Description
Királyleányka is a white wine grape from the Carpathian Basin, probably from Transylvania, and most likely a natural cross of Kövérszőlő and Leányka. It has been planted in Hungary since the 1970s, when it was state-approved, first around Balatonboglár, which is still its main district, and now in smaller plots in many other wine regions. It is often equated with Romania's Fetească Regală, but English-language sources and wine statistics treat the two as separate varieties. Its wines are light and fresh, with a discreet grape-blossom perfume, and are often used in blends.
Characteristics
White wine grape; small, short, compact, conical and shouldered bunches of about 100 g; small, round, greenish-white berries with little bloom; thin skin; soft, juicy flesh with a mild flavour; ripens late September to early October; vigorous; productive and early-bearing; quality sensitive to vintage and harvest timing; prone to rot; susceptible to downy and powdery mildew
Growing Tips
Királyleányka bears early and sets fruit well, but its small, tight, thin-skinned bunches rot easily, and it is susceptible to both downy and powdery mildew. Plan a regular spray routine and plenty of summer canopy work to keep the bunch zone airy. It is slightly sensitive to drought, and its quality varies with the vintage, so pick as soon as the grapes taste ripe.