Though Furmint is the most recognised grape of Tokaj, some other grapes are allowed as well, including Sárgamuskotály, a member of the Muscat family. In Tokaj it can give gracious, elegant wines, the typical aromas are there, but in a noble manner, far from being overwhelming. The grapes for the new release sweet blend by Barta Winery came from the unparallel terroir of Öreg Király (‘Old King’) vineyard.

133 g residual sugar, 7 g acidity

Well, when a baby is born, the weight and the length are among the first things parents share. Of course, these data do not determine the personality, neither do the sugar and acidity about a wine – yet  they tell a lot!
“Lightly botrytised grapes were harvested for this wine in the drought-stricken 2022 vintage, which saw some welcome rain in late September, eventually fostering the development of noble rot in the vineyards. The Sárgamuskotály part, which makes up half of the blend, was fermented in a steel tank, the Furmint in oak, both at controlled temperatures. The final blend was then aged in a mix of 228-litre French and Hungarian barrelsfor one year.”
Find the wine on Barta webshop

A Tokaji Aszú from Öreg Király – the 2nd best wine of a whole international wine contest

Barta Öreg Király – the Best Tokaji Aszú

Öreg Király vineyard story on JancisRobinson.com

Gergely Somogyi, owner and editor of Tokaj Today made an excellent piece and was shortlisted in the writing contest of Jancis Robinson.com in 2022. The article is about regeneration of vineyards. Gergely gives several detailed examples of renewed vineyards in Tokaj, one of them – probably the most picturesque – is Barta’s Öreg Király Vineyard.

“The spectacular set of terraces in the south-facing, trapezoid-shaped plot of Király Hill of Mád is one of the region’s most photographed vineyard sites. Steeped in history, this tract of land has been in cultivation since the 13th century, yet, the vines up there are all fairly young. They were planted in 2004 and 2005, right after Károly Barta and Ervin Demeter had bought the overgrown stretch of mountainside. 

The renewal was a huge undertaking with trees having had to be cut to reclaim the top part of the dűlő from nature. Despite some five decades of neglect, the terrace walls were in surprisingly good condition. Apart from these terraces, Barta bought and replanted another close to six high-elevation hectares in the south-southeast of the hill and another three in the west to own almost 10 out of the 13.3 hectares currently in production in what is called the Öreg Király today.”

Read Gergely Somogyi’s astonishing article here

Barta wines are available in several countries for example in the UK, Norway, Denmark, France, Belgium and Germany, If you are interested in importing, contact the team!

Discover Mád village, the pearl of Tokaj

‘Öreg Király’ (‘Old King’) is undoubtedly one of the most breath-taking vineyards of the world – why not discover it in a delicious way? Ride to the foot of the stunning slopes and open the bottled fruit of that very same vineyard from your picnic basket! The total distance to the vineyard and back is around 13 kilometres (8 miles), with a total elevation of 250 metres (820 feet).
Also, meet Barta Winery team at two events: ‘Mad Buzz’ (‘Mádi Pezsgés’) this Saturday, 25 May or at Good night, Mád on 21–23 June.

Bikes and wines are provided!

What else would you need? Maybe some food to gain energy, but Barta Winery takes care of your calory intake: artisan jams, cheeses and salamis are packed along with the two bottles of chilled wines. As a when writer, I am fascinated when a winery provides all the necessary information – believe me, it is rather rare –, and the Barta team just did it!

Bikers are provided with an online map as well, and the team gives the exact distance and elevation, so that you can decide in advance knowing your stamina. The wines included are: Öreg Király Dűlő Furmint 2022 (dry) and Öreg Király Dűlő Késői Furmint 2018 (sweet).
The price for the premium bike picnic is 28 000 HUF / 72.5 EUR and it is available practically any time.
You can easily buy the experience online here.

If you prefer spending less, there is another version for only 16 000 HUF / 41.5 EUR, the bikes and the picnic delicacies are the same, only the wines are different: Egy kis Furmint 2022 (dry) and Egy kis édes Furmint-Muskotály 2022 (sweet) are also two lovely wines of the estate.
You can book this bike picnic here.

Don’t rush home, Barta Winery offers accommodation as well! You can choose between the cosy guest house and the gorgeous rooms of Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion. 

More about Barta Winery