Region of Tokaj and us
Region of Tokaj is geographically closed area of winemaking and viticulture in basin of river Bodrog. It is defined by Zemplín Mountains, specifically the peak Rozhľadňa (Lookout) 469m in the north and confluence of two rivers, Tisa and Bodrog, in the south. This area is historical and territorial part of vast region of Tokaj, which has its major part spread in Hungary cca 5 000ha) in comparison with Slovakia, where only 907 ha are determined by law. Although it is the smallest viticultural territory, it is also one of the most specific and unique areas within the country. Only here you can find stony hillsides of an old volcano, which is warmed up by a lovely warm breeze from Hungarian puszta and only here you can find a noble rot Botrytis Cinerea, the base of Tokaj selections. Our tufaceous wine cellars are protected by oak barrels, in which the wine rouds and gains bread taste. The soil, sun and people – this is our Tokaj, which we tap from our barrels and export worldwide…
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Jaro Ostrožovič
I started making wine between 1980 and 1985 in front of my parents´ house only on a little mill and press. However, I had been studying Highschool of Viticulture and Gardening in Modra, which is about 400 km far from my hometown Slovenské Nové Mesto, so I had to give orders to my parents from distance, which wine has to be sulphurated and which one has to be tapped… Always when I had arrived home once in three weeks, most of the time I spent in wine cellar. Later on, my parents wanted to give me a motorcycle or watch as a gift for successful ending of the school. But I pleased them to buy me a small vineyard in Tokaj region. Then I processed my first grape harvest. For the money I had made I bought few new barrels and left home to begin my university studies in Morava. From my studies at Faculty of Agronomy in Lednice (department of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno) I had brought except new skills and knowledge also my wife – a Moravian, who was not afraid to leave her home country behind and go with me 400 km far away from her birthplace. Then, in 1990, after the change of political conditions and birth of our son, we set up a private company. We had nothing but five wine barrels and huge enthusiasm to work. After many sleepless nights of planning and physical work we finally achieved a small wine cellar. Later on we could afford a bigger one, a storeroom and finally we settled down in the heart of Tokaj, the village Veľká Tŕňa. We have slowly built an area and today you can find there a reconstructed production hall, device centre, storehouse and Tokaj house with a new wine cellar.
Jarka Ostrožovičová
I never dreamt that I would work with something else than gardening and flowers. When in 1985 my mother company sent me at Faculty of Agronomy in Lednice to study beside my work, my colleagues made jokes about me, that I will marry a wine-maker. Of course I did not believe them, but they were right. Today, I live here, cut by borderline from my home, but still very happy. It is a beautiful country, where sun is not covered with a crust of smog. Every day the sun rises, goes higher and higher up to the sky, from where with pride observes how under his merit a new day begins. Thanks to him can be born that, what made this region so famous. Here ripe grapes, from which the Wine of Kings and King of Wines is made. Wine which already in 17th century drank Luis XIV and his court. Its name is Tokaj. The aroma of this wine is well-known to me. I smell and admire it every day. It cannot be replaced by anything else. There is a cool spring air and hot summer sun, mountains, which are in the surrounding and do not let rain to come closer. Wine has for everyone a different meaning. For someone it is fun, for someone truth and for someone source of income. But one thing is for sure. A good wine cannot be made without love. And the one who makes it for money cannot be truly happy. The wine made with their hands cannot give that warm feeling, cannot open any heart or soul. To say it shortly, wine wants and needs the whole human being. I know it. My husmand makes Tojkaj wines and so do I.