The Gönc Apricot Pálinka, the characteristic drink of the Gönc region, is made of apricot. If, however, we want to be more precise, it is to be noted that in most cases this mainly refers to Hungarian “kajszi” (apricot), but this can be added with other authorised varieties such as the Hungarian kajszi of Gönc, the crimson kajszi of Cegléd or Pannónia.
The basic material used for production
The geographically protected Gönc Apricot Pálinka is made in what is called the Gönc production region. The idea of geographical protection is that a certain product can only be made in a specified area where the natural circumstances are excellent and historical experience is also available.
This means that not only the basic material is produced here, but the product is also distilled and bottled on the spot. This region covers exactly 45 settlements, including Gönc, Vizsoly, Boldogkőváralja, Tállya and Szerencs.
The basic material of the apricot pálinka with the protected geographical indication “Gönci” is apricot, one of the characteristic fruits of the Gönc region. The primary variety, is the Hungarian kajszi, but other authorised varieties, such as the Hungarian kajszi of Gönc and the crimson kajszi of Cegléd and Pannónia are also grown here.
The basic material must be of the same species, and has to be properly ripe, free from rotten parts and foreign materials. The lot may not contain unripe, mildewy or rotten fruits. The special character and the excellent quality of Gönc Apricot Pálinka are jointly guaranteed by the climatic conditions, the favourable raw material supply, the protected traditions and the strict adherence to technology.
Relationship between the pálinka and the geographical environment
The favourable ecological factors of growing are also of great importance in addition to the excellent quality of the Hungarian apricot type grown in and around Gönc.
It is to be known about the natural features of the region that the deep dormant period of the area is short, and the temperature fluctuation at the end of the winter is low. This means that fruit trees are not endangered by freezing at winter, and the early spring is also relatively safe. On average, there are 1800-1900 hours of sunshine and 500-600 mm of rain every year.
The Hungarian kajszi (apricot) gained reputation in Europe as early as in the 16th century. The name „kajszi-baraczk” first appeared in 1667, in the work of János Lippay, following other names of apricot types. The second half of the 19th century was already the real upswing period for Hungarian apricot. Similarly to Gönc and its environment, this was also helped by several economic factors that had a general impact. Local fruit cultures improved everywhere due to the development of the agriculture and the peasantry as well as by the strengthening market.
Historical intertwining is not surprising since the region of the Gönc Apricot Pálinka is close to the Tokaj wine-growing area. Phylloxera (grape-louse) spread all over Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century, destroying most of the highland vineyards, considerably helping the development of other types of orchard as diverse types of fruit trees were planted in place of the destroyed vineyards, and fruit trees were given ground on the hilly slopes.
It was first mentioned by János Korponay in 1871 that Gönc and its environs were famous for apricot, which was produced in a “nice quantity” at that time. But apricot production was given a real boost from the 1880-90s. In the 1890s, it was mainly a fruit grown in gardens around homes in Hungary. In 1895, there were only 1272 apricot trees out of 17,597 fruit trees in Gönc.
Fruit production practically replaced viticulture after the phylloxera in the whole of Abaúj county. This was the period when the regional Gönc apricot – that has the largest fruits in Hungary – was selected and introduced as a result of conscious cultivation and rural nursery gardens.
The Gönc apricot became a known brand in the 1950s and 1960s, and from the 1970s it became even more popular primarily as a result of the higher production and trading in pálinka made from it. The Gönc apricot was given the first recognition in Hungary in 1976, and the Gönc Apricot Pálinka received special protected geographical indication in 2002, bringing it into the line of eight Hungarian pálinka products with protected designation of origin.
The Hungarian apricot-growing regions have also been rearranged over the past few years, since production has shifted from the Kecskemét environs to the Abaúj area. Hungarian statistics register a total of 5000 hectares of apricot farms, and the Gönc region represents 40% of the nationwide output.
