{"id":6965,"date":"2025-11-04T15:01:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T14:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.bor.hu\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T15:02:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T14:02:20","slug":"interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"section__news-header\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/decor\/logo-transparent-1.svg\" alt=\"decor\" class=\"ofi-contain-center-center section__news-header__decor\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row\">\n            <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <div class=\"news-header__wrapper\">\n                                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/maslow-0691.jpg\" alt=\"maslow-0691\" class=\"ofi-cover-center-center news-header__thumbnail d-xl-block d-none\">\n\n                        <div class=\"thumbnail__wrapper d-xl-none d-block\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/maslow-0691.jpg\" alt=\"maslow-0691\" class=\"ofi-cover-center-center news-header__thumbnail\">\n                        <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"news-header__content\">\n                                                    <div class=\"news-header__tags\">\n                                                                    <p class=\"badge badge--light d-xl-block d-none\">Portrait<\/p>\n                                    <p class=\"badge d-xl-none d-block\">Portrait<\/p>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <h3 class=\"news-header__title\">Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine<\/h3>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"news-header__meta\">\n                                                                    <p class=\"body-2 news-header__meta__date\"><strong> 2024. March 1.<\/strong><\/p>\n                                \n                                                                    <p class=\"body-2 news-header__meta__author\">\u00c1d\u00e1m Geri \/ Translated by Sue Tolson DipWSET<\/p>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"d-xl-block d-none\">\n                                <div class=\"social-share__wrapper is_ligth\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/facebook-light.svg\" alt=\"\">\n    <\/a>\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/x-light.svg\" alt=\"\">\n    <\/a>\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/copy-light.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"js-copy-link cursor-pointer\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\">\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n                            <div class=\"d-xl-none d-block\">\n                                <div class=\"social-share__wrapper \">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/facebook.svg\" alt=\"\">\n    <\/a>\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/x.svg\" alt=\"\">\n    <\/a>\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-theme-bor\/assets\/images\/icons\/copy.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"js-copy-link cursor-pointer\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\">\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section__article-body\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n            <div class=\"col-xl-6 col-12\">\n                <div class=\"article-body__wrapper\">\n                    <div class=\"text__wrapper\">\n    <p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/bor.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/maslow-0804.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you come up with the idea of writing your MW Research Paper about Tokaj?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have been a devoted ambassador to the great terroir of Tokaj since my first visit to the region in 2001. I believed I possessed a reasonable knowledge of Tokaj, so it was only natural to look for a topic that would put it in the limelight. After negotiating several specific topics, I settled on the fascinating issue of vineyard classification.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your title was: &#8220;Towards a Tokaj classification. Applying the Austrian Erste Lagen approach to Hungary&#8221; Why do you think lack of classification is one of the most important areas where Tokaj has not yet made a real breakthrough?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That&rsquo;s maybe an overstatement, but I do believe Tokaj, with its unparalleled history of vineyard assessment and classification going back to the 17th century (The R&aacute;koczy princes established an informal vineyard survey and assessment system 100 years before B&eacute;l!), is in a privileged position to channel the current interest in single vineyard wines, which are, for the most part, dry wines. It also offers a good opportunity for Tokaj to premiumise itself as a wine-producing region, with a new focus on high-quality wines originating from specific terroirs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/media\/uploads\/2024\/h%C3%ADrek\/bonkowski_interj%C3%BA\/tokaji_sz%C5%91l%C5%91%C3%BCltetv%C3%A9ny_4.jpg?1709371418268\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What was the outcome of your RP? Do you think we could apply something similar&nbsp;to the Erste Lagen classification? If so, what should the first steps be? If not, why not?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Part of my research consisted of probing Tokaj vintners&rsquo; (wine producers&rsquo;) interest in a potential classification. Roughly a third of the region&rsquo;s producers answered my questionnaire and a clear majority was in favour. The Austrian &Ouml;TW classification (which is in the course of becoming national law, as only the second country after France to legalise an official vineyard classification) offers a very handy template to apply to other regions thanks to its structured, logical, interpersonal approach. With a little effort to include Tokaj&rsquo;s regional context, it could be readily applied in the region. However, there are also several other&nbsp;systems, and a mixture of these could be considered in order to create a unique, modern Tokaj classification. This certainly requires a group of vintners to agree on principles and procedures before drawing up a roadmap and kicking things off, as classifications need time. But there is no reason why Tokaj should not consider a new approach: many regions such as the Loire, Chianti Classico, Soave, Etna, Cava and Germany have recently implemented various types of classifications.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/media\/uploads\/2024\/h%C3%ADrek\/bonkowski_interj%C3%BA\/maslow-0766.jpg?1709371525907\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are Tokaj&rsquo;s weaknesses and what are its strengths?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tokaj has many strengths: its unique terroir and climate, its unmatched historical heritage, the current quality of wines and a strong community of educated, forward-thinking local producers. This gives me hope that Tokaj can regroup and reinvent itself in what is undoubtedly a challenging market environment for a historical sweet wine-producing region. In terms of weaknesses, I would highlight a lack of long-term vision and strategy, a lack of cooperation between the various local institutions, both public and private, and perhaps a general isolation from global trends and tendencies. Arguing that Tokaj can continue producing hundreds of thousands of bottles of expensive sweet wines when markets clearly aren&rsquo;t interested, and there is a readily available remedy in the form of excellent dry wines, seems extremely naive.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/media\/uploads\/2024\/h%C3%ADrek\/bonkowski_interj%C3%BA\/h%C3%A9tsz%C5%91l%C5%91_borok.jpg?1709371553500\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dry wine, sweet wine, Asz&uacute; wine and sparkling wine are all produced in Tokaj. Which do you think should\/could be the main product in terms of profitability?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sweet wine is on the decline in almost every market around the world and the fundamental reasons behind this trend suggest it will continue for years. Asz&uacute; wines should continue to be produced in small quantities as the region&rsquo;s business card and bragging right. But a winemaking region of 5,000 hectares can only be sustainable on today&rsquo;s competitive market with dry wines, and it is time the entire Tokaj community realised and implemented this. Sparkling wines are an interesting innovation, but I do not see them becoming the region&rsquo;s main offering for a combination of factors: yield, grape varieties, economic sustainability and stylistic definition. Dry Furmint is a great product to push as Tokaj&rsquo;s signature wine, with sparkling wines and&nbsp;Asz&uacute; playing a supporting role.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"borborder\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>For visitors of ProWein D&uuml;sseldorf 2024: join our masterclasses led by Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dusseldorf.hungaryatprowein.com\/masterclasses\/an-erupting-trend-volcanic-wines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AN ERUPTING TREND: VOLCANIC WINES<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dusseldorf.hungaryatprowein.com\/masterclasses\/the-outstanding-central-eastern-european-variety-kekfrankos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">THE OUTSTANDING CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPEAN VARIETY: K&Eacute;KFRANKOS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/media\/uploads\/2024\/h%C3%ADrek\/bonkowski_interj%C3%BA\/tokaj_dry_2017_medium.jpg?1709371593667\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:45px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section__news-list\" style=\"background-color: #f3f4f8;\">\n\n    \n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row\">\n            <div class=\"col-12\">\n\n                                    <h4 class=\"section-title\">Olvasd el ezeket is!<\/h4>\n                \n                <div\n                    class=\"news-list__wrapper js-news-container\"\n                    data-limit=3                    data-order=DESC>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":6674,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6965","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magyar Bor\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/magyarborfacebook\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-04T14:02:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"979\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"979\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\",\"name\":\"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-04T14:01:23+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-04T14:02:20+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Kezd\u0151lap\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Magazine\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Magyar Bor\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Magyar Bor\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png\",\"width\":979,\"height\":979,\"caption\":\"Magyar Bor\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/magyarborfacebook\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magyarbor\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/winesofhungary\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor","og_url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/","og_site_name":"Magyar Bor","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/magyarborfacebook\/","article_modified_time":"2025-11-04T14:02:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":979,"height":979,"url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/","url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/","name":"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine - Magyar Bor","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-11-04T14:01:23+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-04T14:02:20+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/interview-with-wojciech-bonkowski-master-of-wine\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Kezd\u0151lap","item":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Magazine","item":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Interview with Wojciech Bo\u0144kowski Master of Wine"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/","name":"Magyar Bor","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#organization","name":"Magyar Bor","url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mb_logo-05.png","width":979,"height":979,"caption":"Magyar Bor"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/magyarborfacebook\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magyarbor\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/winesofhungary\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6965"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6969,"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6965\/revisions\/6969"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bor.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}