Hungarian aszú appearing in world literature
Aszú is the most famous wine of the Tokaj Wine Region, Hungary. It used to be known as the wine of kings. Aszú conquered the Western world as early as the 18th Century. Since then, it has been mentioned in several prestigious works of world-literature.
In the 1800s, aszú was the most expensive wine in the whole world. Borászportál collected many famous literary works where the wine of kings appears. Aszú is often praised, described as one of the favourite wines of characters.
Read alsoTokaj wine region and Tokaj Aszú
Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials
His Dark Materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman. The plot follows the coming of age of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes. One of the main characters in the novel, Lord Asriel, is described as a huge fan of Hungarian aszú wine. In fact, he is almost killed by a glass of poisoned aszú, but the glass is knocked out of his hand in the last second.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes
British author, Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes in 1887 when he published A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and more than fifty short stories about Holmes and Dr Watson. In these crime fiction novels, Sherlock Holmes himself is portrayed drinking aszú, which he regards as one of his favourite wines. He is also described to have a glass full of aszú while giving a toast in His Last Bow.
Henrik Ibsen: The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck is a theatrical play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It is considered to be the first modern masterpiece in the genre of tragicomedy. It is known that the aszú of Tokaj was used in medicine for hundreds of years. The Hungarian wine made it into Ibsen’s famous play due to its medicinal properties. All characters seem to agree that aszú is an exceptional medicine and a great wine.
“The Flabby Gentleman.
Don’t you think, Mr Werle, that Tokay may be considered one of the more wholesome sorts of wine?
Werle (by the fire).
I can answer for the Tokay you had today, at any rate; it’s one of the very finest seasons. Of course, you would notice that.
The Flabby Gentleman.
Yes, it had a remarkably delicate flavour.” /Henrik Ibsen
Voltaire praised aszú in his letters
Voltaire (born François-Marie Arouet) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. He is known for his wit and his criticism of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church. He was also an advocate for the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the separation of church and state. Voltaire is known to have praised the Hungarian aszú wine in his letters and notes: “Tokaj brings vigour to the smallest fibre of my brain and revives the enchanting sparkle of wit and good humour.”
Read alsoThe five best and most famous Hungarian wine regions – PHOTOS
Source: www.boraszportal.hu; Wikipedia