Aszú Like It: The Sweetest Tour in Tokaj

After leaving town of Tokaj, our first, and perhaps most spectacular, stop—which serves as the grand starting point for our entire tasting journey—is the iconic Teresia Chapel (Terézia Kápolna) in the village of Tarcal. You will see that this elegant, white 18th-century structure, commissioned in honour of Empress Maria Theresa, sits majestically atop a hill (Terézia-domb). Its elevated placement is key: it is surrounded by vineyards, nestled among the esteemed, sun-drenched, First Growth slopes of the Mézesmály ('Honey Pot') vineyard. From this privileged vantage point, we will be granted a truly breathtaking, panoramic view of the entire Tokaj-Hegyalja landscape. This vista is a vital geographical lesson, revealing the exact conditions—the soil, the river-fed humidity—that allow the noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) to flourish and give birth to the world-renowned Tokaji Aszú. Let us take a moment to breathe in this history and atmosphere before we continue our journey into the cellars.

Disznókő: Tokaj's Golden Start
Our Tokaj wine journey began at Disznókő Winery, a First Growth estate since 1732, now owned by the renowned AXA Millésimes. Disznókő is celebrated for its modern, pure, and balanced style of Tokaji Aszú. The visit started with a guided walk through the vast, contiguous vineyards—a UNESCO site covering 150 hectares of volcanic and clay soil, known to be a perfect location for noble rot. We then toured the gravity-flow production facility, designed by Dezső Ekler .Next, we descended into the historic underground cellar, where the wines are matured in Hungarian oak, building complexity and elegance. The highlight is the exclusive guided wine tasting featuring six samples. This expert session showcased the estate's range, moving from their mineral-driven dry - to the majestic, concentrated sweet - wines.

For a refreshing break after the morning’s tasting, we head to Sárospatak, a historic town on the Bodrog River often called the "Athens of the Bodrog." Its past is defined by the imposing Rákóczi Castle and the legendary Reformed College, one of Hungary's most significant educational institutions, founded in 1531. Our lunch stop is the traditional Hungarian establishment. This restaurant offers genuine local cuisine with a panoramic view of the Rákóczi Castle.The main event for lunch is a restorative bowl of Halászlé (Fisherman’s Soup), one of Hungary’s most famous national dishes. This intensely flavored, hot, and spicy soup is characterized by its brilliant red color, derived from large amounts of authentic Hungarian paprika. Traditionally, Halászlé is prepared with mixed river fish, primarily carp, and cooked in a small kettle over an open fire. It’s a hearty, iconic dish, perfect to enjoy with fresh white bread before continuing our journey.

The next stop is a true pilgrimage for wine lovers: Tokaj-Oremus Winery in the village of Tolcsva. This historic estate, now owned by Spain’s iconic Vega Sicilia, carries on centuries of tradition within its unique cellars, some of which date back to the 13th century. We will sample the noble sweet wines, most notably the legendary Tokaji Aszú.
Oremus is tied directly to the very birth of this "Wine of Kings." Legend holds that the first Aszú wine was produced from grapes harvested vineryard same name - OREMUS(now owned by the winery). In 1650, the chief vintner postponed the harvest due to the threat of invading Turkish armies. The delayed, shriveled grapes were affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), resulting in an exceptional, intensely sweet wine—a happy accident that changed the world of wine forever. The estate’s continued commitment to quality ensures this liquid gold remains unparalleled. During the tour we will visit winery itself, wine cellars have wine tasting at site