Hungary

With a sophisticated appellation system and good claim to have invented the category of noble sweet wine, Hungary is returning to its historical prominence following decades of legal wrangling over the repatriation of land following the fall of the Soviet Union. The Tokaj vineyards at the foot of the volcanic Zemplen hills are increasingly producing rich, uniquely spicy and honied white wines from furmint and harslevelu, while elsewhere you can expect to find rich Bordeaux-style blends based on cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot, as well as lighter, fresher reds from native varieties like kadarka.