May 28, 2011
Join us to explore the wines and food in Tokaj and its surrounding villages. One of the world’s premier sweet wine regions, Tokaj is famous for its aszú dessert wines, but over the past decade it has also been producing fantastic crisp, dry white wines. We will visit one of the region’s most amazing mold-covered wine cellars, which seems to stretch back infinitely into the ground. And we will also experience two smaller family-run wineries, one experimental and one traditional. Lunch will be specially prepared for us by winemaker Katalin Hudácskó. There will be time to explore Tokaj. Come with us to see what it is that makes Tokaj so special. As usual, there will be plenty of conversation, food, and great wine throughout the day!
{8am} Depart from Budapest. We will meet at Batthyány tér and depart promptly.
{11am} Arrive in Bodrogkeresztúr for a tour and tasting at the Dereszla winery, which produces an extensive variety of Tokaj wines. We will tour the expansive cellar system which dates back to the 15th century. Over the centuries the cellar has had prestigious owners such as King Zsigmond, King Mátyás, and the Kláber family, who were Jewish wine merchants from Sopron. Now the winery is owned by the D’Aulan family from Champagne.
{1pm} Tour, tasting, and lunch at the Hudácskó Winery. This small family-owned winery in Bodrogkisfalud produces ultra-traditional Tokaji wines. A four-course lunch will be prepared by the family, with pairings of seven or eight wines.
A selection of local artisanal goat cheese
Catfish paprikás with spaetzle
Roasted duck with potatoes and red cabbage
Curd-cheese cake
—Walk around the center of Tokaj.
{4:30pm} Visit the Erzsébet Winery in Tokaj. The winery is run by two young siblings, Hajni and Miklós Prácser, who make wine which is both traditional and experimental. We will taste six wines, either in the cellar or on the terrace (if the weather allows), beginning with dry ones and finishing with aszú. The cellar was once owned by a Russian wine merchant who supplied the czar with Tokaj wine. A cold plate will be served with the wine.
—If time and weather allows we will take a vineyard walk on Disznókő hill and have a final glass of wine in the vineyard overlooking the region.
{10pm} Arrive back in Budapest, drop-off at Batthyány tér
Price: 30,000 HUF per person, all-inclusive of transportation and the above wine tastings and food. Call or email to reserve your place (a 25 percent deposit, payable via paypal, will be required).