TOKAJ-HETSZOLO, 5 CENTURIES OF HISTORY
A wonder listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco
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Mysterious Mount Tokaj...seen from above, it rises above the autumn mists, its slopes gleaming with golden grapevines, and its summit overlooking the vast Hungarian plain into the distant southern horizon. In fine weather, you can even see Slovakia and Ukraine. The undisputed king of Hungarian vineyards, Mount Tokaj is located to the North of the country, 200 km east of Budapest. This legendary location produces exceptional wines, protected since 1772 by the first appellation of origin awarded in the entire world - 83 years before Bordeaux wines were officially classed.
There is a jewel in every crown. To the South side of Mount Tokaj, the Royal Imperial Estate of Tokaj-Hétszolo owns the most fertile land and the best vines, and since 1502 Nature has given more generously of its fruits here than anywhere else. No surprise, then, that it has attracted the attention of the greats of the wine world for over 5 centuries!
The creation of the Estate owes nothing to chance: the Garai family simply selected the best 7 parcels of the land in the region, hence the name - Hét Szolo means "7 parcels of vineyard" in Hungarian. There then followed a series of prestigious owners, including Gaspar Karoli, translator of the Bible into Hungarian, Gabor Bethlen, prince of Transylvania, then the Princes Rakoczi, a grand aristocratic family. The Habsburg royal family finally took possession of the vineyard and Tokaj-Hétszolo became an Imperial Estate in 1711. It was to remain the property of the Austro-Hungarian Crown against all odds for almost two centuries.
Following a turbulent 20th Century, the prestigious Tokaj-Hétszolo Estate became one of the Michel Reybier vineyards in 2009, joining Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estèphe Grand Cru classé, Château-Marbuzet and Goulée Médoc. The vineyard’s noble history continues.
The Tokaj-Hétszőlő domain, known for its unique wines and rich history, is situated in the heart of Tokaj-Hegyalja, on the southern slopes of Mount Tokaj.
In 1502, the Garai family assembled seven parcels of land which became the Tokaj-Hétszőlő domain. Later, the domain was acquired by a series of prestigious owners, including Gáspár Károli (translator of the Bible), followed by Gábor Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, the Rákóczi family, and finally the royal Hapsburg family.
Between the two World Wars, the land was entirely replanted to establish an exceptional domain. But the property deteriorated in the 1950s. These were black years for this yellow diamond. In 1991, the domain was rediscovered by the French company Grands Millésimes de France and underwent a renaissance. The vineyards, chai and cellar were modernized and the domain was expanded with the acquisition of the prestigious Rákóczi cellar and the Rákóczi-Dessewffy castle.
In 2009, Michel Reybier became the new owner of this historic domain, which joins the list of exceptional estates in the Michel Reybier collection: Château Cos d’Estournel producing a Saint-Estèphe Grand Cru Classé and the Médoc AOC Château Marbuzet and Goulée vineyards.
