Vintus

Disznókő spreads over 250 acres at the south-west entrance of the Tokaj region.  Tokaj is thought to be the first vineyard region in the world to have adopted a classification system and, incredibly, the entire Disznókő estate was classified as a first growth property in 1772 at the time of the initial classification by royal decree.  The estate’s vineyards today are still wholly classified as first growth. 

The Disznókő estate is essentially a hill of volcanic clay soil with perlite pebbles: at the top of the hill is the boar-shaped rock from which the estate takes its name, and the vineyards are arranged down the southern slope, with the winery at the bottom of the slopes.  The vineyard is protected by the cold northern winds by the Zemplén hills right behind it, and draws light and heat from its southerly exposure.

In 1992, shortly after the fall of communism in Hungary, the estate was acquired by new owners and a long series of improvements initiated: the vineyards were rehabilitated and replanted, old buildings were refurbished, and new winemaking facilities were constructed.  The new winery pays homage to the nearby old winery, and inside the new winery it quickly becomes apparent how Disznókő has, above any other estate in the region, restored Tokaji’s reputation to the days it was considered  “the wine of kings and king of wines” (Louis XIV).