Grapes in Tokaj

Someone, perhaps it was you, had some questions about this subject some time ago, and I think I replied with what little I know about it. I can not supply you with copies of the mentioned classifications or the grapes being used back then. I can give a few references with brief quotes from them. If you have not seen some of these before, perhaps they will give you some more leads. I suspect someone would have better luck if they read Hungarian and limited a Google or other search to that language. If you find the actual classifications or more detailed information about them, please post here.

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1757 Royal decree established production area

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Much has been made of the fact that Tokaj's vineyards were classified early and repeatedly, though no thoroughly researched account of these classifications has yet been written, and their use in marketing materials has generally been made without precise historical references. The Royal Tokaji Wine Company claims that an early classification was ordered in or around 1700 by Ferenc Rákóczy II, Prince of Transylvania (1704-11) and 'Prince Commander' of Hungary (1705-11), according to references published in Notitia topographica, politica, inclyti Comitatus Zempleniensis (1806) by Antal Szirmay. László Alkonyi refers to a

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The varieties planted in Tokaj have changed over the centuries. According to Howkins, there were as many as 12 different grape varieties planted in the region in the sixteenth century, some, none or all of which may have yielded aszú berries.22 Neither Furmint nor Hárslevelü featured on a list in an account written by Balázs Szikszai Fabricius and quoted by Howkins, despite the fact that it had supposedly been brought from Italy in the thirteenth century. Howkins says that the main grape in those days was Porcins, of which nothing is known today.23 Yellow Muscat, one of four permitted grape varieties in modern Tokaj, was not planted until the midnineteenth century at the earliest, by which time there were as many as 85 varieties in the region.

Hello, Sincere tanks for your help. The Atkin document I have read previously. I did try to contact the man in question via his employer but got no reply. Bummer. I have located a society for historical winemaking, in Germany, and will try to contact them using my highly idiosyncratic school German.

As for Hungarophones in my immediate vicintiy, they are few and far between - none, to be more exact.

The quest continues!

Cheers

Nils

I have found a few other references given below. Since there seem to be some conflicts in reports about various old writings concerning Tokaji, it may take extensive research of the old literature by someone who has access to libraries and government records in Hungary and Austria at the least. A reading knowledge of Hungarian, German, and Latin likely would be required.

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Magyarorszag nepenek elete 1730 tajan (Tortenetirok tara) (Unknown Binding) by Matyas Bel (Author) The above appears to be a copy of a copy written in Hungarian and only one copy appears to remain at Amazon at:

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