Furmint (also known as Mainak) is a white
Hungarian wine grape variety that is most noted widely grown in the
Tokaj-Hegyalja
Tokaj wine region ( hu, Tokaji borvidék sk, Vinohradnícka oblasť Tokaj) or Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region (short ''Tokaj-Hegyalja'' or ''Hegyalja'') is a historical wine region located in northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia. It is also ...
wine region where it is used to produce single-varietal
dry wine
The subjective sweetness of a wine is determined by the interaction of several factors, including the amount of sugar in the wine, but also the relative levels of alcohol, acids, and tannins. Sugars and alcohol enhance a wine's sweetness, wh ...
s as well as being the principal grape in the better known
Tokaji dessert wines. It is also grown in the tiny Hungarian wine region of
Somló
250px, Somló Hill, Hungary
Somló (German: ''Schomlau'', the corresponding adjective, meaning ''of Somló'' as in ''wines of Somló'' in Hungarian is: ''somlói'') is an 832 hectare wine region in Veszprém county, in the North-West of Hungary. ...
. Furmint plays a similar role in the
Slovakian wine
Slovak wine is produced in the southern part of Slovakia, which is divided into 6 wine-producing areas.
Although Slovak wines except Tokaj are not well-known internationally, they are popular domestically and in neighbouring countries. The best win ...
region of
Tokaj
Tokaj () is a historical town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 54 kilometers from county capital Miskolc. It is the centre of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district where Tokaji wine is produced.
History
The wine-growing area wa ...
. It is also grown in
Austria where it is known as ''Mosler''. Smaller plantings are found in
Slovenia where it is known as ''Šipon''. The grape is also planted in
Croatia, where it is known as ''Moslavac''. It is also found in
Romania and in former republics of the
Soviet Union.
[Oz Clarke ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 90 Harcourt Books 2001 ] Furmint is a
late ripening
In viticulture, ripeness is the completion of the ripening process of wine grapes on the vine which signals the beginning of harvest. What exactly constitutes ripeness will vary depending on what style of wine is being produced ( sparkling, still, ...
variety. For dry wines the harvest starts usually in September, however sweet wine specific harvest can start in the second half of October or even later, and is often affected by ''
Botrytis Botrytis may refer to:
* ''Botrytis'' (fungus), the anamorphs of fungi of the genus ''Botryotinia''
**''Botrytis cinerea'', a mold important in wine making
*Botrytis, the cauliflower cultivar group of ''Brassica oleracea
''Brassica oleracea'' is ...
''.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 292 & 348 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
The name Furmint may have been taken from the word ''froment'' for the wheat-gold color of the wine it produces. While it is possible that the grape was brought to Hungary in the 13th century during the reign of King
Béla IV,
ampelographers believe that the grape is likely native to the region.
[J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz ''Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours'' pgs 37, 373-375, 1115 Allen Lane 2012 ]
History
Furmint has been growing in the Tokaji region of north-eastern Hungary since at least the late 16th century when a document dated May 15, 1571 described the grape growing in the Hétszőlő vineyard in
Tokaj
Tokaj () is a historical town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 54 kilometers from county capital Miskolc. It is the centre of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district where Tokaji wine is produced.
History
The wine-growing area wa ...
. In 1611, the grape was also noted to have been growing in the
Gyepű Valley
In medieval Europe, a march or mark was, in broad terms, any kind of borderland, as opposed to a national "heartland". More specifically, a march was a border between realms or a neutral buffer zone under joint control of two states in which di ...
of the
Zemplén Mountains
Zemplén Mountains () or Tokaj Mountains (; hu, Zempléni-hegység or ''Tokaji-hegység'') is a mountain range in Hungary.
Its highest peak is the Nagy-Milic at 894 metres above sea level. The range is part of the North Hungarian Mountains wit ...
near the town of
Erdőbénye
The village Erdőbénye has around 1000 inhabitants and is located 20 km from the town of Tokaj in Northern Hungary. It lies in a valley surrounded by mountains and vineyards, in the middle of the famous wine-region ‘Tokaj-Hegyalja’, in ...
, about north of Tokaj.
While many other wine grapes have been used in the production of the historic Tokaji dessert wine, Furmint's use for the wine was well established by at least the late 18th century when, in 1796, the Hungarian politician
János Dercsényi
János or Janos may refer to:
* János, male Hungarian given name, a variant of John
Places
* Janos Municipality, a municipality of Chihuahua
** Janos, Chihuahua, town in Mexico
** Janos Biosphere Reserve, a nature reserve in Chihuahua
* Janos ...
described Furmint as the "genuine Tokaji Aszú" grape.
Origins

In the early 21st century,
DNA analysis
Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...
confirmed that a parent-offspring relationship exist between Furmint and the
Hunnic grape
A division of grape varieties into Frankish and Hunnic grape varieties was practiced in German-speaking countries in the Middle Ages and separated varieties considered to be better from those considered to be lesser. Frankish (''fränkisch'') grap ...
Gouais blanc. As Gouais blanc, has been noted in documents since the early
Middle Ages and has been well established as the parent of several grape varieties such as
Riesling,
Chardonnay
Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...
,
Elbling and
Gamay, ampelographers believe that Furmint is likely the offspring of Gouais blanc instead of the other way around.
DNA analysis also suggested that parent-offspring relationships exist with the Hungarian wine grape
Hárslevelű and the
Swiss wine grape
Plantscher but instead of either being the second parent to Furmint with Gouais blanc, ampelographers believe that it is more likely that Furmint is one of the parent variety for both grapes.
Like
Pinot noir
Pinot Noir () is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words for ''pine'' and ''black.' ...
,
Sangiovese and many other grape varieties, Furmint has beget over centuries a variety of
clones, including a pink-skinned
color mutation known as ''Piros Furmint''. As nearly all of these clones are found, almost exclusively, within the Tokaji region, ampelographers believe that it is highly probable that Furmint originated in this part of Hungary.
Other theories

Other theories of Furmint's origins have the grape being introduced to the
Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
area in the Middle Ages. As noted by
Master of Wine Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW (born 22 April 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the ''Financial Times'', and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She ...
, the grape may have been brought to Hungary in the 13th century during the reign of King
Béla IV. Following the destruction of the
Mongolian invasion of Hungary
From the 1220s into the 1240s, the Mongols conquered the Turkic states of Volga Bulgaria, Cumania, Alania, and the Kievan Rus' federation. Following this, they began their invasion into heartland Europe by launching a two-pronged invasion of ...
, Béla wanted to quickly revive the country's devastated vineyards. The king instituted several policies encouraging mass
immigration of people knowledgeable in
viticulture and
winemaking.
[DiWine Taste ']
Hungary wine
'' Issue 11, September 2003 Many of the immigrants that heeded Béla's call brought new grape varieties with them - one of which may have been Furmint.
[Wein-Plus Glossar: ']
'' Accessed: December 18th, 2009
Another theory has the grape being introduced even early by Italian missionaries during the reign of
Stephen II of Hungary
Stephen II ( hu, II István; hr, Stjepan II; sk, Štefan II; 1101 – early 1131), King of Hungary and Croatia, ruled from 1116 until 1131. His father, King Coloman, had him crowned as a child, thus denying the crown to his uncle Álmos. I ...
. This theory, as noted by the French ampelographer
Pierre Galet, could have Furmint originating from the
Lazio city of
Formia located along the
Appian Way with the name being a corruption of Formia's
Latin name ''Formianum''. A later Italian introduction is credited to a soldier from
Collio Goriziano ''Collio Goriziano'' (sometimes designated simply as ''Collio'' or ''Collio DOC'') is an Italian wine and winemaking region in northeast Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located in the northernmost part of the Province of Gorizia, in the It ...
region of
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
(man), it, Friulana (woman), it, Giuliano (man), it, Giuliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_t ...
who fought in the
Seven Years' War between 1754 (sometimes dated to 1756) and 1763. The soldier, who was nicknamed ''Forment'' from the
Italian ''fromento'' for "wheat" due to his wheat-colored, reddish blonde beard, was granted the title of
Count of Formentin by Empress
Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position ''suo jure'' (in her own right). ...
. In gratitude, according to this legend, the Count sent grapevines from his native land to the Empress who had them planted in Tokaji.
However, ampelographers often dismiss these Italian origin theories because, in addition to documentation showing Furmint growing in Hungary before the Seven Years' War, DNA evidence has not connected Furmint to any
Italian grape variety
References
Supplemental references used for chart
*J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz ''Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours'' pgs XXVIII-XXX Allen Lane 2012
{{DEFAULTSORT:Itali ...
(as a sibling or, more likely, a parent through a natural crossing) which would seem unlikely if Furmint did originate in Italy.
Other theories for Furmint's origin note the grape's similarities to the
Savoy wine grape
Altesse and speculate that the grape may have originated there or even in
Byzantium
Byzantium () or Byzantion ( grc, Βυζάντιον) was an ancient Greek city in classical antiquity that became known as Constantinople in late antiquity and Istanbul today. The Greek name ''Byzantion'' and its Latinization ''Byzantium'' cont ...
where, according to legend, Altesse was brought back to Savoy in 1367 by
Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy
Amadeus VI (4 January 1334 – 1 March 1383), nicknamed the Green Count ( it, Il Conte Verde) was Count of Savoy from 1343 to 1383. He was the eldest son of Aymon, Count of Savoy, and Yolande Palaeologina of Montferrat. Though he started unde ...
. The
Syrmia
Syrmia ( sh, Srem/Срем or sh, Srijem/Сријем, label=none) is a region of the southern Pannonian Plain, which lies between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia and Croatia. Most of the region is flat, with the exce ...
region with
Serbia has also been listed as one potential birthplace for the grape.
Viticulture

Furmint is a late-ripening grape variety that also tends to
buds
In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be specia ...
early in the
growing season
A season is a division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology, and the amount of daylight. The growing season is that portion of the year in which local conditions (i.e. rainfall, temperature, daylight) permit normal plant growth. Whil ...
which can make the grapevine susceptible to springtime frosts. While the loose-bunches and thick-skins of the berries make Furmint ideal for producing
botrytized dessert wines, the grape can be susceptible to the
viticultural hazard
This is a list of diseases of grapes (''Vitis'' spp.).
Bacterial diseases
Fungal diseases
Miscellaneous diseases and disorders
Nematodes, parasitic
Phytoplasma, virus and viruslike diseases
See also
*'' Ampeloglypter ater''
*'' Am ...
of
powdery mildew. The Furmint vine has a high tolerance for
drought condition which can allow the grape to be planted in regions with limited
irrigation sources.
In Hungary, Furmint has shown a high degree of
genetic diversity
Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species, it ranges widely from the number of species to differences within species and can be attributed to the span of survival for a species. It is dis ...
with several clones and color mutation of the grape being propagated in the Tokaji region. Several of these clones, including the Féher (white), Holyagos and Madárkás clones were well known and in production prior to
World War II. Other common clones of Furmint used in wine production includes the loose-berried Lazafürtű and the Változó (variable) clone and the pink-skinned color mutation of Piros Furmint. Ampelographers have noted the proliferation of so many clones of Furmint found almost exclusively in the Tokaj region of Hungary are strong indicators that the grape likely originated in this region as opposed to be introduced from another area.
Relationship to other grapes

DNA profiling conducted at the
University of Zagreb has shown Furmint to be likely to have a parent-offspring relationship with Gouais blanc, which similar research elsewhere has shown to be a parent of numerous other varieties, making Furmint a half-sibling to nearly 80 different grape varieties. Furmint has also been confirmed to be the same grape as the Croatian white variety ''Moslavac''.
Currently, there are only two known (or suspected) natural crossings of Furmint—the Tokaji wine grape Hárslevelű and the Swiss wine grape Plantscher. In 1937, Furmint was
crossed with the
Croatian wine
Croatian wine (, pl. ) has a history dating back to the Ancient Greek settlers, and their wine production on the southern Dalmatian islands of Vis, Hvar and Korčula some 2,500 years ago. Like other old world wine producers, many traditional grap ...
grape
Malvazija Istarska
Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. I ...
to create
Vega. The grape has also been used to create the
Italian wine grapes
Bussanello (with
Riesling Italico
Welschriesling is a white wine grape variety, unrelated to the Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout Central Europe. Origin
The descendance of Welschriesling is uncertain. The German name ''Welschriesling'' literally means ' Romanic Riesling' ...
) and
Fubiano (with
Trebbiano
Trebbiano is an Italian wine grape, one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. It gives good yields, but tends to yield undistinguished wine. It can be fresh and fruity, but does not keep long. Also known as ugni blanc, it h ...
) and the Hungarian grape Oremus/
Zéta (with
Bouvier).
Confusion with other varieties
Furmint shares a wide range of
synonyms
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
with several other European grape varieties - such as
Sauvignon vert
Sauvignon vert (also known as Sauvignonasse or Friulano) is a white wine grape of the species ''Vitis vinifera'' prevalent in the Italian region of Friuli. It is widely planted in Chile where it was historically mistaken for Sauvignon blanc. The ...
which was once known under the synonym of Tocai Friulano even though the grape was probably never used in the production of Tokay. To confuse things further, not only does Furmint share several synonyms with Sauvignon vert but ''Sauvignon vert'' itself is a synonym for the "green berry" sub-variety of Furmint. This, coupled with physical similarities between several strains of white grapevines makes identification of different wines, particularly those in developing
Eastern European countries difficult.
The grape shares some
morphological similarities with the Savoy wine grape
Altesse and has been historically confused with the
French wine grape variety. In Hungary, Furmint is sometimes confused with
Kéknyelű
Kéknyelű is a white Hungarian wine grape planted primarily in the Badacsony wine region near Lake Balaton. The grape produces full bodied, smokey wines.J. Robinson ''Jancis Robinson's Wine Course'' Third Edition pg 112 Abbeville Press 2003 ...
while on the island of
Korčula, in Croatia, the grape has been confused with
Pošip
Pošip is an autochthonous white wine grape that is primarily grown in the Dalmatian region of Croatia on the island of Korčula, although small amounts are also being grown on the Pelješac Peninsula. While found in many areas around the Korč ...
. The
Romanian wine grape
Grasă de Cotnari
''Grasă de Cotnari'' () is a Romanian wine variety associated with the Cotnari wine region, in Iași County (historical region of Moldavia), where it has been grown ever since the rule of Prince Stephen the Great (1457–1504).
It is also gro ...
and the
Bosnian wine
Bosnian may refer to:
*Anything related to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina or its inhabitants
*Anything related to Bosnia (region) or its inhabitants
* Bosniaks, an ethnic group mainly inhabiting Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of three constit ...
grape
Žilavka
Žilavka is a white wine grape variety planted primarily in the Mostar region of Herzegovina, the southern area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a varietal wine, Žilavka is known for its bright freshness and acidity. Ideal for general meal pairin ...
also shares several synonyms with Furmint and are, thusly, often confused with the grape.
Wine regions

In 2006, there were of Furmint in cultivation in Hungary, more than 97% of which found in the
Tokaj-Hegyalja
Tokaj wine region ( hu, Tokaji borvidék sk, Vinohradnícka oblasť Tokaj) or Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region (short ''Tokaj-Hegyalja'' or ''Hegyalja'') is a historical wine region located in northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia. It is also ...
region. The remaining plantings are found in the western Hungarian region of
Somló
250px, Somló Hill, Hungary
Somló (German: ''Schomlau'', the corresponding adjective, meaning ''of Somló'' as in ''wines of Somló'' in Hungarian is: ''somlói'') is an 832 hectare wine region in Veszprém county, in the North-West of Hungary. ...
. In Tokaj, the grape is often blended with
Hárslevelű and
Sárga Muskotály (Muscat blanc à Petits Grains) to produce the
noble rot-influenced dessert wine
Tokaji. Around the villages of
Mád
Mád ( yi, מאדע ''Made'') is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County in northeastern Hungary.
The former Jewish synagogue in Mád was restored between 2000 and 2004 with aid from the World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund (WMF) i ...
,
Tállya
Tállya is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 45 kilometres from county seat Miskolc, in the famous Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district.
Geography
Tállya is located at . According to the 2001 Census the village has a total ...
,
Rátka
Rátka is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County in northeastern Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the n ...
and
Tolcsva ez maga Zsombibacsi uradalma
Tolcsva is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary. It is the birthplace of film pioneer William Fox (producer), William Fox.
Notable residents
* Barna Buza, Hungarian politician and jurist, Minister of A ...
in
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, the grape has a long history of being used for dry wine production as well.
Dry Furmint came to the attention of wine connoisseurs and experts of the world when the Úrágya 2000 single vineyard selection was introduced by István Szepsy. The wine expressed great minerality, complexity and structure, which has been experienced only in the finest white wines of historic regions like Burgundy or the Mosel before. The aging potential was also promising. In 2003 more producers of Mád village produced single vineyard selected dry Furmint wines with great success.
Mád village with its almost 1200 ha had the opportunity to produce high quality dry Furmint wine in significant quantity as a commune level wine, which can express the unique volcanic terroir of the region.
Outside Hungary
Outside Hungary, it is found planted around the
Crimea where producers have endeavored to make their own versions of Tokaji. For the same reason, small plantings of the grape have been done in the
Swartland region of
South Africa.
In Austria it is most commonly found in Burgenland (where is known as ''Zapfner'')) and
Styria
Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
(where it is known as ''Mosler'').
In the
Burgenland region (now in Austria), Furmint was historically associated with the production of the
sweet dessert wine ''
Ausbruch''. The grape gradually fell out of favor in the Burgenland but in the 21st century, several ''Ausbruch'' winemakers (particularly around
Rust) have been rediscovering the grape's potential in their area.
In 2010, there were of the grape in cultivation in Austria, mostly around Rust.
Across the border from Hungary, in
Slovakia, Furmint is most commonly used in the production of sweet wines in the
Tokaj
Tokaj () is a historical town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 54 kilometers from county capital Miskolc. It is the centre of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district where Tokaji wine is produced.
History
The wine-growing area wa ...
region that includes several towns within the
Trebišov District:
Bara,
Čerhov
Čerhov ( hu, Csörgő) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of eastern Slovakia.
History
In history, historical records the village was first mentioned in 1076.
Geography
The village lies at an altitude ...
,
Černochov
Černochov (; hu, Csarnahó) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of south-eastern Slovakia.
History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1298.
Geography
The village lies at an altit ...
,
Malá Tŕňa
Malá Tŕňa (formerly ; hu, Kistoronya) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of south-eastern Slovakia.
History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1392.
Geography
The village lies ...
,
Slovenské Nové Mesto
Slovenské Nové Mesto ( hu, Újhely, , or ) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of south-eastern Slovakia.
History
The village is a former suburb of the Hungarian city of Sátoraljaújhely, which was s ...
,
Veľká Tŕňa
Veľká Tŕňa (; hu, Nagytoronya) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of south-eastern Slovakia.
History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1220.
Geography
The village lies at an ...
, and
Viničky
Viničky ( hu, Szőlőske) is a village and municipality in the Trebišov District in the Košice Region of south-eastern Slovakia.
History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1273.
Geography
The village lies at an altitud ...
.
In
Slovenia, Furmint is known as Šipon with in cultivation in 2009, mostly along the
Podravina river in the
Styria
Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
region. Here the grape is often made as a
varietal wine in both dry and sweet, Tokaji-like styles. Furmint is also known as Šipon in
Croatia (where it is also known as Moslavac) as well. Here the grape is almost always used to make dry style wine with of the variety in cultivation as of 2008. In
Zagreb County of the
Moslavina region, Croatian wine producers have also been experimenting with using Furmint in
sparkling wines, often blended with Chardonnay and
Pinot blanc.

In the
United States, there are some isolated plantings of Furmint in the
California wine region of the
Russian River AVA
The Russian River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California. Centered on the Russian River, the Russian River Valley AVA accounts for about one-sixth of the total planted vineyard acreage in Sonoma County. T ...
of
Sonoma County.
[Appellation America ']
Furmint
'' Varietal Character Index, Accessed: May 13th, 2014
Wines and styles
Furmint can be produced in a variety of styles ranging from bone dry to extremely sweet wines affected by
noble rot. The grape has the potential to produce wines with naturally high levels of
acidity with complex flavors derived from
phenolic compounds
In organic chemistry, phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of one or more hydroxyl groups (— O H) bonded directly to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest is phenol, . Phenolic compounds are c ...
in the juice and through brief
contact with the grape skins
Maceration is the winemaking process where the phenolic materials of the grape—tannins, coloring agents (anthocyanins) and flavor compounds—are leached from the grape skins, seeds and stems into the must. To macerate is to soften by soaking, ...
. Furmint wines, particularly the
botrytized dessert wines, can have immense
aging potential
The aging of wine is potentially able to improve the quality of wine. This distinguishes wine from most other consumable goods. While wine is perishable and capable of deteriorating, complex chemical reactions involving a wine's sugars, acids and ...
with some well made examples from favorable
vintages
Vintage, in winemaking, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product—wine (see Harvest (wine)). A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certa ...
continuing to age for over a century. These wines, described by wine expert
Oz Clarke as nearly "
immortal", are most often the ''
aszú
Tokaji ( hu, of Tokaj ) or Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region (also ''Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region'' or ''Tokaj-Hegyalja'') in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines ...
'' style wines of Tokaji made from the top 10-15% of Furmint
harvested.
This potential comes from the balance of acidity and high levels of
sugars in the wine
Sugars in wine are at the heart of what makes winemaking possible. During the process of fermentation, sugars from wine grapes are broken down and converted by yeast into alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide. Grapes accumulate sugars as they grow ...
which act as
preservatives
A preservative is a substance or a chemical that is added to products such as food products, beverages, pharmaceutical drugs, paints, biological samples, cosmetics, wood, and many other products to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by ...
during the aging process.
Dry styles of Furmint are characterized by their
aroma notes
The aromas of wine are more diverse than its flavours. The human tongue is limited to the primary tastes perceived by taste receptors on the tongue – sourness, bitterness, saltiness, sweetness and savouriness. The wide array of fruit, e ...
of
smoke,
pears and
lime. Dessert style wines can develop notes of
marzipan
Marzipan is a confectionery, confection consisting primarily of sugar, honey, and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.
It is often made into Confectionery, sweets; common uses are chocolate-covered marzi ...
,
blood orange,
apricots and
barley sugar. As these dessert styles of Furmint age they will often develop more smokey and spicy notes of
tobacco,
tea,
cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...
and even
chocolate.
Synonyms

Over the years, Furmint has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Allgemeiner, Alte Sestrebe, Arany Furmint, Beregi Furmint, Bieli Moslavac, Biharboros, Bihari Boros, Budai Goher, Cimigera, Csapfner, Csillagviraga Furmint, Damzemy, Demjen, Domjen, Edelweisser Tokayer, Edler weisser Furmint, Féher Furmint (in Tokaj), Formint, Formont, Fourminte, Furmint bianco, Furmint de Minis, Furmint Féher, Furmint Szagos, Furmint Valtozo, Gelber Moster, Gemeiner, Görgeny, Görin, Goher Féher, Gorin, Grasă de Cotnari, Holyagos Furmint, Jardanszki Furmint, Keknyelü, Keresztesevelu Furmint, Kiraly Furmint, Krhkopetec, Lazafürtű Furmint (in Tokaj), Ligetes Furmint, Luttenberger, Madarkas Furmint, Mainak, Maljak, Malmsey, Malnik, Malvasia verde, Malvoisie verte, Malzak, Mehlweiss, Moscavac bijeli, Moslavac, Moslavac bijeli, Moslavac zuti, Moslavina, Mosler (in Austria), Mosler gelb, Mosler gelber, Moslertraube, Moslovac (in Croatia), Moslovez, Nemes Furmint, Poam Grasa, Poma Grasa, Poshipon, Pošip, Pošipbijeli, Pošipveliki, Pošip Vrgonski, Posipel, Posipon, Pospisel, Rongyos Furmint, Salver, Sari Furmint, Sauvignon Vert, Schimiger, Schmiger, Seestock, Seeweinrebe, Shipo, Shipon, Shiponski, Sipelj, Šipon (in Slovenia and northern Croatia), Som (in
Transylvania), Som shipo, Somszölö, Szala, Szalai, Szalai janos, Szalay Göreny, Szegszolo, Szegzölö, Szigethy Szöllö, Szigeti, Toca, Toca Tokai, Tokai Krupnyi, Tokaiskii, Tokaisky, Tokaijer, Tokay (in France), Tokayer, Ungarische, Weisslabler, Weisslauber, Zapfete, Zapfner, Zopfner (in
Germany) and Zilavka.
[ Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) ]
Furmint
'' Accessed: May 13th, 2014
References
{{Wines
White wine grape varieties
Grape varieties of Hungary
Hungarian wine