🍇 Furmint

Furmint is the main grape of Tokaj in Hungary, a white. It gives both dry wines and the famous sweet ones. It also grows in Somló, in Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, and in Zakarpattia in Ukraine. Furmint conveys the character of the soil well: on the volcanic slopes of Tokaj it gives wine with high acidity, notes of apple, quince, honey and a mineral edge. The berries are thin-skinned and prone to noble rot, so they are made into Tokaji Aszú, a sweet wine from dried berries. Dry wines are also made from the same grape, and have become popular in recent decades. In Austria Furmint is made into Rust Ausbruch, a sweet wine from the Rust area. The grape is related to others, for instance Hárslevelű, with which it is often blended, and Zéta. Tokaj wine is protected by name, and Furmint is its main grape. In Slovakia Tokaj includes the same base. Sweet wines from Furmint can keep for decades. They are served with desserts, foie gras and cheese.