Tokaj winemakers could be millions of forints out of pocket after a delay in the bottling process - namely that there are no bottles. By wine law, the world-famous Tokaj Aszú, Eszencia and Szamorodni dessert wines (find out more about them by reading this excellent summary) can only be sold in traditional standardized stumpy half-liter bottles. The problem stems from the glass factory in Orosháza, which, at least according RTL Klub, did not receive orders until very late for the one million bottles needed in Tokaj around this time every year.

Production of more bottles is now underway, but until the new shipment arrives, the wines will have to mature in the barrels a little longer before they hit the shelves of wine shops and supermarkets. According to András Kanczler of winegrower's union Hétszőlő Rt., this causes a problem not just in terms of lost sales, but also because this year's crop of grapes cannot be filled into newly vacated casks. Which would be a disaster because we've heard the '06 harvest promises to be one of the best ever.