Tokaji Aszú

Tokaji Aszú – Hungary’s Legendary Sweet Wine

Discover our specialist collection of Tokaji Aszú, one of the world’s great naturally sweet wines and the most celebrated historic wine style of Hungary’s Tokaj region.

Our collection brings together four carefully selected Aszú wines, from an approachable 5 Puttonyos introduction to award-winning and limited-production 6 Puttonyos bottles.

Rich with flavours of apricot, citrus peel, honey, marmalade, dried fruit and spice, fine Tokaji Aszú combines concentrated sweetness with naturally vibrant acidity that keeps the wine fresh, balanced and remarkably age-worthy.

For the wider range of sweet wines from Tokaj, including Late Harvest, Szamorodni and Eszencia, explore our Tokaji Dessert Wine collection. For dry, sparkling and sweet wines from across the region, visit our broader Tokaji Wine collection.

What Is Tokaji Aszú?

Tokaji Aszú is made using grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, under the particular autumn conditions found in Tokaj.

As the berries shrivel, water evaporates and their sugars, acidity and flavours become increasingly concentrated. The intensely botrytised aszú berries are traditionally selected individually during harvest, often requiring repeated passes through the vineyard over several weeks.

The selected berries are then macerated with fermenting must or base wine before pressing, fermentation and maturation. It is this labour-intensive process, combined with the unpredictability of noble rot, that makes Tokaji Aszú so distinctive.

For a closer look at its history, production and flavours, read our guide to Tokaji Aszú.

Why Is Tokaji Aszú So Labour-Intensive?

Aszú berries do not ripen or become affected by noble rot at exactly the same time, so harvesters must return to the same vines repeatedly and select suitable berries one by one.

The fruit is intensely shrivelled and concentrated, making harvesting extraordinarily slow. An experienced picker may collect only around 6–10kg of aszú berries in an entire day, depending on the vintage and vineyard conditions.

This painstaking manual selection is one reason authentic Tokaji Aszú is produced in relatively small quantities and commands a premium compared with conventional sweet wines.

What Does Puttonyos Mean?

Puttonyos is the traditional measure associated with the concentration of Tokaji Aszú.

Historically, a puttony was a wooden harvesting container holding approximately 20–25kg of individually selected aszú berries. Winemakers traditionally added these concentrated berries to a 136-litre Gönci barrel of must or base wine.

The number of puttonyos added to one Gönci barrel gave the wine its traditional Puttonyos designation. For example, a 5 Puttonyos Aszú historically represented five baskets of concentrated aszú berries incorporated into a single 136-litre Gönci barrel.

The system offered a practical way to express concentration long before modern laboratory analysis became standard.

Discover how the traditional system relates to the wines available today in our guide to Tokaji Puttonyos.

5 Puttonyos vs 6 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszú

Under modern Tokaj regulations, Tokaji Aszú must contain at least 120 grams of residual sugar per litre. Wines labelled 6 Puttonyos must contain at least 150 grams per litre.

These are minimum levels rather than exact measurements for every bottle. A 5 Puttonyos wine can exceed the minimum required for 6 Puttonyos, so the label alone does not tell you which of two individual wines will be sweeter or more concentrated.

Producer, vintage, vineyard, grape varieties, acidity and maturation all contribute to the quality and character of the finished wine. Choose according to your taste, occasion and budget as well as the number on the label.

Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017

For a special bottle, we particularly recommend Gróf Degenfeld Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017. 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.

It comes from one of Tokaj’s historic estates, whose vineyards have been cultivated organically since 2009. Made predominantly from Hárslevelű with Furmint, the wine offers layers of apricot and ginger jam, honeysuckle, orange blossom, candied citrus and warming spice, with Hungarian oak adding further complexity.

Its balance of richness and freshness makes it a rewarding choice with blue cheese, fruit desserts or a small glass after dinner. Presented in a gift box, it also makes a thoughtful birthday, anniversary or Christmas present.

Read Decanter’s feature on the world’s best sweet wines.

Tokajicum Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos

Our Tokajicum Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos offers an excellent introduction to this traditional style.

Made from Furmint and Hárslevelű and matured in oak, it combines intense aromas of honey, apricot and candied orange peel with acacia blossom, marmalade, tropical fruit and a mineral finish.

We selected Tokajicum as an important part of our Tokaji range because winemaker László Buttella consistently combines authentic regional character with excellent value for money, making this a particularly approachable first bottle of Tokaji Aszú.

Best of Hungary Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos

Our Best of Hungary Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos is made for us by István Balassa, reflecting the close relationship we have developed with one of Tokaj’s most meticulous winemakers.

Made entirely from Furmint and matured for 36 months in oak, it has a deep golden colour and complex aromas of honey, flowers and spiced fruit, followed by apricot jam, orange peel, dried fruit and exotic spice.

It offers a more affordable way to explore 6 Puttonyos Aszú, with generous fruit and refreshing Furmint acidity. Serve it with blue cheese, fruit desserts or an unhurried glass after dinner.

Balassa Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos ‘Villő’ 2019

For customers looking for a rarer, particularly concentrated bottle, Balassa Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos ‘Villő’ 2019 offers a limited-production expression from István Balassa.

Made from Furmint and produced with Balassa’s meticulous vineyard-led approach, Villő represents the more intense and collectable end of the Aszú spectrum, with layers of ripe stone fruit, citrus, marmalade, spice and mature complexity supported by powerful natural acidity.

It is a wine for customers looking beyond an introduction to Tokaji Aszú towards a more concentrated expression intended for slow drinking and long-term appreciation.

The Importance of Furmint

Furmint is central to many of Tokaj’s greatest Aszú wines. Its naturally high acidity is particularly valuable in sweet wine, providing the structure and freshness needed to balance very high levels of residual sugar.

It is also highly susceptible to noble rot, making it especially well suited to the production of Aszú.

Other traditional grapes bring their own character. Hárslevelű contributes floral fragrance and generous fruit, showing how the blend can shape a wine’s aroma, texture and flavour.

Explore Furmint across dry, sparkling and sweet styles in our Furmint Wine collection.

Personally Selected by Zoltan

Best of Hungary co-founder Zoltan Kopacsi curates our Tokaji range using specialist wine education and first-hand experience of the region and its producers.

During his postgraduate Wine Business Management studies at the University of Tokaj, part of the course involved visiting wineries and meeting winemakers across the region. This gave him first-hand insight into different approaches to Aszú, vineyard management, grape selection, fermentation, oak ageing and the balance between sweetness and acidity.

The four wines were selected to offer different ways into the category, from an approachable first bottle to mature, award-winning and limited-production examples. Together, they show how producer, grape variety and vintage influence the character of Tokaji Aszú.

How Long Can Tokaji Aszú Age?

Fine Tokaji Aszú is one of the world’s most age-worthy sweet wines. Its combination of concentrated fruit, high residual sugar and naturally strong acidity allows good examples to develop gradually over decades when stored correctly.

With bottle age, fresh apricot, citrus and honey can evolve into dried fruit, marmalade, nuts, caramel, spice and other complex tertiary aromas.

This ageing potential makes Tokaji Aszú particularly suitable for milestone birthdays, anniversaries and gifts intended either to be enjoyed immediately or kept for the future.

The Traditional 500ml Tokaji Aszú Bottle

Tokaji Aszú is traditionally associated with its distinctive 500ml bottle, a format closely connected with the region’s concentrated sweet wines.

Most Aszú wines in our collection use this traditional half-litre format, reflecting the richness and intensity of a wine meant to be enjoyed in smaller servings.

How to Serve Tokaji Aszú

Serve Tokaji Aszú chilled at approximately 10–12°C. A smaller tapered white-wine or dessert-wine glass works particularly well, helping concentrate the wine’s complex aromas while leaving enough room for them to develop.

You do not need to finish the bottle in one sitting. Thanks to its combination of residual sugar, acidity and concentration, Aszú remains unusually resilient after opening.

A well-sealed bottle will generally retain its character for at least a week in the refrigerator and often longer, depending on the individual wine, vintage and concentration. Replace the closure promptly after serving and keep the bottle refrigerated.

For more advice on temperature, glassware and keeping an open bottle, read our guide to serving and storing Tokaji.

What Food Goes with Tokaji Aszú?

Tokaji Aszú is much more versatile than simply a wine for pudding.

One classic partner is foie gras, where the wine’s sweetness and acidity contrast beautifully with the richness of the liver. It also works extremely well with blue cheeses such as Stilton, Roquefort and Gorgonzola, mature cheeses and air-dried ham.

For dessert, pair Aszú with apricot, citrus, walnut or honey-based dishes and traditional Hungarian pastries such as Zserbó. The wine should generally be at least as sweet as the dessert.

More concentrated examples can also be enjoyed slowly on their own after a meal, allowing their aromas and flavours to develop in the glass.

For more savoury and sweet ideas, explore our Tokaji food pairing guide.

Tokaji Aszú, Szamorodni or Late Harvest?

Tokaj produces several different sweet-wine styles, each offering a different level of concentration and complexity.

Late Harvest wines provide the freshest and most approachable introduction to sweet Tokaji. Sweet Szamorodni is made from whole bunches containing both healthy and botrytised grapes, offering a traditional middle ground between youthful Late Harvest and concentrated Aszú.

Tokaji Aszú requires individually selected botrytised berries and is considerably more labour-intensive, concentrated and age-worthy.

Compare the styles in our Tokaji Szamorodni collection and Late Harvest Wine collection.

For a detailed comparison, read our guide to Late Harvest, Szamorodni and Aszú.

Tokaji Aszú as a Gift

Tokaji Aszú combines history, rarity, beautiful presentation and long ageing potential, making it a particularly memorable wine gift.

Gróf Degenfeld’s gift-boxed 2017 is a particularly good choice for a wine lover or a special occasion, while our wider range offers alternatives for different budgets and interests, from an approachable first bottle to Balassa’s limited-production Villő.

For help choosing a bottle or a hamper, read our Tokaji wine gift guide.

Buy Tokaji Aszú Online in the UK

Browse our collection of Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos and 6 Puttonyos wines, carefully selected from specialist Tokaji producers for quality, provenance and distinctive character.

The range forms part of our complete Hungarian Wine collection, with carefully packed delivery across the UK.