News

Furmint February

Try something different in February – Furmint February is back!

Wines of Hungary UK who represent Hungarian producers of wines made from the Furmint grape are celebrating the quality of dry Furmint wines being produced in Hungary again this year. Furmint is Hungary’s iconic grape and the one behind the renowned sweet wines of Tokaji.

Furmint is an indigenous Hungarian grape variety that has been grown for over 500 years but only in the last two decades has its appeal broadened gaining world wide appeal as buyers look for ‘new’ wines. It is capable of producing wines from the very crisp refreshing & very dry styles through to the renowned luscious, intensely sweet wines of Tokaji made for centuries.

Istvan Szepsy of St Tamas, based in the village of Mad in the heart of Tokaji is one of the younger producers and he is intent on putting Dry Furmint on the world map. World famous for the exquisite sweet wine that is produced here the volcanic terroir is his key to proving that his dry wines are just as good. He creates wines with unique flavours somewhere between Loire Chenin and Chablis in style, that are refreshing with an underlying minerality that feels like it comes directly up from the volcanic soils.

The dry Mad Furmint made by Ivan at St Tamas winery is a delicious example as it is well structured and well balanced, wonderfully elegant blend of apricot and peaches with a warming, ginger spice.

More traditionally, Disznoko winery dates back to 1413 and has been a Tokaji first growth from 1732 and is renowned for producing top Tokaji. The winery has crafted its own style of Tokaji wines – the legendary sweet white wines of Hungary. Disznoko has created a range of really delicious wines based on quality fruit, the fresh grape styles and complexity derived from botrytis affected grapes. Their sweet wines include the 5 Puttonyos with aromas & flavours of peach and apricot with honey, pear, almond and vanilla. It is rich with a silky and creamy flavour – tastes like nectar!

Laszlo Meszaros, the director of Disznoko, joined as an agricultural chemical engineer has been in charge of the company since January 2000 and supervises all the vineyard works and winemaking, and also assures the management of the estate. When he presented his wines at a Flagship Wines masterclass  tasting and amongst his passion for the traditional Tokaji nectar he expressed interest in the dry Furmint wines especially when we tasted the Inspiracion, a dry Furmint with oak aging that was sublime with a honeyed apricot note balanced by the lovely minerality and freshness of the fruit. It was originally an experiment but deserves to be continued and shows the potential of the Furmint grape.

In Furmint February why not try one and see for yourself – experiment with the variety of styles and find a new favourite!

© Archant Community Media Limited used under limited licence