Irsai Olivér
Originally Hungarian sort. Pal Kocsis created a new Muscat sort by crossing Csabagyöngye and Pozsonyi Fehér. It remained within the Hungarian borders, real Hungaricum sort. Regions where it grows: Pannonhalma-Sokoróalja, South-Balaton, Mátraalja, Etyek-Buda and Ászár-Neszmély. Initially was planted as a sweetgrape, nowadays it turned to wine giving grape.
Modern cooling controlled winemaking has turned the sort Irsai Olivér into a new aspect. Rich taste and intensive nose of the sweetgrape rolls up with a matchless elegance. Domestic and international successes of our Irsai Olivér achieve higher rating for this sort.
Terroir is a crucial factor at this sort. To grow this sort with having good weather and soil conditions means “no problem” for the vine growers.
Relatively rare leafage, big-sized and loose clusters of grapes, not sensitive against illnesses, ripens early. Great sort, the only flaw in the scheme is that the plantation loses its condition when it is young. After 12-15 years rapid damages characterizes the sort. Yielding fall extremely under the expectations. Vine-growers should be prepared with new plans.
The nyakas team grows 22 hectares of Irsai Olivér planted in 1984, so this part is far too old. The only advantage is the high numbers of stocks per hectare and the GDC structure. Even so yields are 7-9t/ha, which is not that bad. Harvest starts normally on the 20th of August, but it may vary 1-2 weeks depending on the vintage. In order to catch up with the yields we have planted 3 hectares in 2004, but further plantations are also necessary, as the old plantations are obsolete. Fresh and rich wines can be fermented in the northern Regions in Hungary with the cooler climate (Etyek-Buda and Ászár-Neszmély), and especially with the chalky soil.
