Erzsébet Winery produces around 12,000 bottles annually, exclusively from the region’s best, historic vineyards classified in the 18th century by Mátyás Bél as first and second class, recognised for their outstanding soils. The winery is run by four members of the Prácser family – Miklós, Erzsébet, Miklós Jr and Hajnalka – who share the responsibilities for its operation. They take pride in their single-vineyard dry wines – from the Zafír, Betsek and Király vineyards – and are dedicated to making their aszú wines only in the finest vintages. Every wine is produced in limited quantities from sustainably cultivated vineyards. The winery has been advised by American wine expert Ronn Wiegand MW, MS since 2009.

Category-winner wine: Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2017

This 6 puttonyos aszú wine comes from the historic Király vineyard in Mád, with both the aszú berries and the base wine sourced from Erzsébet Winery’s furmint parcels. The combination of the outstanding rhyolite-tuff terroir and one of the decade’s finest vintages has yielded a wine of remarkable complexity, harmony, unparalleled ageing potential and intensity of aroma and flavour: peach jam, honey, pineapple, strawberry and raspberry preserve. The 24-month ageing in new oak barrels was followed by additional years of maturing in bottle. This aszú pairs boldly with a wide range of dishes, excelling with blue and aged hard cheeses, pâtés, and even classic Hungarian desserts such as zserbó and poppy-seed bejgli.