In August 2016 a new professional study tour was organized to the Tokaj Wine Region having as distinguished guest the well-known wine writer Christine Havens. Christine has been working with such renown and leading American professional publications as The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal and The Clever Root Magazine; the world’s most popular wine application – Vivino - reaching out 19 million users and publishes regularly tasting notes, reviews on her own website, blogs, social media sites about wines from different regions of the world.
The four-day long tour covered many programs. In addition to the visits paid to St. Tamás Winery and Szepsy wine cellar, we had part of unforgettable culinary delights by the favor of Első Mádi Borház and Gusteau Culinary Experience Workshop which served as venue for the presentations and tastings of the Tokaj and Mád wines, too. During these demonstrations the history of Tokaj region was presented along with the unique microclimate, mineral and soil structure which define the exceptional, distinctive character and flavor of the wines and make them incomparable with any other wine of the world.
To illustrate the potential laid in wine tourism opportunities visits were paid to the historical vineyards of Mád, to the Aspermont Castle, the newly restored synagogue, to the city of Tokaj, the row of wine cellars in Hercegkút and to Sárospatak. The Aszú House operating in Mád represented a real curiosity in the program – it presents the history of the region and the wines in such an interactive way that surprises not only the wine experts and professionals.
The wine writer’s visit was organized as part of the promotional campaign of the Hungarian wines launched in North America built primarily on Furmint as indigenous Hungarian grape variety.
Targeting wine professionals from abroad the study tours have as primary goal to make guests acquainted with the region's grape varieties, vineyards peculiarities, the traditions and methods of wine making, attend wine tastings and pay visits to those wineries which constantly compete with their wines on national and international markets, win prestigious awards and are ready to be introduced to North American wine experts and consumers, too.
