Irsai Oliver

White, registered in 1975; 395 ha; 2.1 % of the vineyard plantings

Grape variety was created in town of Kecskemét in Hungary by Pál Kocsis in 1930 by crossing two regional table grape varieties - Bratislavské biele (Pozsonyi, White of Bratislava) with Čabianska perla (Csaba Gyöngye, Pearl of Csaba - crossing of Madeleine Angevine x Muscat Courtillier  by Adolf Stark in Békéscsaba – Hungary - 1904). Kocsis sold the first wine made from the grapes to a wine merchant called Oliver Irsai. Variety was spread in the region quite quickly, first rootstocks reached Czechoslovakia in 1936, however it became more popular later in the sixties and seventies.

Wines are quite aromatic, one of the first on the market every year since the variety is extremely early ripening. Easy drinking and joyful wine with light golden colour, aromatic muscat nose, pure grape taste and spiciness on the palate, good lower refreshing acidity levels with light body. Suggested to be enjoyed young, usually within the first year.

Quality akostné odrodové víno is produced, in suché (dry) to polosuché (semi – dry) styles, rarely as entry attribute level kabinetné (Kabinett). Variety is also used in sweet aromatic sparkling wines.

See also

Cserszegi Fűszeres