Mura

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Within the Zala wine region, the territory of the Mura PDO is limited exclusively to vineyard areas lying within the boundaries of villages situated directly along the Mura river that benefit from the microclimate the river provides.
• The area is the southernmost spur of the Zala Hills, where the left-bank plain of the Mura meets the hills, and the river forms the border between Hungary and Croatia.
• Geologically the area is a relatively recent formation: Quaternary, Pleistocene-age loess was deposited on the sandy-clayey sediments of the Pannonian Sea.
• From the mouth of the Kerka to Molnári, the older and younger terrace systems of the Mura follow the steep southern edge of the Letenye Hills, where river activity has deposited young alluvial fans, predominantly of sand and gravel.
• The dominant surface cover of the catchment area is clay-illuviated (lessivé) soil and brown forest soil.
• In the southwestern lobe stretching from Dobri to Murarátka, sandstone also frequently appears on a base of brown and red earth.
• The south-, southwest- and east-facing hillsides between Lenti and Becsehely have the best exposures, because in the Mura valley cold air has room to spread out, so cold-air drainage from the hills is exceptionally good.
• Thanks to the moderating influence of the Mura river, cold air settles readily in the river valley, which keeps the air humid and fresh.

• The Mura wine types acquire their final character thanks to the know-how of the people who live and work here, applied in the choice of grape varieties, yield control, the timing of the harvest and the maturation of the wines.
• The narrow range of authorised varieties stems from both human and natural factors, as growers have singled out varieties that have proven capable of high quality and have adapted well to the conditions of the growing area.
• Harvesting must be exclusively by hand, which on the one hand follows tradition and on the other ensures gentle handling of the grapes.
• For single-vineyard wines, the vines must be at least 10 years old, which can yield more concentrated wines, because the roots reach deeper and the crop is regulated by the older vines.

• Mura wines stand out for their concentration, aroma and flavour intensity, body and fresh, vibrant acid structure.
• The white wines are generally full-bodied and concentrated, with an oily texture, and often show a slight minerality.
• The Siller (light red) and red wines are full-bodied and intensely flavoured, while the alcohol remains in balance with the acidity throughout, so freshness is preserved.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Hungary

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-HU-02817