This area of Hungary is renowned for producing exceptional sweet dessert wines where its grapes have been affected by noble rot. The soil is of volcanic origin with high concentrations of iron and lime. The region has a unique micro-climate due to the protection of the nearby mountains – winters are bitterly cold and windy, spring is cool but generally dry, and summers are hot. Autumn usually brings early rains followed by an extended Indian summer, allowing a very long ripening period. The Furmint grapes begin maturation with thick skins but over time, the skin become thinner and transparent. This allows the sun to penetrate the grape, evaporating mush of the liquid inside, producing a higher sugar concentration. Unlike most other grapes that would burst and spoil, Furmint grows a second skin which seals it from rot and concentrates the grape’s natural sugars. The grapes are left on their vines long enough to develop the ‘noble rot’ mold.
