In Wine there is Friendship
Sister Cities: Tokaj, Hungary and Sonoma, California
It is hardly an accident of history that Tokaj, Hungary and Sonoma, California became close friends and sister cities. In the world of viticulture, Tokaj and Sonoma could be likened to the perfect pairing — a full-bodied, well-balanced red matched with Hungarian beef stew, or a crisp, aromatic white served with Chilean Sea Bass.
Sonoma and Tokaj are two of the world’s most recognizable names for wine-lovers. Sonoma boasts more than 400 wineries and vineyards, while just a few centuries ago the vineyards of Tokaj were the envy of every royal court in Europe. According to legend, King Louis XV of France once called Tokaji Aszú “the wine of kings and the king of wines.”
From Friends to Sister Cities: A Relationship is Born
Kick-started by City Council members from both regions, the journey to become sister cities for Tokaj and Sonoma began with a Hungarian trade and tourism mission that visited Sonoma in November 2011. Shortly thereafter, the Sonoma-Tokaj Sister City Committee was born. Its first meeting was in the cellar of a Buena Vista Winery founded by Ágoston Haraszthy the “Father of Modern Winemaking in California.” Tokaj and Sonoma’s sister city status was made official in 2012.
The Sonoma-Tokaj Sister City Committee regularly hosts cultural events and wine tastings in both countries and continues its successful mission of strengthening cultural linkages through education, partnership-building, and facilitating U.S.-Hungarian economic cooperation.
Hungary’s Tokaji — the Oldest of the Old World
Tokaj, meaning “place of [the] grapevine” in ancient Hungarian (tőkehely), is located in north-eastern Hungary and is one of the country’s seven official wine regions, which consist of a total of 28 villages. The mesmerizingly intricate pattern of the region’s vineyards, farms, villages, and small towns, along with their historic networks of deep wine cellars illustrate the ancient history of winemaking that still runs deep through Tokaj.
Nestled at the base of the Zemplén Mountains, Tokaj’s micro climate and its unique soil composition — volcanic in origin — gives its wines a distinctive taste unparalleled worldwide. None, however, is more famous than the prized dessert wine Tokaji Aszú. Tokaj was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 for its contributions to global viticulture, under the name Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape.
Sonoma: Old World Meets New World
Sonoma, California lies on the other side of the world, a short trek from San Francisco. Although not officially incorporated as a city until 1883, Sonoma’s citizenry have been in the winemaking business for much longer. One afternoon of tastings is more than ample even for the novice to grasp the sheer gravitas and quality of Sonoma’s rich reds and fine whites.
Sonoma’s association with fine wines actually dates back to the 1850’s when Mission San Francisco Solano began growing grapes. Sonoma is the birthplace of wine-making in California and boasts more than 400 wineries in Sonoma County.
Before you visit, just a word of advice and warning: one day in Sonoma’s vineyards is ample time for anyone, particularly wine aficionados, to develop a deep infatuation with Sonoma’s wines.
This story is part of the #SisterCitySunday series on Medium. Each Sunday from October 2, 2016 to May 7, 2017, new stories from the 28 European Union Member States will be published. Stories will also be shared on social media using #SisterCitySunday.
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