Tokaji Aszu was the world's first great sweet wine. In 1700 Prince Rakoczi of Transylvania classified the best vineyards into 1st, 2nd or 3rd Growth. Quality production ended with Soviet pressure to increase yields to produce commercial wines for export within the Iron Curtain. Vineyard distinctions were lost. The renaissance of Tokaji began with The Royal Tokaji Wine Company in 1989, inspired by the renowned author, Hugh Johnson, among others. The Tokaji region lies 200kms north east of Budapest, around the town of Mád, on the same latitude as the Loire, however as the country is land-locked, the climate is more extreme.
