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I make wine in probably the most complicated wine areas on the planet – it’s at all times a problem,’ says Kata Zsirai of the family-owned Zsirai vineyard. The cool, continental, northern local weather is susceptible to climate extremes, and has extremely numerous volcanic soils, various between, and even inside, vineyards. The vary of wine types provides additional complexity: from glowing to beautiful, candy Aszú and Szamorodni, by the use of a brand new era of high quality dry wines.
Essential selections
Kata is winemaker on the 19-hectare property, and she or he oversees each step of her wines’ journey from grape to bottle. ‘I’m grateful to my household that I can do that. It’s extra a ardour than a job for me.’
‘Harvest is probably the most difficult time as a result of the whole lot relies on well- chosen, exact timing,’ explains Kata. Earlier selections within the winemaking yr are about which winery, and even which plots, are destined for dry wines. This impacts on totally different winery administration as a result of dry wines want completely wholesome berries (freed from rot, noble or in any other case).
The intention for a wine resembling Tokaj Dry by Zsirai is fruitiness, balanced by the area’s hallmark vivid freshness, whether or not from vibrant Furmint or fruity-mineral Hárslevelű. Zsirai owns a number of prime dűlő (cru vineyards) the place the very best and sunniest sections produce wholesome grapes with the focus and construction wanted for barrel fermentation, resembling in wines just like the single-vineyard Középhegy Furmint.
Nature’s work
The problem in Tokaj isn’t just about ripening wholesome fruit, but additionally about having the right climate situations on the proper time for Botrytis. The bunches are left on the vines in September hoping for the noble rot to look for its nearly magical transformation of grapes into the shrivelled, noble-rotted Aszú berries wanted for the highest candy wines. This relies on precisely the suitable mixture of humidity (from the area’s typical foggy autumn mornings) to permit the fungus to develop, then sunny breezy afternoons that dry the berries.
This doesn’t occur yearly and certainly Kata says that ‘we thought we wouldn’t be capable to make Aszú in 2022 due to the recent dry season.’ Nevertheless, rains in September finally allowed grapes to be affected by botrytis.’We then needed to wait patiently for good climate in order that the berries might shrivel healthily,’ she provides. ‘It’s a gamble yearly.’ Fortunately, Zsirai did decide some fine quality berries for his or her Aszú wines, and had been capable of produce concentrated Szamorodni as nicely.
Wine in Tokaj has so many complicated faces and variables. ‘Due to the varied soils and the totally different types of wines, it’s at all times a very good problem to make wines right here,’ says Kata.
Zsirai vineyard produces conventional technique glowing wines, Tokaj Dry, single winery Furmints and Hárslevelű, Szamorodni and Aszú.
Most can be found within the UK from Jascots.
Uncover extra about Zsirai right here
