Some of the world’s greatest sweet wines were first created by accident.
In the early 17th century, Hungary’s Tokaj region was braced for invasion by the Ottoman army. Legend has it that landowners were unable to send pickers into the vineyards at harvest time. When they did eventually bring in the crop, their grapes were shrivelled with rot. Fortunately they persevered and aszu was born.
Over a century later, in 1775, Rheingau estate Schloss Johannisberg waited impatiently for permission to harvest from the prince bishop of Fulda. The rider bearing the message was delayed and the happy result was Spätlese, or “late harvest”.
