📍 Tokaj
A wine region in north-eastern Hungary: 27 communities, UNESCO since 2002, PDO «Tokaj».
Tokaj is a wine region in north-eastern Hungary, at the southern foot of the Zemplén Mountains, where the Bodrog flows into the Tisza. Since 2002 its cultural landscape has been on the UNESCO list (No. 1063). The wine is protected as PDO «Tokaj/Tokaji»: six varieties are allowed, the main ones Furmint, Hárslevelű and Yellow Muscat, and the zone includes 27 settlements.
The vineyards lie at 100–300 m, on the sheltered southern and south-eastern edge of the Zemplén. The soils are mostly volcanic, various tuffs, and about 5 % of the area is loess. Average annual temperature is 10.8 °C, rainfall 525 mm and sunshine 2,009 hours a year. The Bodrog and Tisza rivers with their wetlands shape the microclimate, and a dry August and early September give way to damper weather that favours botrytis. The core of the UNESCO site is 13,245 ha, the buffer zone 74,879 ha, and a cellar in Tarcal is known from 1110.
The decree of 1737 is, in UNESCO's assessment, one of the first legal foundations in the world for delimiting a wine region. The PDO includes only plots of class I and II in the vineyard cadastre. New plantings after 01.08.2009 must have at least 4,000 vines/ha; white wines are limited to 14 t/ha, and the special Tokaj wines to 10 t/ha. The vintage on the label is mandatory. EU protection in the register dates from 17.02.2006.
Why it matters to you. Tokaj means dry whites, sparkling and sweet wines: the types are explained on the Tokaji wine page. Slovak Tokaj is a separate name, and the UNESCO site lies only in Hungary.
Facts
| Country | Hungary |
|---|---|
| Region | Zemplén Mountains, Bodrog and Tisza; 27 communities |
| Registered | PDO — 17.02.2006; UNESCO No. 1063 — 2002 |
| Cultivars | Furmint, Hárslevelű, Yellow Muscat, Zéta, Kövérszőlő, Kabar |
| Main use | dry whites, sweet wines and sparkling wine |
How it connects to Wine
📍 Tokaj ← grows in ← 🍇 Hárslevelű → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🗺️ Hungarian wine
- Related to
- 🍾 Sauska, 🍷 Sauska Furmint, 🍷 Sauska Furmint Birsalmás, 🍷 Sauska Furmint Medve, 🍷 Sauska Sárgamuskotály, 🍷 Sauska Pinot Noir Birs, 🍷 Sauska Pinot Noir Padi, 🍷 Sauska Chardonnay Birs, 🍷 Sauska Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, 🍷 Sauska Aszú Esszencia
and 20 more
🍷 Sauska Brut, 🍷 Sauska Brut Demi, 🍷 Sauska Brut Nature, 🍷 Sauska Extra Dry, 🍷 Sauska Rosé Brut, 🍷 Sauska Rosé Brut Demi, 🍷 Sauska Rosé Extra Brut, 🍷 Sauska Rosé Extra Brut 2017, 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Organic Estate, 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Selection, 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Kis Garai, 🍷 Hétszőlő Hárslevelű, 🍷 Hétszőlő Muscat Semi-Dry, 🍷 Hétszőlő Muscat Skin Contact, 🍷 Hétszőlő Late Harvest, 🍷 Hétszőlő Sparkling Furmint Brut, 🍷 Tokaji, 🥃 Gönc apricot pálinka (Gönci Barackpálinka), 🍷 Still wine, 🍷 Sweet wine - UNESCO heritage
- 🏛️ Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape
- Grapes
- 🍇 Hárslevelű, 🍇 Furmint, 🍇 Zéta, 🍇 Kövérszőlő, 🍇 Kabar
- Grape products
- 🥃 Törkölypálinka
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Furmint, 🍇 Hárslevelű
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine
- Similar and different
- 🍇 Flame Tokay
- In other topics
- 🥃 Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tokaj?
In north-eastern Hungary, by the Zemplén Mountains; the PDO zone covers 27 settlements.
Which grapes are allowed in PDO Tokaj?
Furmint, Hárslevelű, Kabar, Kövérszőlő, Yellow Muscat and Zéta; typical Tokaj wines mostly use the first two and Muscat.
Why is Tokaj on the UNESCO list?
It is a historic cultural landscape (ref. 1063, 2002, criteria iii and v) with cellars, one of which in Tarcal is known from 1110.
Is it true that Tokaj is UNESCO-listed in both Slovakia and Hungary?
No. UNESCO site 1063 lies only in Hungary; Slovak Tokaj has its own separate name.
Is it true that Tokaj is only sweet wine?
No. The PDO covers dry whites, sweet wines and sparkling wine.
What to read next
- 🍾 Sauska — A Hungarian wine company with wineries in Villány (first harvest 2006) and Tokaj (first harvest 2009) and a sparkling-wine cellar in Budafok; Wikidata gives 2000 as its founding year.
- 🍷 Sauska Brut — Sauska Brut: sparkling wine by Sauska from Tokaj; Sauska Brut.
- 🏛️ Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape — A vineyard landscape in north-east Hungary known for sweet noble-rot wines; a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002.
- 🥃 Gönc apricot pálinka (Gönci Barackpálinka) — Apricot pálinka from the Gönc area of north-eastern Hungary: a protected EU name, made only from apricots with the PGI «Gönci kajszibarack»; strength from 37.5 % vol.
- 🥃 Törkölypálinka — Törkölypálinka is Hungary's grape marc spirit and an EU geographical indication (category 6): Hungarian grapes only, no sugar or flavourings, from 37.5% ABV.
Similar
📜 Transdanubia · 📜 Zemplén · 📍 Upper Hungary · 📍 Pannonia · 📍 Balaton · 📜 Tokaj wine region (Slovakia)
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
What it includes
- 🍷 Tokaji
- 🏰 Tokaj-Hétszőlő
- 🍷 Sauska Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Kis Garai
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Organic Estate
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Selection
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Hárslevelű
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Late Harvest
All (20) →
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Kis Garai
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Organic Estate
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Furmint Dry Selection
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Hárslevelű
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Late Harvest
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Muscat Semi-Dry
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Muscat Skin Contact
- 🍷 Hétszőlő Sparkling Furmint Brut
- 🍷 Sauska Aszú Esszencia
- 🍷 Sauska Chardonnay Birs
- 🍷 Sauska Furmint
- 🍷 Sauska Furmint Birsalmás
- 🍷 Sauska Furmint Medve
- 🍷 Sauska Pinot Noir Birs
- 🍷 Sauska Pinot Noir Padi
- 🍷 Sauska Sárgamuskotály
- 🍷 Sauska Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos
- 🏰 Disznókő
- 🏰 Tokaj-Hétszőlő
- 🍷 Tokaji
Sources
- OJ C/2026/1380: зміна й єдиний документ PDO «Tokaj»
- Специфікація PDO «Tokaj», 9-та версія (Угорщина)
- eAmbrosia — реєстр географічних зазначень ЄС: Tokaj / Tokaji (PDO)
- ЮНЕСКО: Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (1063)
- Регламент (ЄС) 2019/33, додаток VII (пляшка «Tokaj»)