Curvy badly maintained roads brought us to Tokaj Region. Historically Tokaji was a white wine from the region of Tokaj in the Kingdom of Hungary. Tokaji wine was mentioned as early as 1635 with reference to the sweet dessert aszú (botrytized) wine. Currently, The Tokaj Wine Route with the centers in Malá Tŕňa and Veľká Tŕňa offers ten kinds of wine. We have visited the village of Veľká Tŕňa. The first written sources are from 1220 when the village was mentioned under the name Tolna. In 1512 the whole village was already held by the monastic orders of Veľká Tŕňa. The development of the village was heavily affected by the invasion of the Turks and Crimean Tatars (1566). Although the Turks did not consume wine, soon they realized that it is a very advantageous commercial product. Therefore they support the development of viticulture and forced local people to establish vineyards and spread cellars. The rarity of this wine road is the medieval Tokaj wine cellars carved into the volcanic, so-called tufa rock. The cellars date back from the Turkish wars and to some extent, they were built as a refuge from marauding troops. Some cellars are carved to a depth of 8 – 16 meters. The most visited wine cellars are located in the villages of Malá Tŕňa, Veľká Tŕňa, and Viničky, where besides tasting quality wine you can enjoy also the local gastronomic specialties.
Parking location – Veľká Tŕňa: 48.467877N 21.678531E