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{ SOMMjournal.com } 105 With a history of wine production that dates back hundreds of years, Hungary's Tokaj region now aims to rebrand its wine reputation—nay, add to its repu - tation—by proving to the wine world it's capable of producing dry white wines from the native Furmint grape as well. hile the rape, alon with rsleel and ra Muskotály, has been renowned for its ability to develop Botr ytis cinerea—leading to luscious, sweet desser t wines—the variety shows complex aromas indicative of individual vineyard sites if picked prior to the development of noble rot, or by intentionally avoiding the disease. Istn zepsy r., ineaer for ad ine and zent Tamás Winery, passionately attributed the different site expressions to the terroir of Tokaj. The area consists of more than 400 volcanoes in its basin, and the com - bination of the volcanic soil and the high mineral clay content is what defines the dry urint epressions. The vast majority of Tokaj's bedrock is rhyolite. The clay inerals include zeolite, bentonite and aolin- ite and are extremely porous. The vines are able to penetrate the soil and di deep in order to find the scarce water, consequently absorbing the clay minerals as well. The soil composition naturally controls yields, ain lare production difficult as the roots constantly search deeper and draw energy away from the grapes. Elevation plays a major role, too, with most vineyards lying between 150–400 meters (500–1,300 feet.) MÁD 2015 Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary The MÁD label produces its aship urint, as well as rsleel and ate arest, fro 2 ineyards near the village of Mád. The wine is 100% Furmint and ferments in stainless steel in order to retain freshness— serving as a spectacular introduction to a dry version of the interesting grape. Szent Tamás 2013 Szent Tamás Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary Istn zepsy r. founded zent Tas inery with partners in 200 they currently own 2 hectares 2 acres in the reion surroundin the village of Mád and produce single-vineyard wines of dry urint as well as zaorodni and sz wines. They show pride in demonstrating the different per - sonalities of Furmint from individual sites. The winery produces the sinle ineyards of zent Tas yulsz, ercze, and rya, as well as its naesae zent Tas zent Tas fro the illae of d and zent Tas on fro the illae of Tllya. István Szepsy Jr. is the 18th-generation wine- maker of MÁD Furmint in Tokaj, Hungary. The wine is imported to the U.S. by Vinum Tokaj International and distributed exclusively by Southern Glazer's. MÁD Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary