The National Hungarian Wine

The one wine of international interest and importance produced in Hungary is the famous Tokay, which was already held in high repute in the time of the Crusaders. It is produced chiefly in a mountainous region in the northeastern part of Hungary, of which the town of Tokay is the centre. The best Tokay is made from a species of vine called Formint, and the finest of the wines is the Tokay ausbruch. It is made from grapes which have been allowed to become over-ripe in the sun and which are gathered only when they are almost as shrivelled as raisins. These are blended with unscorched grapes. The Tokay essence, which is like a syrup and very highly prized, is produced by putting the finest grapes in casks and drawing off the sweet and sugary juice which exudes from them.