Egri Bikavér
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- "Bull's Blood" redirects here. For the senior-year secret society at Rutgers University, see Order of the Bull's Blood.
Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood from Eger) is one of the most reputed and traditional Hungarian wines besides the Tokaji wines. It comes from the Eger wine region in northern Hungary and could be described as a Hungarian Burgundy. As per regulations it is a blend of at least three of the following grapes: Kadarka, Kékfrankos, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Kékoportó, Cabernet Franc, Blauburger, Zweigelt, Kékmedoc, Syrah or Pinot Noir; with either of the first two forming the base (~40%) that defines the unique character and color of the blend. A good quality Egri Bikavér requires two or three years of aging. The wine is usually recommended with game, beef, or other spicy food, and served at 16-18°C. The Szekszárd wine region also produces a Bikavér type wine.
[edit] History
The name (in English, "Bull's Blood of Eger"), originates from the battles against the Turkish armies around 1552, according to legend. "To motivate and support the small group of soldiers during the Siege of Eger castle they were served delicious food and a lot of red wine. Among the Turkish soldiers it was rumored that bull's blood was mixed into the red wine, as otherwise the strength and firm resistance of the town and castle of Eger could not be explained. Finally the enemy gave up." At the time, local blends of red wine were composed solely of Kadarka and its varieties until the second half of the 19th century when Kékfrankos, Oporto, Kékmedoc and even Cabernet and Merlot varieties were introduced and according to one theory the term Bikavér was coined by poet János Garay in 1846. At the time vineyards often contained a mixed selection of grapes which were processed together to make Bikavér. Towards the end of the 19th century different grape varieties, namely Kadarka, Kékfrankos, Oporto, and Médoc Noir, were beginning to be processed separately and then blended to produce Bikavér. Rarely were Cabernet or Merlot used.
In the 1960s, following agricultural reforms, Médoc and Kadarka were largely replaced by the easy to tend Zweigelt, possibly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Due to increased demand and production in the framework of socialist state-run agriculture, mass-production techniques saw the quality of Bikavér suffer throughout the 1970s and 1980s, becoming lighter in color and characterized as more acidic, fruity, and undeveloped. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Kadarka was being replanted, and blended with the by now widespread Cabernet, Merlot, Blauburger grapes. Consequently, a more traditional, dark ruby-colored and higher quality Egri Bikavér began to emerge by the mid-90s, and is still emerging. Unlike Tokaji wines, which were also hit hard by Communism but are now of relatively uniform quality, the difference between the best quality Bikavér and the cheap mass-market variants is immense, although price is a fairly good indicator of quality.
[edit] External links
- http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Archives/Show_Article/0,1275,3037,00.html Wine Spectator - The Revival of Hungary's Bull's Blood]
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regionals: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries • Winemaking | |
