Let That Idea "Furmint" A While With You!

If you have ever had the pleasure of tasting a Tokaj wine you probably have not forgotten it. Made in the similar method as a Sauterne wine...utilizing the effect of Botrytis cinerea on the Furmint grapes produces the wonderful Tokaj flavors. It is a fabulous sweet wine usually reserved for consumption with dessert or consumed as an after dinner wine.

Yesterday I received another (excellent) copy of The SOMM Journal (thank you Meredith May), the February/March 2017 issue. On the front cover the lead article is "Declaring 2017 The Year of Furmint".

A group of 15 Americans (many sommeliers) were invited to the Mád villages in the Tokaj region. Not surprising this group discovered that many of the leading winemakers from this area have been experimenting and producing a dry version of the Furmint grape with outstanding results.

Searching online in my state of Virginia (where over 8 million people live) only one wine shop carries a dry style Furmint wine ($16.99 retail) but it is 130 miles (200 km) from where I live. Really?

The world of wine is changing dramatically as winemakers begin to experiment in so many different ways...different styles...some with grapes that few have ever heard of...yet our 80+ year 3-tier system fails those of us who want to try and tastes these gems. Wine lovers and "explorers" unite!

The future for wine lovers has to change...it has to be different...new sales channels are slowly emerging and are just waiting for the right business model to be developed! 

https://digital.copcomm.com/i/780573-february-march-2017/60