If you have been exploring Tokaji Aszú, you may have noticed the words 5 Puttonyos or 6 Puttonyos on the label. These traditional Hungarian terms have their roots in the way Aszú was once made and offer a useful starting point when choosing a bottle.
Here is what puttonyos means, how the historic system relates to sweetness today, and why the number is only one part of the story.
What Does Puttonyos Mean?
Puttonyos comes from puttony, the name of a traditional wooden harvesting container used in Tokaj. These containers held the individually picked, shrivelled aszú berries that give Tokaji Aszú its concentrated sweetness and distinctive flavour.
Historically, the number of puttonyos referred to the number of containers of aszú berries added to a traditional 136-litre Gönci barrel of wine or grape must. A higher number meant more concentrated berries were used in relation to the base.
A traditional puttony held approximately 23–25kg of aszú berries. Using 25kg as a guide, five puttonyos represented roughly 125kg of shrivelled grapes added to 136 litres of wine or must. The berries were left to soak, releasing their concentrated sugars, acidity and flavours into the liquid.
Today, puttonyos remains a familiar part of Tokaji’s wine language, but it should not be understood as a literal count of baskets added to every barrel. Modern production methods vary, and producers assess the finished wine against the applicable requirements for Tokaji Aszú.
Why Are Aszú Berries So Special?
Aszú berries are grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, a fungus known in the right conditions as noble rot. In Tokaj, autumn mists encourage its development, while drier afternoons help the grapes gradually shrivel on the vine.
As the berries lose water, their sugars and flavours become more concentrated. They are picked individually by hand and used to make wines known for their sweetness, vibrant acidity and layers of fruit, honey and spice.
For a closer look at the grapes, winemaking and history behind the style, read our guide to Tokaji Aszú.
What Is the Difference Between 5 and 6 Puttonyos?
Both are sweet Tokaji Aszú wines. The most useful distinction on a modern label is that 6 Puttonyos indicates a wine with at least 150 grams of residual sugar per litre. Residual sugar is the natural grape sugar remaining in the wine after fermentation.
All modern Tokaji Aszú must contain at least 120 grams per litre. A wine labelled 5 Puttonyos meets the requirements for Aszú, but its exact sugar content depends on the individual wine. It is not necessarily limited to a maximum of 150 grams per litre.
| Label | What it tells you | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Puttonyos | A traditional designation on a sweet Tokaji Aszú. Modern Aszú must contain at least 120g/L of residual sugar. | A concentrated, sweet wine whose precise sweetness and character depend on the bottle. |
| 6 Puttonyos | The wine must contain at least 150g/L of residual sugar. | A richly sweet Aszú, with its overall impression shaped by acidity, fruit and winemaking. |
| Aszú without a number | The wine meets the requirements for Tokaji Aszú; a puttonyos number does not have to appear on the label. | Check the producer’s description for the best indication of its individual style. |
The important distinction: a 6 Puttonyos wine meets a higher minimum sugar level, but that does not mean every 6 Puttonyos bottle will contain more sugar than every 5 Puttonyos bottle. If you are comparing two specific wines, look at their individual details as well as their labels.
Is 6 Puttonyos Better Than 5 Puttonyos?
Not necessarily. Six Puttonyos tells you the wine meets a higher minimum sugar level; it doesn't, by itself, tell you which wine you will prefer.
A satisfying Aszú is about balance as well as sweetness. Acidity can make a richly sweet wine feel fresh and lively, while the grapes, producer and time in oak all contribute to its aroma, texture and finish.
Some people enjoy a particularly rich, lingering wine with blue cheese or a special dessert. Others may prefer a different bottle for its floral character, fruit flavours or the way it works with a favourite dish. Both 5 and 6 Puttonyos can offer a memorable introduction to Tokaji Aszú.
What Happened to 3 and 4 Puttonyos?
Older bottles may carry 3 or 4 Puttonyos labels. Under the historical classification, these indicated lower minimum sugar levels than 5 or 6 Puttonyos.
The requirements changed from the 2013 harvest, and modern Tokaji Aszú must meet a minimum of 120g/L of residual sugar. This matches the former minimum for 5 Puttonyos.
| Historic label | Former minimum residual sugar |
|---|---|
| 3 Puttonyos | 60g/L |
| 4 Puttonyos | 90g/L |
| 5 Puttonyos | 120g/L |
| 6 Puttonyos | 150g/L |
Choosing a Tokaji Aszú
The puttonyos number is a helpful clue, but the producer’s tasting notes can tell you more about the wine you are taking home. Look for the flavours you enjoy, consider what you would like to serve with it, and think about whether you are choosing a bottle to share now or give as a special gift.
Tokajicum Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos
Our Tokajicum Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos offers honeyed aromas with apricot, candied orange peel and floral notes. Its concentrated sweetness is balanced by natural acidity, making it an appealing choice with a cheese board, traditional cakes or a savoury course.
Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017
For a special bottle of 6 Puttonyos, we particularly recommend Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017. Made predominantly from Hárslevelű with Furmint, it offers a rich, layered combination of apricot, ginger, orange blossom, candied citrus and warming spice.
This vintage received 97 points and a Platinum medal at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards and was subsequently featured by Decanter among the world's best sweet wines. Presented in a gift box, it is a thoughtful choice for a celebration or a present for a dessert-wine lover.
Read Decanter's feature on the world's best sweet wines.
Best of Hungary Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos
Made by István Balassa, our Best of Hungary Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos offers a more affordable way to explore the style. It has a rich palate of apricot jam, orange peel, honey and sweet spice. Serve it with blue cheese, air-dried ham or a slice of zserbó, or enjoy a small glass on its own after dinner.
Explore these and other bottles in our Tokaji Aszú collection.
How to Serve Tokaji Aszú
Serve Aszú lightly chilled, around 10–12°C, in a small white-wine glass or a dessert-wine glass with enough room for its aromas to develop. If the bottle has been in a very cold fridge, let it warm a little before serving.
Small pours are ideal: Aszú is a concentrated wine to sip slowly. Try it with Stilton or another blue cheese, pâté, air-dried ham, fruit-based desserts or a slice of walnut and apricot zserbó. It can also be enjoyed on its own at the end of a meal.
For more ideas, explore our guide to pairing Tokaji wine with food.
Where Does Tokaji Eszencia Fit In?
Tokaji Eszencia is a separate wine speciality, rather than a 7 Puttonyos Aszú. It is made from the exceptionally concentrated juice that flows naturally from collected aszú berries under their own weight.
The high sugar concentration makes fermentation exceptionally slow. The resulting wine is intensely sweet and is often enjoyed in very small quantities, sometimes from a spoon.
Our Tokajicum Tokaji Essencia offers an opportunity to discover this rare Tokaj speciality. For more on how it differs from Aszú, read our guide to Tokaji Eszencia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does puttonyos mean on Tokaji wine?
Puttonyos is a traditional Tokaj term that originally referred to the number of containers of aszú berries used with a barrel of wine or grape must. Today it remains a familiar label indication associated with Tokaji Aszú and its sweetness.
Is 6 Puttonyos sweeter than 5 Puttonyos?
A 6 Puttonyos Aszú must contain at least 150g/L of residual sugar. However, a wine labelled 5 Puttonyos may also exceed that amount, so the number alone cannot tell you which of two individual bottles contains more sugar. Acidity also affects how sweet a wine tastes.
Explore Tokaji Sweet Wines
Whether you are looking for your first bottle of Aszú or a special wine to share, there is much more to Tokaj than a number on a label. Discover Aszú, Szamorodni and late-harvest styles in our Tokaji dessert wine collection.
To compare these different styles, read our guide to Tokaji Late Harvest, Szamorodni and Aszú.