🏛️ Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape

Tokaj is a wine region in north-east Hungary and south-east Slovakia, known for its sweet wines. The Hungarian part of the region is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape. The place has been tied to viticulture for centuries.

The region's best-known wine is Tokaji Aszú, a sweet wine from berries with noble rot. In autumn, mists from the rivers help the rot develop, which concentrates the sugar in the berries. The vines grow on the slopes of volcanic hills.

A special feature of Tokaj is its old cellars cut into volcanic rock. In their damp coolness a dark velvety cellar mould grows on the walls. It feeds on wine vapours and is seen as a sign of good conditions. The landscape of Tokaj, with its vineyards, villages and cellars, together became heritage. It is an example of how wine shapes a whole region. The region can be visited at any time of year, but autumn is especially beautiful, when the harvest takes place.