The news a few hours earlier that Csopak was registered within the EU as a protected designation of origin (PDO), almost three years after the application was submitted. From a professional point of view Csopak has one of the strongest product specifications when it comes to determining a singular style.
Why? Simply because they only permitted one grape variety, Olaszrizling, while Furmint can be used to a maximum of 15% only. As well as they choose to have a tighter regulation on those key points which may influence the style, like alcohol limitation of adjustments (e.g. acidity, chaptalization). Within Csopak there are two categories:
- generic, Hegybor in Hungarian referring to the closer district as hill (or exaggerated mountain)
- single vineyard, dűlős in Hungarian
Five villages are allowed to produce Csopak (or Csopaki) PDO: Csopak, Paloznak, Lovas, Alsóörs and Felsőörs
The most famous single vineyards are perhaps: Siralomvágó, Lőcze-domb, Sáfrán-kert.
Product specifications are mandatory for PDO’s (and PGI’s as well), I look at them as a recipe book with all the ingredients (e.g. grapes, climate, soil…) and method of production (e.g. yield, pruning, ageing, etc.) highlighted to a certain extend put together the outcome is the product, the wine.
The history of Csopak goes back over 2200 years, before the Celts. Hungarian kings appreciated the wines of Csopak as well, as a mentioning of 1018 as St. Stephan donated vineyards to the nun monastery.
The wines do have a special character, crisp, refreshing while maintaining a salty, tart edge. Highlighting the almond, walnut tones dash of almond blossom of the variety while sharing a wet stone personality.
