Furmint

Did You Know?

• Furmint buds early in the growing season, making it susceptible to springtime frosts.
• The grape has a high tolerance for drought conditions.
• Dry Furmint wines are characterized by aroma notes of smoke, pears and lime.

History

Furmint has been cultivated in the Tokaji region of north-eastern Hungary since at least the late 16th century, with a document from May 15, 1571 describing it in the Hétszőlő vineyard in Tokaj. By 1611, it was noted in the Gyepű Valley of the Zemplén Mountains near Erdőbénye. Its use in Tokaji dessert wine was well established by the late 18th century; in 1796, Hungarian politician János Dercsényi called Furmint the "genuine Tokaji Aszú" grape. Early 21st-century DNA analysis confirmed a parent-offspring relationship with Gouais blanc, and ampelographers believe Furmint is likely the offspring of Gouais blanc. DNA analysis also suggests parent-offspring relationships with Hárslevelű and Plantscher, with Furmint likely being the parent of both. Over centuries, Furmint has produced many clones, including a pink-skinned mutation called Piros Furmint, nearly all found exclusively in Tokaji, leading ampelographers to believe the grape originated there. Other theories suggest it was introduced to the Austro-Hungarian area in the Middle Ages, possibly during the reign of King Béla IV after the Mongolian invasion.

Relationship to other grapes

DNA profiling at the University of Zagreb indicates Furmint likely has a parent-offspring relationship with Gouais blanc, making it a half-sibling to nearly 80 grape varieties. Furmint has been confirmed as the same grape as the Croatian white variety Moslavac. Only two known natural crossings exist: Hárslevelű and Plantscher. In 1937, Furmint was crossed with Malvazija Istarska to create Vega, and it has also been used to create Bussanello (with Riesling Italico), Fubiano (with Trebbiano), and Oremus/Zéta (with Bouvier). Furmint shares many synonyms with other European varieties, such as Sauvignon vert, which was once known as Tocai Friulano, and Sauvignon vert is itself a synonym for the green berry sub-variety of Furmint. The grape has morphological similarities to Altesse and has been historically confused with it, and in Hungary it is sometimes confused with Kéknyelű, while in Croatia it has been confused with Pošip. Grasă de Cotnari and Žilavka also share several synonyms with Furmint.

Wine regions

In 2006, Hungary had 4006 ha of Furmint, over 97% in Tokaj-Hegyalja, with the rest in Somló. In Tokaj, it is often blended with Hárslevelű and Sárga Muskotály for Tokaji dessert wine. Around Mád, Tállya, Rátka and Tolcsva, it has a long history of dry wine production; dry Furmint gained international attention with the Úrágya 2000 single vineyard selection by István Szepsy. Mád village, with nearly 1200 ha, produces commune-level dry Furmint expressing volcanic terroir. Outside Hungary, it is planted in Crimea, the Swartland region of South Africa, and Austria, where it is found in Burgenland (known as Zapfner) and Styria (Mosler). In Burgenland, Furmint was historically used for Ausbruch dessert wine and has been rediscovered in the 21st century; in 2010, Austria had 9 ha, mostly around Rust. In Slovakia, Furmint is used for sweet wines in the Tokaj region covering towns in the Trebišov District.

Synonyms

Furmint has been known under many synonyms, including Allgemeiner, Arany Furmint, Bieli Moslavac, Csapfner, Edler weisser Furmint, Féher Furmint, Formint, Furmint bianco, Furmint Féher, Gelber Moster, Goher Féher, Grasă de Cotnari, Keknyelü, Kiraly Furmint, Lazafürtű Furmint, Mainak, Malvasia verde, Malvoisie verte, Moslavac, Mosler, Moslovac, Nemes Furmint, Pošip, Sauvignon Vert, Šipon, Som, Tokay, Tokayer, Zapfner, Zilavka, and Zopfner.