HUNGARY
Tokaj Oremus
Vega Sicilia Group
The Alvarez family branched out to Hungary in 1991, following the fall of Communism. The Tokaji region, in the far east of the country had long supplied ‘the wine of kings and the king of wines’. Tokaji produced sweet wine which had become the favourite of the courts of Europe, but under communism was produced in vast, dilute quantities to supply the insatiably sweet Soviet tooth. Despite the years of overproduction, many of the classified vineyards in Tokaji were still intact, and it was 120 ha of Premier Cru vineyard that was purchased, to form the Oremus estate. A new winery was built in 1993. Tokaj Oremus is located in Tolcsva, one of the most well-known villages of the Tokaj-Hegyalja region, in the northeast of Hungary.
The winery boasts several kilometres, and five levels, of underground cellars hand hewn into volcanic rock. Wines have been ageing there under perfect conditions since the 12th century, in locally-made Gonci and Szerednyei oak casks.
The wines are made by Tokaj Master Andras Backsos, from the traditional varieties: spicy Furmint, floral Harslevelu, honeyed Zeta and fruity Muskat Lunel. As in Sauternes, the blend of varieties gives the best results.
