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CROWN ESTATES OF HUNGARY |
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| COMPANY HISTORY
Crown Estates of Hungary’s antecedents go beyond the early part
of the 20th Century to the Hungarian Crown Estate in Tokaji, formed
after the defeat of the Transilvanian Prince, Ferenc Rákóczi II
in 1715, when his famous Szarvas vineyard became Crown Property.
After the collapse of the Monarchy in 1918, the vineyard was taken
into state ownership. In 1948 all the major family estates were
taken into state ownership where they remained until the collapse
of Communism. Some of the finest wines of the Century were made
during the next 30 years.
Tokaj Kereskedőház Rt, the company now called Crown Estates of Hungary, was established
in 1993 following the return of 600 hectares to private growers
and sale of some 400 hectares of the best Estate vineyards and
cellars to foreign investors between 1989 and 1993. Crown Estates
of Hungary is now the only significant 100% Hungarian owned wine
company in the Tokaj region. |
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| Crown Estates of Hungary was formed in the late 1990s and has
retained 80 hectares of the finest vineyards in the region. These
include three of the best sites in the region - the former Royal
Szarvas vineyard, Király in Mád and Szentvér in Tolcsva. They
are the leading producer of Tokaji Aszú and Szamarodni wines.
In addition to significant investment in restoration and maintenance
of its vineyards, Crown Estates works closely with most of the
growers in the region, many of whom are current or former employees.
The region’s leading buyer of grapes, unlike some of its main
competitors, it does not just buy grapes when Aszú berries are
prevalent. |
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| Crown Estates own the unique and splendid Tokaji Museum Cellars. Regarded as one of Hungary’s National Treasures, the contents
and winemaking practice of the Museum Cellar are a well guarded
secret, and only Crown Estates has access to the stock of these
outstanding antique wines. They also own the Szarvas cellar located at Prince Rákóczi's C17th century mansion in Tarcal.
Crown Estates of Hungary epitomises the traditions and heritage
of the region and has access to wines made by previous generations
of winemakers, going back to the time of the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy. Over the past 400 years successive generations have
protected and preserved these traditions, despite the many changes
that have affected the region.
Although the company is proud of its and the regions traditions,
they are also willing to innovate and develop new products. With
assistance and advice from Angela Muir MW and Liz Robertson MW,
of the Cellarworld consultancy, Crown Estates have invested in
state of the art winemaking equipment, in order to make top quality
dry white wines from Furmint and Hárslevelű grape varieties. With good Aszú wines only made on average three
years in each decade, the region’s future depends on the commercial
success of these young dry wines that carry the famous Tokaji
name. |
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