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| The wine region of Eger |
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Eger and its surroundings played a memorable part in Hungarian history when a small Hungarian army halted a major Turkish military expedition in 1552.
The relics of Hungarian history, the wonderful location, the cultural life, the medicinal spa waters and baths attract many visitors from home and abroad to this mellow old town. And of course, the wines!
Viticulture began in the region as early as the 11th century, when monks in the bishopric of Eger (founded by Hungary’s first king, Saint Stephen) brought grapes indigenous to their own ountry with them into Hungary. The knowledge of cultivating vines and wine making was added to by the Walloons who settled in Eger following the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-42. The culturivation of wine was not interrupted even during the 91 years of Turkish occupation, since wine was an important source of income for the Turks.
After the Turks had been expelled from the region, wine-growing began to develop again. In 1886, phylloxera struck but with the replanting of vines, new kinds of grapes became naturalized here.
Over the past decade, the wine growers of Eger have demonstrated both here and abroad that Leányka, Királyleányka, Hárslevelű (Linden-Leaf), Olaszrizling (Italian Riesling), Muskotály (Muscatel), Tramini, Szürkebarát and Chardonnay wines are equal to the challenge of both domestic and foreign competitors. If local wine producers exploit the full potential of the region, experts believe the Kékfrankos, Blauburger, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir wines can also expect a great international future. The spiciness, fieriness and relatively high acidity of the red wines of Eger is what typifies Bikavér (Bull's Blood). This is why local wine-growers put most of their energy into producing it. The method of preparing this noble wines is based on age-old traditions and was finally set down in the Bikávór Kodex.
The wine-cellars established at the beginning of the nineties following the economic transition in Hungary played an essential role in bringing the wines of Eger to the brink of world success. Since then, new wine cellars are opening to this day, in the hope of success. |
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