Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/961311
{ SOMMjournal.com } 65 ouis XIV of France once de- clared Tokaji Aszú "the wine of kings, the king of wines," so it should come as no surprise that, centuries later, the noble elixir of Hungary has once again assumed its rightful place among the royalty of modern wine culture. Let the trumpets sound in the wine cellars and courts of somme - liers around the world: The SOMM Journal has proclaimed 2018 the "Year of Aszú"! To commemorate the occasion, a group of 85 sommeliers, restaurant owners, wine professionals, media representatives, and other VIPs gathered in February at the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C. for a formal reception hosted by the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. László Szabó. Co-hosted by The SOMM Journal and Vinum Tokaj International, the event also served to launch the second phase of a three-year campaign educating trade professionals and consumers about Hungarian wines with a focus on the Tokaj region, and was unfurled in grand style with informative presentations, Hungarian cuisine, wine tastings, and a scrumptious surprise From left to right: Attila Balla, President of Vinum Tokaj International; Péter Molnár, Ph.D., General Manager at Patricius Winery; Eniko" Magyar, Project Director for Wines of Excellence; Dr. László Szabó, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States; Dr. Ákos Horváth, Agricultural Attaché for the Embassy of Hungary; and Cliff Rames, Contributing Editor-at-Large for The SOMM Journal, convene to launch the "Year of Aszú" campaign at the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C. Guests at the embassy event gather to hear a presentation from Ákos Horváth and Dorottya Mártonffy-Nagy, who serve as the Agricultural Attaché and Economic and Trade Attaché, respectively, at the Embassy of Hungary. l