Late Harvest Wine

What is Late Harvest wine?

Late-harvest wine is made from grapes picked significantly later than the typical harvest period, often several weeks or even months afterwards.

As grapes stay on the vine into autumn, they experience cooler temperatures and morning dews, conditions that encourage the development of Botrytis cinerea, often referred to as "noble rot." This beneficial fungus causes the berries to shrivel, concentrating their sugars and acidity while enhancing flavours and adding complexity.

The term "late harvest" indicates that the grapes were harvested at higher sugar levels than usual, resulting in dessert wines with noticeable residual sweetness balanced by a lively acidic core.

Late harvest wines are produced worldwide, from German Spätlese to Auslese Rieslings, with the technique reaching its peak in Hungary's legendary Tokaj region.

What does Late Harvest wine taste like?

Late-harvest wines offer concentrated fruit flavours, luscious sweetness, and vibrant acidity, making them highly drinkable.

Common flavour profiles include dried fruit characteristics such as figs, dates, and raisins. Honey often emerges as a dominant note, accompanied by orange marmalade and candied citrus peel. Tertiary flavours of sweet spices, alongside layers of caramel, toffee, and nuts, can develop from expert oak barrel ageing.

The texture of late-harvest wine is notably viscous, with a syrupy quality in the richest examples, such as Tokaji Eszencia. However, exceptional late-harvest wines maintain refreshing acidity that cuts through the sweetness, creating a balance that keeps the wine lively rather than heavy.

Why Tokaji Late Harvest wines are the best

Tokaji wines stand out from other late harvest traditions due to a unique combination of terroir, grape varieties, climate, and centuries of winemaking expertise. Produced in Hungary's Tokaj region, where the Bodrog and Tisza rivers converge, autumn morning mists promote the development of noble rot. At the same time, sunny afternoons help the grapes dry out and further concentrate their flavours.

The primary grape used in Tokaji, Furmint, has naturally high acidity and thick skins, making it exceptionally suited to late-harvest production. This acidic backbone ensures that Tokaji wines remain fresh and balanced even with extraordinarily high residual sugar levels, allowing them to age gracefully for decades.

The region's complex volcanic soils impart distinctive minerality and smokiness to the wines, enhancing their overall complexity.

Tokaji Aszú represents the pinnacle of late harvest winemaking. It is created using a labour-intensive method that involves hand-selecting only botrytized grapes—a meticulous process refined over 400 years. A bottle of Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos is a true treat for sweet wine enthusiasts.

Whether you're discovering late harvest wines for the first time or seeking the ultimate expression of the style, Tokaji offers an unparalleled experience, showcasing why it has achieved its legendary status.