Ezerjó
It means “a thousand blessings.” In Hungarian.
As we celebrate wine holidays, this might be a new one for you! It was for me! It is celebrated annually on May 16th.
While this grape was one of the most planted in Hungary for many years, its popularity has decreased, which prompted Krisztina Csetvei to create this holiday!
The place Ezerjó was born!
This white grape from Hungary originates in the Mór region, between Budapest and Lake Balaton.
This region is in the Upper Pannon Region where the weather is cool and the late ripening Ezerjo is grown and has been made into wine since the 12th Century.
Botrytis and sweet Ezerjó
Ezerjó is high and acid with big, dense bunches and thick skin. It is susceptible to frost and botrytis. Under the right conditions, the botrytis or noble rot forms on the berries, creating delicious sweet wines once known as Mór Aszú. These are wines similar to Tokaj Aszú, now the only region allowed to use the Aszú name.
What does Ezerjó taste like?
Mildly aromatic, like chardonnay, these wines will have notes of apple, acacia flowers, and herbal notes like basil or cut grass. It can have tropical fruit notes, pear, or honey. Ezerjó is made into wines that range from sparkling to dry to very sweet.
Where Ezerjó is found
You will also find this grape across the border in Austria, where it is known as “Tausent Güte.” There is also a bit grown in Germany.
Pairing Ezerjó
This wine can pair with many things, depending on how it was made and its sweetness level. Each October, there is an annual 4-day festival in Mór called Móri Bornapok (Wine Days of Mór), and these wines are often paired with Pork Knuckle with sauerkraut and dumplings.
My heritage on my mother’s side is Hungarian, and I would love to pair this wine with her Chicken Paprikás. Perhaps a sweet version with her apple strudel.
(We paired her Chicken Paprikas with an Austrian wine a bit back. Here’s a link to the recipe Chicken Paprikas paired with Meinklang H17)
Ask for Ezerjó!
Create a demand! It’s not easy to find, but when you ask for it, you help to ensure that these vineyards of this little-known variety stick around!
Here’s some links for more information!
- http://ezerjonap.hu/en/international-ezerjo-day/
- http://ezerjonap.hu/en/food-pairing/
- http://ezerjonap.hu/en/grape-variety/
- https://winesofhungary.hu/grape-varieties/white-grape-varieties-white-wine-styles/ezerjo
- https://www.winetourism.com/wine-appellation/mor/
- https://bor.hu/media/uploads/kiadv%C3%A1nyok/1029970_TMU_Borregios_leaflet_FELSO_PANNON_420x297_ENG_1210_WEB.pdf
Robin Renken is a wine writer and Certified Specialist of Wine and WSET 3 Certified. She and her husband Michael travel to wine regions interviewing vineyard owners and winemakers and learning the stories behind the glass.
When not traveling they indulge in cooking and pairing wines with food at home in Las Vegas.
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