February is the month of Furmint, a fabulous indigenous variety of ours. This year thank to Wines of Hungary and their enthusiastic work, Londoners can also enjoy the beauties of Furmint. The campaign has two main parts: winelovers can win a case of Furmint with a selfie or photo, while trade members can win a trip to Tokaj. The activity for retailers is more complex of course, but it is worth trying – participants can only win. If not a trip, then the exprience of working with a versatile, complex and exciting variety. Do you think it is hard to find Furmint in London? Well, the organizers take care of this as well: on 30 January trade members will have the chance to taste Furmint wines from 20 wineries.

A great to chance to start a liaison with Furmint

Wines of Hungary UK invites trade members to taste up to 60 Furmint wines, all under one roof at 67 Pall Mall, on Wednesday 30th January 2019. Join the winemakers from 4-6pm for a drop-in, walk around tasting from 20 of Hungary’s finest Furmint producers showinga wide range of Furmint wines, from dry to sweet. Top producers including Barta, Royal Tokaj and Dobogo will be showing their wines, and will have the winemakers present on the day. The tasting has also received great support from UK based Furmint importers including Jascots and Alliance Wine who will be showing their wines.  In addition, there will be wines available to taste from producers who are currently seeking representation in the UK. The tasting marks the launch of Furmint February – a new initiative in the UK which aims to position Furmint as Hungary’s flagship grape varietal and raise its awareness amongst both consumers and trade. The event will be hosted by Caroline Gilby MW, a specialist on Hungarian wines, who has been working with Wines of Hungary UK for a number of years.

3 Furmint recommendations to taste on 30 January

• Patricius Furmint, Tokaj

„A cornerstone of our philosophy is to better understand the essential qualities of each vineyard, and with the passing of each year rebuild the centuries of knowledge that ruptured after the war”– as written in the introduction of Patricius Winery, one of the most prestigious wineries of Tokaj wine region. The estate is highly succesful both with sweet and dry wines, their Selection Furmint is a must: „Elegant harmony of fruitiness and fine oak aromas. On palate it has a unique balance with some spicy nose. The creamy body is supported by subtle minerality and structured, smooth acidity framed with hearty alcohol and discrete, oak-derived tannin. A rich white wine with long, refreshing aftertaste characterized by citrus aromas.”

• Kovács Nimród Winery Furmint, Eger

Eger wine region is not a typical Furmint growing region, though before phylloxera this variety was much more common here. Nimród Kovács aims to make the best quality wines possible, and his vineyards enable him to do so. Nagy Eged mountain is one of the best terroirs of Hungary, and KNW Furmint comes from here – no wonder this wine was selected the Best Furmint at VinAgora 2018 international competition. „The start of the aroma is discrete and elegant. A complex wine, exhibiting pear and apricot flavors with limestone and flint overtones.”

• Zsirai Középhegy Furmint

The family owned winery has its centre in Mád, in a tiny village with unique terroirs around. „We believe that the secret of good wine is excellent soil, proper selection of grapes varieties, and diligent care”– say Petra and Kata Zsirai, the two young ambitious ladies who lead the winery. The 2016 single vineyard Középhegy Furmint has flowers, linden,nectar and some mineral notes on the nose. Apricot, apricot stone. On the palate the wine is dominated by determined acidity and it is balanced with the residual sugar around 4 gramms. The honeyed, nectary, flowery notes are also present. Elegant wine with its own character which reflects the terroir as well.