Origins of Hungarian wine-making

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Of all the languages spoken in Europe today, only two have their own words for wine that are not derived from Latin: Greek and Hungarian. Records carved in a Runic alphabet used by ancient Hungarians (Magyars) are evidence of an early terminology related to wine which entered the language as Turkic loan words. Examples are:

• Szőlő: "grape"
• Bor: "wine"
• Ászok: "cask"
• Áldomás: "blessing", "libation"

This etymology indicates that Hungarians once lived in proximity to peoples who practised viticulture in the Caucasian region where Vitis vinifera first emerged.

In the 5th century AD, contemporary travellers, records, and entries in Byzantine encyclopedias mention the extensive vineyards maintained by Hungarians, and that their two principal drinks were milk and wine.

[edit] See also

• Category:Hungarian wines

[edit] References