The character

Hárslevelű (pronounced roughly ‘HARSH-leh-vel-oo’, meaning ‘linden leaf’) is the second great white grape of Hungary’s Tokaj region after Furmint. The variety is more aromatic and softer-acid than Furmint, with notes of linden flower, honey, white peach, and pear. In sweet Tokaji Aszú it adds aromatic lift and complexity; as a dry varietal wine it produces softer, more immediately approachable whites than dry Furmint.

Where it grows best

Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary: the spiritual home, alongside Furmint. The variety is also grown in smaller amounts in other Hungarian regions and in Slovakia’s Tokaj zone. Tiny plantings elsewhere in Central Europe.

How it tastes

As a dry wine: linden flower, white peach, pear, beeswax, honey, sometimes a chamomile-tea note. Acid is moderate; alcohol typically 13-14%; texture is medium-bodied. As a partner in Tokaji Aszú: adds aromatic lift to Furmint’s structure, contributing floral and stone-fruit complexity to the sweet-wine blend.

How it ages

Top dry Hárslevelű ages ten to fifteen years and develops a more honeyed, beeswax tertiary complexity. As a partner in Tokaji Aszú and Eszencia, the variety contributes to wines that age fifty-plus.

What to pair with

Dry: roast chicken, soft cheeses, pork dishes, mushroom risotto. Sweet (Tokaji Aszú): foie gras, blue cheese, fruit desserts.