Grand Tokaji Szarmorodni
$16.99
Region:Hungary > Other
Vintage:2021
Szamorodni's history is closely connected to Tokaj and is certainly mentioned as one of the first wine types or specialities. Written records first mention it in the 1570s connected to the name of Balázs Fabricius Szikszai. At that time, it was called főbor, or main wine, differentiating it from the so-called “közönséges”, or ordinari wine. The main difference in ingredients was that the főbor contained a significant amount of shrivelled, aszú grapes, which were processed together with the undamaged, healthy berries. The Poles, who were great admirers and traders of Tokaj wines, called it Szamorodni, or “as it comes”, and this is still the essence of the process.
Nowadays, there are two styles of Szamorodni, dry and sweet. Botrytised and healthy berries are harvested and processed together. Wines must be aged in oak for at least six months and may only be released from the beginning of the second year after harvest. Dry Szamorodni can have a maximum of 9g/l of residual sugar, while sweet Szamorodni must have at least 45g/l, although this is usually much higher in practice.