The French boasts of their Sauternes, the German their rieslings; Hungarians answer back with the Tokaji wine. It is one of if not the most famous Hungarian wines in the world, made from grapes grown in the Tokaj region of Northeastern Hungary. Hailed as one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world, it is now declared as an UNESCO Heritage Site.
You can't go to Hungary without seeing this opulent wine. I first tried this years ago and fell in love with it, and it has ever since occupied a little area in my wine collection. I finally made the pilgrimage to the region and tasted to my heart's desire. The most common grape type you'll see is the Furmint, accounting for over 60% of the grapes grown in the area. You can read more about the wine here.
The main village is Tokaj, with wine shops and restaurants lining the main street. I arrived on a rainy day so traffic was scant; only the locals were popping by the wine shops from time to time while I was doing a tasting. The different Puttonyos (sweetness level) and the grape type affect greatly the bouquet, the texture, and the after-taste. Some were more syrupy while others were velvety smooth; the older ones exhibit the complexity and delicacy of barrel ageing.
Like in France, there are producers outside the village that have a shop front for tasting, some more elaborate than others. I would definitely come back to do a more comprehensive visit of the region, which comprises of no less than 28 villages.
Going from Budapest is a hefty 250km, or 2 1/2-hour drive. It is less than 100km from the cultural and university town of Kosice in Slovakia.
Homepage of Tokaji pilgrimage, with history and info, restaurants and hotels recommendatiosn: http://www.tokaj.hu/?useLang=en
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