Kunleány

This hybrid was created by István Tamássy and István Koleda at the Szigetcsép site of the University of Horticulture (now Szent István University) in 1960. It is a cross between a vitis amurensis variety (Amúri), a vitis vinifera variety and Afus Ali. The latter is a Lebanese table grape.

The origin of its name is uncertain, with some sources claiming that the tower of the Roman Catholic Church in Kunszentmárton was called Kunleány. The variety was authorised by the state in 1975.

It is only found in Hungary. There were 1,500 hectares under cultivation in the late 1990s, while there are now 840 hectares, primarily in the Danube region. Of this, 745 hectares are in the Kunság wine district. It is widely planted due to its outstanding frost tolerance, while its high acidity means that it is often produced for sparkling base wines or may also provide structure to blends.

It yields light, fresh crisp white wines and is a relatively neutral variety, generally characterised by notes of citrus and apple. Besides its light body and low alcohol, its neutrality is its dominant feature. It is popular in blends and as a sparkling base wine thanks to its high acidity.