| Introduction of vines by the Romans |
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It is said that the Romans introduced vines to Hungary, or Pannonia, as
it was then known. There are historical records indicating that wine
making took place in Hungary during the Roman occupation. Of course in those days all production of wine was organic and the same quality is known today in Latin as vin bio. |
| 1000– Wine and Christianity |
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Saint Stephen founded the Kingdom of Hungary in 1000 AD. St Stephen was
responsible for the spread of Christianity across Hungary and the
monasteries spread wine culture. A flourishing wine industry developed
and Hungarian wines were exported to neighbouring countries. |
| 1526 - Turkish invasion |
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The Turks occupied Eastern and Central Hungary. Many people headed west
ahead of the advancing Ottoman army or sought exile in Transylvania,
which retained some degree of autonomy. As a consequence of this and of
general economic collapse, the wine industry went into decline and
large parts of the countryside went uncultivated. |
| 1630 - First Discovery of Noble Rot in Tokaj |
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Legend has it that, fearing an attack from the turks, the harvest was
abandoned and not completed until some time later when the rot had
affected the grapes. When the wine from the late harvested grapes was
opened the following spring the high quality of the wines was
recognised and the reasons behind its success was identified. |
| 1686– End of Turkish rule and the start of Habsburg Rule |
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After a prolonged siege Buda was liberated in September 1686. This
marked the end of Turkish occupation and the start of Austrian
Dominance. Hungary was still not independent, but the Habsburg Empire
provided an ideal market for Hungarian wines. The large feudal estates
that had been seized by the Turks were re-formed and many incomers, in
many cases Serbs, Swabs and Romanians, who brought wine making skills
with them, were invited to repopulate the wine growing regions.
Economic stability encouraged vine planting on a large scale. Wine was
the most popular drink in Hungary and much was exported. The fine wines
of Hungary were held in high regard and sold to the upper classes of
the Austrian Empire, Poland and Russia.
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| 1700 –Vineyard Classification Tokaj |
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Though the exact date may be disputed, Tokaj can lay a claim to the
first Vineyard Classification system in the world. This five level
system was drawn up at the behest of the then landowner, Ferenc Rakoczi
II. After the passage of time some vineyard boundaries can be difficult
to locate with certainty, nevertheless the system is still promoted
today. |
| 1870’s– The wine industry at its peak |
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Towards the end of the nineteenth century the Hungarian wine industry
was at its zenith. The economy was growing rapidly, driving domestic
demand for wine and Hungarian wine was exported throughout central and
eastern Europe where it was held in the highest regard. This high point
only serves to underline the coming tragic events. |
| 1882– Phylloxera |
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Starting in some areas in the late 1870’s phylloxera spread throughout
Hungary during the 1880’s. It was discovered that phylloxera did not
affect those vines planted in the sandy soils of the Great Plains. The
phylloxera bug had a devastating effect on the vineyards of Hungary and
wine production had not yet recovered by the start of the First World
War. |
| 1914 - First World War |
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As the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, Hungary’s neighbours occupied
large parts of its territory, the economy collapsed and Hungary,
finally independent, slid into revolution, first communist, then
fascist. |
| 1920 – Redrawing of borders. |
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In the Trianon Treaty of 1920 and Hungary lost two-thirds of its former
territory. A side effect of this is that several wine growing regions
formally within Hungary are today to be found in neighbouring
countries:
Ruszt & Burgenland are now in Austria
Pozsony is now in Slovakia
SzerÈmsÈg is now split between Croatia and the Vojvodina province of Serbia
MÈnes is now in Romania
A small part of the Tokaj Region is now in Slovakia.
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| 1941 Hungary enters the Second World War |
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After entering the Second World War, Hungary was occupied, firstly by Germany then by Russia.
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| 1947 -
Communism, land reform and collectivisation of wine production
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Post war political interference by the Russians led to a series of
social and economic upheavals, including the transition from democratic
to totalitarian Communist rule.
In 1945 all vineyards were broken
up and redistributed to the peasantry; three hectares each. This lead
to a decline in production and so in 1949 collective farms and
cooperatives were introduced. The collective system was relaxed in 1953
due to its unpopularity, but after the failed 1956 uprising against
Russian occupation, the policy of collectivisation was enforced once
more.
These dramatic changes were all made at a time of post-war austerity
and it was not until the 1970s that people saw a real improvement to
their living standards.
The communists' love of central planning and collectivisation left no
room for quality and no room for the individual. Production quotas were
handed down and the co-operatives had to deliver them by what ever
means. Investments were made in mass production techniques and many
poor practices crept in as quantity was put before quality. Sloping
vineyards producing concentrated grapes were abandoned in favour of the
weak sandy soils of the Great Plains which allowed the use of tractors.
For the individual grower there was no incentive to make quality wines
as all grapes musts were mixed together.
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| 1989 – End of Communism |
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By the time Europe’s communist regimes collapsed the international
reputation of Hungarian wine lay in ruins. Russian economic collapse
left many co-operatives and state farms without a customer; facing
bankruptcy they were put up for sale along with many of the small plots.
At the same time many growers took the opportunity to buy up land in
the best areas, make their own wine and sell it under their own name.
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| The present day |
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After one hundred years of disaster and mismanagement the renaissance
of the Hungarian wine industry is under way. While many producers in
lesser areas are still under capitalised, investment in the
traditionally famous wine areas has allowed the latest winemaking and
bottling equipment to be installed. As a consequence of land
redistribution in the 1940s many growers have to manage several
disparate 2 hectare plots. Conversely this allows numerous winemakers
to access the best vineyards.
In Hungary the new wine growers are
held in high regard and in foreign markets Hungarian wine is finally
shaking off its reputation for poor quality.
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