Have you ever had Bulls Blood? If there was a day to try, it’s undoubtedly October 31st, the Halloween day in America!
Everyone heard of the most famous villain of all time Count Dracula from Transylvania. But have you heard of Hungarian wine called Bulls Blood?
While Dracula is a movie character loosely based on the historical figure – Moldavian king Vlad the Impaler, Bulls Blood wine is authentic. You can still taste it now, centuries later.
Bulls Blood Story
The legend behind Egri Bikavér (bull’s blood of Eger) wine dates to the 1500s. When the sizeable Ottoman army (Turks) besieged the fortress of Eger, which belonged to Magyars (ancestors of modern Hungarians), everyone was called to the defense. Men, women, and even children fought fiercely, drinking a massive amount of red wine in the process.
According to the story, Turks retreated when they were met with the ferocious defense by a small number of Magyar’s fighters with red-stained faces. Turks feared that Magyars attained crazy mad fighting skills by drinking bull’s blood. Oh, so the legend goes.
In the Bottle
Produced following centuries-old tradition, Egri Bikavér is still a blend of noble and indigenous varietals, aged up to two years in oak barrels in volcanic stone cellars. Officially Egri Bikavér must contain at least three of the following thirteen grape varietals: Kadarka, Kekfrankos, Kekoporto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Kekmedoc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Turan, Biborkadarka, and the modern Austrian hybrids, Blauburger and Zweigelt. The best blends will contain at least five kinds.
The fierceness, however, has been tempered. Today’s wine is a delicious, elegant, and robust dry red. It pairs well with bold foods such as game, roasts, steaks, and all types of red meat dishes.
Try it with dark chocolate or Twizzlers too.