Tokaji wine comes from Hungary's historic Tokaj region, where dry Furmint, sparkling wines and richly sweet Aszú reveal the remarkable diversity of one landscape.
What Is Tokaji Wine?
Tokaji wine is wine from the Tokaj region of north-eastern Hungary. The name is most closely associated with the region's celebrated sweet wines, particularly Tokaji Aszú, but Tokaj also produces dry white wines, sparkling wines and a range of other distinctive styles.
What connects them is their origin: a landscape of volcanic hills, historic vineyards, native grape varieties and winemaking traditions shaped over centuries. Depending on the grapes and the way they are made, Tokaji wines can be crisp and dry, gently sweet or intensely concentrated and honeyed.
This guide will help you understand the main styles, how they taste and which bottle to choose. Explore the full range in our Tokaji wine collection.
Where Is Tokaj?
The Tokaj wine region lies in north-eastern Hungary, around the town of Tokaj and the foothills of the Zemplén Mountains. Vineyards spread across a landscape of low hills, villages and river valleys, with many planted on soils shaped by ancient volcanic activity.
The Bodrog and Tisza rivers meet near the town of Tokaj. In autumn, moisture from the rivers can contribute to misty conditions, while drier periods allow the grapes to lose moisture. In suitable years, this combination encourages noble rot, which plays an important part in some of the region's sweet wines.
Tokaj's vineyards, settlements and historic wine cellars form the Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2002.
Is Tokaji Wine Always Sweet?
No. Tokaji can be dry, off-dry, sparkling or sweet. The belief that all Tokaji is dessert wine comes from the international fame of Aszú, but it is only one part of the region's story.
Dry Furmint can be fresh and citrus-led or fuller and oak-aged. Hárslevelű often brings floral and ripe-fruit character, while sparkling Tokaji offers another way to experience the region's grapes. At the sweeter end are Late Harvest wines, sweet Szamorodni, Aszú and the exceptionally concentrated Eszencia.
Tokaji Wine Styles at a Glance
| Style | What to expect | Try it with |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Tokaji | Fresh, structured white wine, often made from Furmint or Hárslevelű | Fish, poultry, roast vegetables or cheese |
| Sparkling Tokaji | Fresh sparkling wine, often made with Furmint | Canapés, seafood or an aperitif |
| Late Harvest | Sweet, often fruit-led wine made from later-picked grapes | Fruit desserts, pâté or blue cheese |
| Sweet Szamorodni | Sweet Tokaji made from whole bunches containing botrytised fruit | Blue cheese, fruitcake or cured ham |
| Dry Szamorodni | A distinctive dry style that can develop savoury, nutty notes through ageing beneath a yeast veil | Cured meats, mushrooms or mature cheese |
| Tokaji Aszú | Concentrated sweet wine made using individually selected botrytised berries | Foie gras, blue cheese or fruit-based desserts |
| Tokaji Eszencia | Exceptionally concentrated, rare and intensely sweet | Small portions on its own or with a special cheese |
Individual wines vary, so think of the table as a starting point rather than a fixed rule. A producer's choices, the vintage and the grapes all influence the finished wine.
The Grapes Behind Tokaji Wine
Furmint
Furmint is Tokaj's most important grape and one of Hungary's most distinctive white varieties. Its naturally lively acidity gives structure to dry wines and helps balance the sweetness of many Tokaji dessert wines.
Dry Furmint can show green apple, pear, citrus and a stony character, while oak-aged examples may develop a rounder texture and notes of toast or spice. The same grape also plays a central role in many Late Harvest wines, Szamorodni and Aszú.
Explore its different expressions in our Furmint wine collection, or read our guide to Furmint wine.
Hárslevelű
Hárslevelű, whose name refers to the leaf of the linden tree, is another important Hungarian grape. It often brings floral aromas and flavours of ripe pear, stone fruit or honey, depending on the wine's style.
In dry Tokaji, it can be beautifully fragrant and rounded. It is also used in sweet wines, sometimes alongside Furmint.
Sárgamuskotály and Other Tokaj Grapes
Sárgamuskotály, also known as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, is prized for its expressive floral and fruity aroma. It can be made into dry, off-dry or sweet wine, including fragrant Late Harvest styles.
Other permitted Tokaj varieties include Zéta, Kövérszőlő and Kabar. They may appear in blends or individual bottlings, adding to the region's range of flavours and styles.
Dry Tokaji: A Different Side of the Region
If you usually drink dry white wine, dry Tokaji is an excellent place to begin. Furmint typically brings freshness and structure, while Hárslevelű offers a more floral expression. Some wines are made to emphasise fresh fruit; others spend time in oak and develop greater texture and complexity.
Our Tokajicum Furmint combines peach and pear flavours with a creamy texture and a toasty note from barrel ageing. It is an approachable introduction to dry Tokaji and a distinctive gift for a Hungarian Vizsla enthusiast.
For a deeper look at the region's dry wines, read our guide to dry Tokaji wine.
What Is Tokaji Late Harvest Wine?
Late Harvest wine is made from grapes picked later in the season, allowing them to become riper and more concentrated. The resulting wines are sweet, although their flavour and level of sweetness vary with the grapes, vintage and producer.
Some Late Harvest wines include grapes affected by noble rot, while others place more emphasis on ripe fruit. They can offer a welcoming introduction to sweet Tokaji, with aromas ranging from flowers and fresh fruit to honey and citrus.
Our Tokajicum Sárgamuskotály Late Harvest is an aromatic example, with notes of honey, apricot and mango alongside ginger and citrus. Try it with blue cheese, fruit-based desserts or simply on its own.
What Is Tokaji Szamorodni?
Szamorodni is a traditional Tokaji wine made from whole bunches harvested and processed together, including bunches containing both healthy and botrytised grapes. Unlike Aszú, its production does not begin with the same individual selection of botrytised berries.
Szamorodni can be sweet or dry. Sweet examples can offer flavours of honey, ripe fruit, orange peel and spice. Dry Szamorodni is more unusual and can develop a savoury, nutty character through its maturation.
Traditionally, dry Szamorodni can spend part of its ageing in oak beneath a natural film of yeast, known in Hungarian as an élesztőhártya, or yeast veil. This process, called biological ageing, can contribute to the wine's distinctive savoury and nutty character. It is comparable to ageing under flor in Fino Sherry or under a yeast veil in Jura's Vin Jaune, although each wine has its own character and winemaking tradition.
Our range includes both styles in the Tokaji Szamorodni collection. For more about the distinction, read our guide to sweet and dry Szamorodni.
What Is Tokaji Aszú?
Tokaji Aszú is the region's best-known traditional sweet wine. It is made using individually selected grapes affected by noble rot, known as aszú berries. These concentrated berries are macerated with grape must or wine, and the resulting wine is fermented and matured.
The finished wine can offer layers of apricot, orange peel, honey, dried fruit and spice, supported by the acidity that helps give Tokaji its freshness. The exact character depends on the vintage and producer.
Aszú is often labelled with a puttonyos number. This term comes from the baskets traditionally used to measure aszú berries; today, it refers to minimum residual sugar requirements rather than a simple recipe for every bottle.
For a special bottle, we particularly recommend Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017. Made predominantly from Hárslevelű with Furmint, it offers apricot, ginger, candied citrus and floral notes, with added complexity from Hungarian oak.
The 2017 vintage received 97 points and a Platinum medal at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards. Its balance of richness and freshness makes it a rewarding choice with blue cheese or fruit desserts, while its gift box makes it well suited to a celebration or present.
Explore our Tokaji Aszú collection or read our guide to Tokaji Aszú for a closer look at how it is made.
What Is Tokaji Eszencia?
Eszencia is one of Tokaj's rarest and most concentrated specialities. It is made from the small amount of juice that flows naturally from individually harvested aszú berries under their own weight, without pressing.
The juice is so rich in natural sugar that fermentation proceeds very slowly. The result is an intensely sweet, complex drink with a low alcohol content, traditionally enjoyed in very small portions.
Our Tokajicum Tokaji Essencia offers a chance to explore this remarkable style. Savour a small amount on its own, or try it with a little blue cheese for a contrast of sweetness and salt.
What Does Tokaji Wine Taste Like?
There is no single Tokaji flavour: the answer depends on the style in your glass.
- Dry Furmint can bring green apple, pear, citrus and a fresh, stony character, with fuller or toastier notes in some oak-aged wines.
- Dry Hárslevelű often shows blossom, pear and ripe-fruit aromas with a rounded texture.
- Late Harvest wines can be fragrant and fruit-led, with notes of apricot, citrus, honey or flowers.
- Sweet Szamorodni and Aszú can develop richer flavours of dried apricot, orange peel, honey, marmalade and spice.
- Dry Szamorodni can be more savoury, with nutty notes and an aged character.
- Eszencia is exceptionally concentrated and sweet, with a long, intense finish.
Read our comparison of Late Harvest, Szamorodni and Aszú to help you choose between the sweet styles.
How to Choose Your First Tokaji Wine
The best place to start is with the kind of wine you already enjoy:
- If you like dry white wine, begin with Furmint or Hárslevelű. Choose a fresh style for lighter food or an oak-aged wine for a rounder, more textured glass.
- If you prefer aromatic wines with some sweetness, try a Sárgamuskotály Late Harvest.
- If you enjoy sweet wines with richer, honeyed flavours, choose a sweet Szamorodni or Tokaji Aszú.
- If you appreciate savoury, nutty wines, try dry Szamorodni as an unusual alternative.
- If you are looking for a rare bottle for a special occasion, explore Eszencia.
If you would like to taste several styles side by side, our Deluxe Tokaji Wine Selection brings together a dry Furmint, sparkling Tokaji and a 6 Puttonyos Aszú.
What Food Goes with Tokaji Wine?
Tokaji's range of styles makes it useful throughout a meal. Dry Furmint is a natural partner for fish, poultry, risotto and roast vegetables, while floral Hárslevelű can work beautifully with fresh cheese, lighter dishes and grilled chicken.
Sweet Tokaji is not limited to dessert. Try Late Harvest or sweet Szamorodni with blue cheese, pâté or a fruit-based pudding. Richer Aszú can work particularly well with foie gras, mature blue cheese, cured ham or desserts featuring apricot, nuts and dried fruit.
For Christmas, we selected Balassa Tokaji Christmas Pudding Wine after Monika cooked a roast and our team tasted different Late Harvest wines with the savoury dishes, a cheese board, Christmas pudding and mince pies. István Balassa's wine was our favourite across the meal.
Find more ideas in our Tokaji food-pairing guide.
How Should Tokaji Wine Be Served?
Serve most Tokaji wines lightly chilled, but avoid making them so cold that their aromas disappear. A fresh dry white or sparkling wine can be served cooler, while a complex sweet wine often benefits from a little more warmth in the glass.
As a general starting point, try dry whites around 8–12°C and sweet Tokaji around 9–14°C, adjusting for the individual bottle and your preference. Check the producer's recommendation where available.
Use a clean wine glass with enough space to swirl and appreciate the aroma. For concentrated Aszú or Eszencia, a modest serving is often enough to enjoy the wine's flavour.
For more practical advice, read our guide to serving and storing Tokaji.
How We Choose Our Tokaji Wines
Our Tokaji range is selected by Best of Hungary co-founder Zoltan Kopacsi, whose specialist wine background includes WSET Level 2 and postgraduate Wine Business Management studies at the University of Tokaj.
During his studies and visits to the region, Zoltan met producers and explored the different approaches behind Tokaj's wines. He has built the selection to show the region's breadth, from accessible everyday bottles to distinctive vineyard wines and rare sweet specialities.
Tokajicum offers an approachable introduction across several styles. Gróf Degenfeld brings organic wines and a broad range of expressions, while István Balassa's wines show a particular interest in vineyards, vintage and detail. Together, they help tell a fuller story of Tokaj.
Our selection also includes Best of Hungary Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, made for us by István Balassa, alongside Balassa’s Tokaji Christmas Pudding Wine, selected with festive food in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokaji a grape or a wine?
Tokaji is a wine from the Tokaj region, not a grape variety. Furmint, Hárslevelű and Sárgamuskotály are among the grapes used to make it.
What is the difference between Tokaj and Tokaji wine?
Tokaj is the name of the town and wine region. Tokaji means "from Tokaj" in Hungarian and is commonly used when referring to the region's wines.
What is noble rot?
Noble rot is the beneficial development of the fungus Botrytis cinerea on grapes under suitable conditions. It helps the grapes lose water, concentrating their sugars and flavours. It is important in the production of Aszú and Eszencia, as well as some other sweet Tokaji wines.
Is Tokaji wine a good gift?
Yes. A dry Furmint is a thoughtful choice for a white-wine drinker, while sweet Aszú or Szamorodni can make a memorable present for someone who enjoys dessert wine. A selection or hamper is useful when you would like to introduce someone to more than one style.
For ideas by recipient and occasion, read our guide to choosing a Tokaji wine gift.