably most famous region. I would also like to see you tasting some samples from Villány or Szekszárd, I think they have very good value for money red wines, which would deserve more attention in my opinion!
Fantastic post, great information and detail. Thank you. Tokaji is my wife’s favorite sweet wine, so we always have some around. I love it too.
Terrific video. Coincidentally, I have just taken delivery of a half case of Tokaji: 2x Royal Tokay Aszu, 5 Putts; 2x Sweet Szamoradni; and 2x dry Furmint.
Really enjoyed this.
Such a great topic! Very well researched and summarised. Great to see Tokaj receiving more attention outside of Europe thanks to the work being done by smaller producers producing dry wines today. Sauska is also producing great wines of all styles.
I remember one weekend morning in my 1970s childhood when my parents emerged slowly from their bedroom in our house in the Chicago suburbs with what they both described as a bad hangover. They'd been out for dinner the night before with their friend (and legend of the US wine world) Sandy McNally, and they'd been somewhat...over-served.
Sandy McNally had created the Heublein Wine Auction and was in Chicago to preside over it. I remember being told that the ultimate culprit that night was a Tokaji he'd opened, which my mother described as pretty much the most delicious thing ever: how could she not have drunk too much of it?!
Sadly my parents and Mr. McNally are all gone now, but Tokaji remains, and I think of them all whenever I'm reminded of it. Thank you for this great video and for all your work.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
I really like your videos and this one is nice as well. However, it overlooks an important fact - the Tokaj wine region is divided into two parts: the Slovak and Hungarian sections. (Although during the times of the Kingdom of Hungary, Tokaj formed a single unit and the Slovak Tokaj wine-growing villages were also included in the Hungarian law of 1908, the Hungarian side began rejecting Slovakia's efforts for the official international recognition of its part of Tokaj from the 1950s onwards. The European Commission ultimately recognized the Slovak part of Tokaj as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), and since 2012, Slovakia has had the right to use this name for wines produced from approximately 908 hectares of the Slovak Tokaj region.)
Exactly!
Tokaji is still a Hungarian brand not Slovakian.
I may never taste these wine as well as many others you bring here but,,, I enjoy learning about them and who knows,, maybe someday I WILL get to enjoy one of them! Thank you Master Baum!
My favorite sweet wines and seriously underrated by people. Always suggesting people to try more of these
Another excellent tour. Great video!
Thank you for a masterclass on Tokaji. I’ve often wondered about how Sauternes and Tokaji are similar / different. Bravo!
Great video, Konstantin. Cheers from Hungary :)
Glad you liked it!
I may not personally be a wine connoisseur, but I love watching these videos. I am into cigars, and the way Konstantin describes the different aromas, and flavor notes of different wines reminds me a lot of what I experience when trying different cigars with different blends of tobaccos.
Keep up the good work!
Memorably delicious this stuff!
I've tasted a Tokaji, it was bottled in clear glass and I remember thinking how delicious it looked even in the bottle.. I was not disappointed! A really remarkable balance, considering the concentration of intense sweetness from the shrivelled, botrytised grapes, with counterpoise of acidity and some grip.
It's great to have some background on this, definitely a gap in my knowledge.
Nice one Konstantin! 🎄✨🌟👍
I visited the area couple of years ago, truly exceptional stuffs. Specially szepsy. Spectaculars stuffs
G'day from Australia Konstantin. Loving your channel, thank you for the detail and the enthusiasm. I drank my first Tokay in 1972 as young trainee sommelier. I suspect that post the Soviet era the quality is far higher. I would love to see an episode on Vermouth. A few years ago we were in Haro and were served an outstanding Vermouth from La Questa which turned out to be just down the road. It started a bit of a drinking fad for me and on trips to Europe I have drunk some fascinating and complex Vermouths. I would love to know more about them, especially the rarer more interesting Vermouths that we simply don't see "Downunder". Such a lovely aperitif over ice.
Did you know that Tokaj has a small part also in Slovakia? You didnt mention it in video so I suppose you didn't know it. I suggest you come to visit also this part of Tokaj one day. We have amazing wines and vineyards too. Anyway thanks for a video of my Homeland
Exactly what I was going to say. You should visit the Slovakian part of this region, too. It's wonderful. And I loved the episode!
Tokaji is one of my favourite wines, it’s got that acidity so not cloying. It’s the sweet wine I’d serve to someone who thinks they don’t like sweet wines. Didn’t realise that 5 Puttunyos is now the minimum but that makes sense for keeping quality and reputation high. Wonderful stuff and very interesting video Konstantin, lovely to see the geography of that part of Hungary and the last part in the cellars was fascinating.
I love Tokaji. It is expensive in my market, so it’s great to see the work that goes in, so you know you’re paying for real value.
Great content once again Konstantin!
Glad you enjoy it!
Very cool vlog, answered a lot of questions! Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank your for making this video. It is really cool, informative and fun. :)
love these deep dives in regions and styles. gg konstantin!
Glad you like them!
We had a bottle of Tokaji Aszúeszencia from 1990’s.
When my sister got married we drank it.
I was in heaven 🤩
Thank you for making a video about Tokaj wines! Did you know that two professor ladies found a special Trichoderma fungi (~10 years ago) inside the vineyard which saves the plant from other fungus?
Yesterday watched, today I already ordered a dry Tokaj (Moric HT Nr. 1 Gergö Filep). Usually I like Moric ´s Hungarian line of "Hidden Treasures", totally curious what to expect! Thank you a lot for your exzeptionell content, also this style was also refreshing, entertaining and different!
Excellent video as always. Although I was a bit sad that you did not mention that part of tokaj region is in slovakia (my home country). I am looking forward to the day you will do some slovak or czech(moravian) wine tasting.
Great point!
Czech or Slovakian wine would be great indeed! I´ve passed the wine area in Marovia on my way to CZ from Vienna several times and always wondering.
Tokaj is amazing dry or late harvest and doesn’t get enough attention in the wine world.
I’m fine with that in some ways because the dry wines are still affordable! The dry wines are workhorses for food pairings!
this is the time when i slightly regret what i drank in my youth and did no keep. there was a time when i was introduced to tokaji; 3, 4, 5, 6 puttonyos, and all quite, quite affordable.
i fell in love, and acquired and drank what i could get my hands on and lips against. at its most common a great experience; at best nectar of the gods.
Phenomenal video! I'd like this twice if I could
Great timing, just bought a bottle of Tokaji at Costco last week.
Have fun!
I had Royal Tokaji 2017 at Clover Hill in Brooklyn, it was literally one of the best wines I’ve ever had. I typically gravitate towards Bordeaux’s ( specifically haut medoc and Margaux ) but that tokaji was easily top 5. Clover Hill is AMAZING btw 10/10 if anyone’s interested
@Konstantin, your weekly videos are my highlight and I've learned so much from you! Thanks.
May I place a request, would you be open to touch a super hot topic, which all over youtube is being ignored by wine experts and that's the Primitivo grape, it's such a mass phenomena and it seems that experts try to almost ignore it, but really all folks I know appreciate and turn often to Primitivo di Manduria as it's heavily palatable, can you do a deep dive please?
Thank you for this! I really was curious about your take on Hungarian wines.
This past year I've come to love Furmint, and wonder why more people aren't drinking it. Just as much acid as the usual Sauv Blanc, wonderful aromatics, and delicious!
I recently had my first Tokaji Aszu(Disznoko, 5 Puttonyos 2013)..... Absolutely lovely!. I prefer it to comparable Sauturnes. All your tastings notes were spot on 😋
Great video! I love Tokaji wines and Essencia/eszencia is one of my all time favorites, I always have a few bottles of it from different brands in my cellar (as well as many bottles of exceptional regular Tokaji wines). Truly special wines and very worthy of your great video, thank you for casting more like on them! They don’t get the attention that they deserve. Still trying to track down a crystal angel here in the US though!
Thank you.
Love the LOTR reference!
Gosh the harvesting part looks so fun 😬
About fifteen years ago, there was a Tokaji Aszú tasting in Vienna. They were all Essencia and made in the 18th century. The bottles were imported by German and Russian merchants. The bottles were retrieved from the airport under police escort... The Bolshoi Ballet performed before the tasting...
I have only had dry Tokaj wines. We had one on special at work for a month and it was quite nice. The salinity always threw people off since Hungary isn't exactly close to the coast. Would love to do a tasting of Aszu wine at the renaissance faire where my group presents Elizabeth and her court. We have done stuff like traditional Aztec chocolate, so this would be fun.
I've had the Royal Tokaji Essencia. Veronika in NYC used to serve it. The price was high, like $75 for an ounce (this was in early 2020), and it was served in a spoon, as you said. It was fine but I don't recall being "wowed" by it. I had a 2005 Rieussec at the same place for a fraction of the price and that one did "wow" me.
I personally prefer Tokaj over Sauternes, but any sweet wine, especially the whites (as opposed to Port or Chinato), are a special pleasure for me☺️
That looked like another tough day at the office, Master 😂. Love Tokaj, unfortunately the offer in the US seems to be very limited, at least in my region (Florida). I never saw or tasted a bottle of the dry variety. Excellent vid as usual!! Cheers 🥂!
Finally. What took you so long?
I've tasted several Eszencia wines (which are actually not even considered wine). It is fascinating that they are really different: just like regular wines, various producers and various vintages result in completely different wines.
Hopefully we'll see you once more here in Tokaj Wine Region :)
would really a appreciate a video about a wine tasting with interesting flavor profiles. Notes like, saffron, tar, truffels etc. would be an interesting video
Freue mich, dass Du nach Tokaj gekommen bist und die Geschichte dieses großartigen Weinbaugebiet ausbreitest. Leider konnten wir uns nicht treffen (ich arbeite beim Patricus by the way) Schöne Grüße und super Video :)
Please show us your soil collection
… and PLEASE more travelogues
Question of the day.
Is dry Szamorodni supposed to be a desert wine? What may be its food pairing options?
Not really. It is a wine that can be consumed with the meal before moving on to Dessert.
@KonstantinBaumMasterofWine thank you master 😊
You have omitted the fact that a part of Tokaj vineyards (approx. 900 ha) are located in Slovakia (and the winds from north actually flow from Slovakia, not Poland). Slovak Tokaj wines are made in an older, more oxidative manner and are less approachable to the broad public compared to the lighter, less oxidative style that the majority of Hungarian wineries produce. There is sadly though a lot less development in the Slovak Tokaj and unlike the main part in Hungary, it never got through a boom or had a comeback. The reasons are lack of investments, strong marketing on the Hungarian side as their national heritage and also the fact that because it's a border part of the whole region, as in all wine regions of the world, the border parts usually have the lesser vineyards, which here manifests by the lower yields of botrytis and lesser complexity of the wines. That being said, it was still a great video, Tokaji is one of my overall favorites and I do admit that the Hungarians are doing an amazing job there with their improvements, especially with their single vineyard Furmints and their reinvention of the Szamorodni style.
Personally I prefer a Grand Superior Bull’s Blood, but I do agree that Tokaji and Goose Livers is an amazing pairing! 😄
How would you compare tokaj and sauternes? If comparable at all.
Thanks for a great wine journey!
I am a huge fan of Tokaji wines, sweet and dry. Last time I had some sweet one without the putonyos mentioned, but rather Late harvest on the label. What does this mean?
Can you tell between Tokaji Aszu and TBA Riesling in blind tasting? It's very interesting to understand just how does the terroir show in sweet wines, or it's mostly technical wines.
thx for putting a little spotlight on the oooold world. you mentioned Sauska, their cuvée 5 won decanters best bdx red - just one among lots of other prizes for lesser known Hungarian reds, such as Solus which beat Petrus in a decanter blind testing. when can we get to see more of those? Merry Christmas!
Great video… How would you compare/contrast the wines of Tokaj with the Sauternes wines of Bordeaux? Any preference?
Tokaji has more acid, less oak flavor, less alcohol and more sugar.
So that's why I couldn't find any 3 or 4 puttonyos wines anymore... damn it. I've been to a wine tasting in Tokaj once as a tourist, actually loved the 3-4-puttonyos even more than the sweet ones.
BUT WHY IS TOKAJI SO GOOD THOUGH
A local restaurant has royal tokaji in frequent rotation on its menu; their sommelier (and staff!) have never steered us wrong. That glass brought me to near tears. I'd love for more Hungarian expressions to make it stateside.
Balance!
do you drink this wine cold or at room temperature?
Mehr Trockenbeerenauslese!
Humanity is just wild. "See those rotten, infected berrys?" "Yeah they look terrible" "We turn those into a drink and we like them more than the berrys that aren't rotten."
If I had to pick a favorite wine, it'd be Tokaji. Clean sweetness, fresh acidity and interesting aromas - humans are made to like these things. Aszus might be the easiest wine for non wine drinkers to like (I guess unless they find them too sweet)
Very nice
Are there any reds worth trying from this region?
There are some good ones. Sauska makes a good Pinot
How does Tokaji compare to Sauternes?
It is less alcoholic, less oaky, sweeter, and contains more acid.
most people dont know about seedless grape fruit sir ball or capsule shape
You are using Halimba's Aszu glass. What do you think about it?
Was a wine I like before I was trying to know wine.
Could you make a video about AurumRed Gold, the 25000 euro Spanish wine which production supposedly involves dozens of scientific innovations like injecting the water used to irrigate the vines with ozone gas? The creator also claims that depending on the direction one spins the wine in the glass it has different aromas. It's very hard to believe everything he says but the 150 bottle per year release is always pre reserved and it's impossible to get a Gold bottle so there's a market for it apparently. Maybe you could find a Silver edition or the cheap white wine he also makes and try making a deep dive into his claims? Thank you very much, I love your channel!
i'd take Tokaji Aszu over any other wines any day :D. Let's hope price doesn't go up too high
mmmmm makn me Hungary. (yuk yuk)
5 puttonos used to be affordable. Not market priced now imo. Compare to sauternes. The dry Hungarian and Romanian whites are marvelous but not appreciated. Thank you for an informative video.
Konstantin,
I though you might be interested:
Jewish winemaking in Hungary has a rich and complex history tied to the broader cultural and economic presence of Jews in Central Europe. This history reflects both the contributions of Jewish communities to Hungary’s viticulture and the challenges they faced over centuries, including discrimination and persecution.
Medieval Beginnings
Jews in Hungary were already present by the 10th century, but their significant involvement in winemaking began in the Middle Ages. During this period, Hungary developed as a major center of viticulture, with regions like Tokaj, Eger, and Sopron becoming renowned for their wines. While Jews were often restricted from land ownership due to legal and religious discrimination, many found opportunities in ancillary roles within winemaking, such as trade, distribution, and wine cellaring.
Jewish merchants became prominent in the wine trade, connecting Hungary to broader European markets. However, periodic expulsions and restrictions-common across medieval Europe-limited their ability to participate fully in agriculture and wine production.
The 18th and 19th Centuries: Economic Expansion
During the 18th century, under the Habsburg Monarchy, Jewish communities in Hungary were granted increased, albeit conditional, rights to participate in commerce. Jews began to play a more direct role in winemaking, particularly in the Tokaj wine region, famous for its sweet Tokaji Aszú wine. The high value of Tokaji wines attracted Jewish traders who helped expand its markets to Western Europe and beyond.
By the 19th century, under the influence of economic reforms and emancipation efforts, Jewish families in Hungary became successful as vineyard owners, winemakers, and wine merchants. Jewish winemakers were instrumental in modernizing the industry, introducing advanced techniques and fostering international trade connections.
Regions like Tokaj and Mád had Jewish communities that directly influenced the quality and reputation of Hungarian wines. The strong Jewish presence in Tokaj is evident in the architecture of synagogues and historic Jewish wine cellars.
Jewish Contributions to Tokaj Wine
The Tokaj region is particularly important in the story of Jewish winemaking in Hungary. Jewish winemakers helped build the fame of Tokaji wines across Europe, often serving as intermediaries between vineyards and distant markets. Jewish-owned wine cellars in towns like Mád and Tokaj played a crucial role in storing and aging wines.
During this period, many Jewish families developed their expertise in winemaking and maintained kosher wine production for the local Jewish communities and export. This kosher winemaking tradition persisted even as Hungary secularized.
Challenges in the 20th Century: World Wars and the Holocaust
The 20th century brought immense challenges to Jewish communities in Hungary, including those involved in winemaking:
1. World War I disrupted agriculture and trade, weakening Hungary’s economy.
2. By the 1930s, antisemitic laws (similar to Germany’s Nuremberg Laws) excluded Jews from owning vineyards and businesses. Jewish winemakers were gradually dispossessed of their property and livelihoods.
3. The Holocaust devastated Hungary’s Jewish population. Over 400,000 Hungarian Jews were deported to concentration camps, primarily Auschwitz, in 1944. Entire Jewish communities in wine regions like Tokaj and Mád were wiped out, and their vineyards were confiscated.
Post-Communist Revival
After World War II and during the Communist era, many Jewish-owned vineyards were nationalized and absorbed into state-run cooperatives. Jewish winemaking traditions all but disappeared.
However, since the fall of communism in 1989, there has been a gradual revival of Jewish cultural and historical heritage in Hungary, including in the wine industry. Today, initiatives in places like Mád and the Tokaj region celebrate the historical role of Jewish communities. Some winemakers are producing kosher wines once again, reviving a long-dormant tradition and honoring the Jewish contributions to Hungarian viticulture.
Legacy and Preservation
Jewish winemaking in Hungary is remembered through:
• Historic Wine Cellars: Many still bear Hebrew inscriptions or were once operated by Jewish families.
• Kosher Wine Production: A niche but growing sector in regions like Tokaj.
• Cultural Heritage Projects: Synagogues, cemeteries, and Jewish wine cellars are being restored in towns like Mád.
The story of Jewish winemaking in Hungary is a testament to resilience and cultural integration, reflecting both the flourishing and tragic moments of Jewish history in Central Europe. Today, efforts to preserve this heritage continue to shine light on the deep ties between Hungarian Jews and one of the world’s most renowned wine regions.
Thank you!
💯
Hugh Johnson. LOL
Dachte schon Sie machen ein Video auf Deutsch mit der Übersetzung und deutscher Beschreibung.
I think that was auto-translated by TH-cam.
Your Hungarian pronunciation has still much room to improve, but the video is great🙂You could make a tasting video on still, as well as sweet Tokaj wines, I would be very interested.
so, sultanas
Several remarks:
1. A lot of pronunciation mistakes, barely in each word. Google translate would help easily before making a video.
2. Famous wineries don’t equal good wineries in Tokaj.
3. Tokaj produces very well sparkling wines as well.
4. Finding a really good Aszú wine in Tokaj isn’t easy. Those who taste it first time may love any, but later on you will understand that what you’ve tried might be a very low level Aszú. It just surprises (even a bad bottle) because it’s very unusual.
5. Sauska bottle in the video is not a coincidence…if you know what I mean
Ehm...why is France destroying 30.000HA of Grape Fields ? Please look into this !
Think the 90s are coming back. Including Tokaji, Bordeaux, Riesling, Foie Gras, fur coats, Barbour jackets, holidays in the swiss alps, white table cloth restaurants and big Mercedes. If ppl spend, they want the big guns. No more understatement. No more minimalism. No more natural wine from a political correct winemaker who genders better, then making wine.