Tokaj Classic’s founding musicians, who were widely traveled and had tasted a variety of wines from different countries, came to the unanimous conclusion that Tokaj was a diamond in the rough, just waiting to be polished.
In the historic village of Mád, the musicians refurbished an old estate and acquired vineyards in the historical prime locations of Királyhegy (King’s Mountain), and Betsek, formerly owned by the Hungarian nobility. It was a region with a wine growing history dating back over 400 years. Wines produced here are of top quality.
Tokaj Classic’s Philosophy: Wine Making as a Form of Art
The musicians found that handling grapes and wine is comparable to teaching students of music. Just as musical talent in students is recognized and promoted, so is the redundant growth of grapes contained and shaped, their character noted. As in music, attention is paid to the slightest detail, and new interpretations are always sought. Each vintage becomes its own composition, maintaining its individual character.
The partnership of the grape varietals, Furmint, Hárslevelű, and Muscat is finely harmonized. As for the “classic” Tokaji Aszú, its unmistakable composition and aroma is handled by traditional classic methods. The famed Essencia is an elixir collected drop by drop in large vats. In recent years, the region has produced superior dry wines, primarily from the Furmint grape.
Hungarian wines have been sung and written about for thousands of years, occupying a prominent position in music and literature.
The Tokaj wines – famous for their flavor and longevity – were traditionally reputed to be among the very best of sweet wines in the world. In the early 1990’s, a number of small, efficient wineries revived the traditional methods of wine-making. These wineries resumed the production of high caliber wines, reducing the volume and improving the quality.
Behind nondescript cellar doors, ancient underground cellar systems branch out, extending for many kilometers. Traces of the glorious past are still visible everywhere. New, renovated facades regain the charm of days gone by. The village of Mád, where Tokaj Classic is located, has now regained its former acclaim as the center of Tokaj wine making.
While brand name “Tokaj Classic Winery” evolved, “SBS Musik und Wein” was founded as the official distributor for “Tokaj Classic Winery Ltd.” in Germany, and the rest of the European Union. Today, Tokaj Classic Winery is an official member of Tokaj Renaissance and co-founder of the Mádi Circle.