Tokaji Explained: Hungary’s Sweet Wine and How to Drink It

 Sweet wine does not have to be heavy. Our tasting notes for Oremus Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos describe ripe peaches and apricots, stem ginger, and hazelnut praline, all cut through by a laser-like seam of acidity. That balance of richness and freshness is what makes Tokaji wine so distinctive.

Image Alt Text - “Royal Tokaji Aszú bottle with golden wine, fresh peaches, apricots, honeycomb and a slice of cheesecake.”

Tokaji comes from Hungary and is best known for its sweet Aszú wines, made from botrytised grapes. A friendly first bottle is Royal Tokaji Aszú Blue Label 5 Puttonyos 2018, 50cl, bottled at 11% ABV and priced at £39.95. Below, we explain the styles, the Puttonyos numbers, and how to serve it.

What is Tokaji wine?

Tokaji is wine from the Tokaj region of Hungary. On our shelves, it covers two broad styles: sweet dessert wines and dry Furmint.

Furmint is the grape at the heart of it. Royal Tokaji’s Aszú lists Furmint as its grape, while MAD Aszú is made from Furmint, Hárslevelű and Sárga Muskotály. MAD is described as a rich, concentrated botrytised dessert wine produced only in the most exceptional vintages.

Tokaji Aszú and the Puttonyos number

Aszú is the best-known Tokaji style. The Royal Tokaji page describes how it is made: fine Aszú berries with perfect botrytis were macerated in fermenting must for two days. After pressing and finishing fermentation, the wine was filled into 300- and 500-litre Hungarian oak casks, in deep underground cellars, to mature for over two years.

Many Aszú labels carry a Puttonyos number, and it is a useful guide to sweetness and richness. Our own notes show the difference:

• 3 Puttonyos: Oremus 3 Puttonyos is elegant and fresh, with delicate floral aromas and ripe citrus notes.
  
  

• 5 Puttonyos: Oremus 5 Puttonyos is richer, with ripe peaches and apricots, stem ginger and hazelnut praline, lifted by bright acidity.
  
  

• Eszencia: Oremus Tokaji Eszencia 2010 is exceptionally concentrated, luxuriously sweet and velvety, yet sustained by remarkable freshness.
  
  

Tokaji styles on our shelves

Not every Tokaji is an Aszú. Late harvest wines are a gentler way in. Disznoko Tokaji Late Harvest 2022 (12.5% ABV) offers honey, greengage, pineapple and candied lemon, while Sauska Tokaji Late Harvest Cuvée 2023 (11.5% ABV) has pineapple, dried apricot and acacia on the nose.

For Aszú, Disznoko Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2017 shows ripe apricot, white peach, acacia honey and exotic spice, with a long, spicy finish. Disznoko Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos 2017 (12.5% ABV) is a luscious sweet wine with dried peach and mango, orange blossom, blanched almond and toasted brioche.

There is also Szamorodni. Disznoko 1413 Tokaji Edes Szamorodni 2022 (12.5% ABV) is golden and rich, with ripe apricots, Mirabelle plums and floral honey. You can browse Royal Tokaji, Oremus, Sauska, Patricius and more in our Hungarian dessert wines collection.

Which Tokaji should you try first?

Choose by taste. For a sweet but fresh single bottle, Royal Tokaji Aszú Blue Label 5 Puttonyos is a clear starting point. For something gentler, try a late harvest wine, remembering that these come by the case. If you prefer dry wines, Sauska Furmint is a single bottle at £16.95. And if you love whisky, the Tokaji cask release below is worth a look.

What does Tokaji taste like?

Expect honeyed orchard and tropical fruit with a bright, fresh finish. The tasting notes across our range repeat a few flavours: apricot, peach, honey, pineapple and mango, with orange peel, stem ginger or exotic spice adding interest.

The dry Furmint wines lean towards apple, fig, lemon zest and almond instead. In the sweet wines, acidity is the key. It gives wines such as Oremus 5 Puttonyos and Oremus Eszencia their freshness, so a small glass can feel lively as well as rich.

Dry Tokaji: meet Furmint

Tokaji is not always sweet. The same grape makes dry wines too. Sauska Furmint 2025 is a 75cl bottle at 13% ABV and £16.95, with a screw cap. It is packed with ripe figs, mango, kiwi, lemon zest and green tea, and our notes call it the very definition of Tokaj Furmint.

Disznoko Tokaji Dry Furmint 2025 is another dry option, with green apple, stone fruits and almond, a touch of mineral salinity and an elegant bitterness. It is sold by the case of six.

Oremus Petrács Dry Furmint 2021 brings apples, spices and white flowers. Oremus Mandolás Dry Furmint 2021, in 150cl bottles, combines Furmint’s bold acidity with juicy dessert apples, white flowers and a pleasing saline note on a lengthy finish. Both Oremus wines are sold by the case.

How to drink Tokaji

Serve it slightly chilled. Our dessert wine guidance gives 6–8°C for light sweet wines and 8–10°C for medium sweet wines, and suggests about an hour in the fridge before serving. Too warm, and a sweet wine can taste heavy. Too cold, and its flavours may hide.

Choose a small glass. A narrow bowl and slightly tapered rim help the aromas reach your nose, and a small white wine glass works well if you do not own a dessert wine glass.

Pour small. A typical serving of dessert wine is 60–90ml, so a 50cl bottle gives roughly five to eight small pours. It is richer than ordinary wine, so a little goes a long way.

What should you eat with Tokaji?

Start with one rule from our dessert wine guide: the wine should be as sweet as or sweeter than the dessert. If the dessert is sweeter, the wine may taste sour.

Cheesecake pairs well with late harvest wines, and fruit tarts suit lighter sweet white wines. Blue cheese works with honey-style sweet wines, and many Tokaji notes lean towards honey. You can also enjoy a glass on its own, as the dessert.

A whisky finished in Tokaji casks

Image Alt Text - “Ardnamurchan AD Tokaji Cask Release whisky bottle with a pear and almonds on an oak cask in a cellar.”

Tokaji has found its way into Scotch too. The Ardnamurchan AD / Tokaji Cask Release is an 8-year-old single malt that started in unpeated bourbon barrels from 2018, then spent just over two years finishing in Tokaji casks sourced from Hungary.

The notes include floral sandalwood, sweet pear, almond, bamboo and white pepper. It is bottled at 52% ABV and costs £66.95, which makes it a neat gift for a whisky fan who is curious about wine.

Buying Tokaji: bottles, cases and delivery

Several Tokaji wines come as single bottles, including Royal Tokaji Aszú, MAD Aszú and Sauska Furmint. These show next-day delivery when ordered by 12 noon, Monday to Friday. Royal Tokaji Aszú is also available as a 2017 vintage at £34.95.

Many others are sold by the case only. Disznoko Tokaji Late Harvest 2022 is a case of six 50cl bottles at £108.95, shown as £18.15 per bottle. Lead times vary by producer: our Disznoko and Oremus cases usually take 7 to 10 business days, while Sauska and Patricius cases usually take 3 to 5. Check each product page for its own lead time.

Delivery is free on UK mainland orders over £200, and a few areas have different terms, so check our delivery policy.

Tokaji FAQs

Is Tokaji always sweet?

No. Tokaji can be dry as well as sweet. Sauska Furmint 2025 and Disznoko Tokaji Dry Furmint 2025 are dry Furmint wines, while Aszú and late harvest wines are sweet.

What does Puttonyos mean on a Tokaji label?

It is the number you see on Aszú wines, such as 3, 5 or 6 Puttonyos. Think of it as a guide to sweetness and richness: our Oremus notes move from elegant and fresh at 3 Puttonyos to richer peach, apricot and stem ginger flavours at 5.

How should I serve Tokaji?

Serve it slightly chilled in a small glass, with a pour of about 60–90ml. Our dessert wine guidance suggests 6–8°C for light sweet wines and 8–10°C for medium sweet wines.

Can I try Tokaji without buying a case?

Yes. Royal Tokaji Aszú Blue Label 5 Puttonyos 2018 comes as a single 50cl bottle, and so do MAD Aszú and Sauska Furmint.

What food goes with Tokaji?

Cheesecake suits late harvest wines, fruit tarts suit lighter sweet whites, and blue cheese suits honey-style sweet wines. Keep the wine as sweet as or sweeter than the dessert.

A final thought

Tokaji rewards curiosity. It is sweet and rich yet fresh, and it works as a dessert, a cheese partner or a treat on its own. Start with a single small bottle, serve it chilled and pour slowly. 

If you want a taste of the Aszú style, the MAD Aszú, Tokaj, Hungary 50cl is a rich, concentrated botrytised wine with a very long finish. We’re an independent shop in Portobello, Edinburgh, and we ship across the UK. Please drink responsibly.