According to elelmiszer.hu, the famous Tokaj wines have been one of the most popular products on the British market this year, and they are frequently referred to as the “Hungarian wonder” in London. The characteristic flavours can be found in restaurants, hotels, pubs and supermarkets.
Until now, the British were more likely to buy French, Italian or Spanish wines, but this year Tokaj wines are more popular than ever. British retailers deliver these famous Hungarian products to more and more places, including Michelin starred restaurants and hotels.
Even the Lidl chain – which markets special wines from all over the world – reported that one of their most popular products is a medium sweet Tokaj sparkling wine. The bottles are sold for 6.99 pounds and are kept count of as a “real discovery from Hungary”.
Master of Wine Caroline Gilby, specialised in the East European wines of Lidl, explained that the Grand Tokaj Late Vintage wine which costs 7.99 pounds, “has a natural freshness that characterises sweet grapes and it is excellent consumed separately or as a silky aperitif”.
Lidl markets other Tokaj wines as well, for instance, the Château Dereszla Tokaj Furmint (5.99 GBP) and other dry white wines made from furmint grape. Lidl Hungary distributed more than six million bottles of wine among other Lidl-s, which is twice as much as the amount distributed in 2015. This also means that Hungarian wines account for more than one-third of Lidl’s wine selection.
The Waitrose and Marks & Spencer chains’ sale indices also show an increasing tendency.
The Tokaj wine region was introduced to the UK in 2000 when the Hungarian ambassador gave a 100-year-old Tokaj aszú to the majesty’s chancellor for the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother. She later thanked the kindness of the Hungarian government and the commercial house and added: “a useful gift at last”.
ce: ZsK