Wine Grapes: Harslevelu

Aromatic, descriptively named Hungarian variety used for both sweet and dry whites. Hárslevelű, meaning ‘linden leaf’, in reference to the wine’s aroma, is a variety from Hungary, first mentioned there in 1744. Like Furmint, Hárslevelű is often said, without evidence, to have been introduced from Italy.

Productive, mid budding, late-ripening. Big, loose bunches of small to medium-sized, thin-skinned berries. Prone to frost damage, sensitive to drought, and susceptible to powdery mildew. Best suited to warmer volcanic soils.

Wines are aromatic and delicately spicy, adding perfume to the more fiery Furmint in sweet Tokaji wines. The wines are softer than Furmint and mature more quickly. This century has seen an increasing number of very successful varietal late-harvest and Asźu varietal wines (Rohály et al. 2003). Dry and off-dry varietal wines are made at all quality levels but the best are vicious and full-bodied and have a distinctive flavor of linden blossom and linden honey.