In 1632, Aurora Formentini, a countess from northern Italy, married Baron Adam Batthyany in Hungary.
This is how Tokaj came to Hungary, as her dowry included, among other things, a few wagonloads of Furmint grapevines, which later became known as (Hungarian) Tokaj.
That is the story from a northern Italian perspective.
So, back in the day, Italians and Hungarians drank their Tokaj wine peacefully without a second thought, until the matter ended up in court (trademark rights in the EU, market share, money, and all that...).
Back then, it was a real stir in the northern Italian winegrowing community, as Hungarian Tokaj was decried as a lousy fizzy wine that caused terrible headaches the morning after - and in general.
Italy lost the case. Since then, people have continued to drink Tokaj peacefully in Hungary and Tocai italico or Tocai friulano in Italy.
Whatever the truth may be in this trademark dispute - it does nothing to detract from the quality of the vine or the deliciousness of the Tocai.
Tocai
Friulano / Italico
It's a delicious wine with a slightly bitter note that locals in Friuli and Veneto love. You can find it in practically every bar, even as vino sfuso (drawn from the barrel, so to speak).
If you'd like to try Tocai Italico, stop by any bar in Portogruaro or order Tocai Italico from Salvarolo in the Lison Pramaggiore DOC region (this has always been the wine region of the Serenissima, essentially the wine cellar of the Venetian doges).