Czech wine

Viticulture in the Czech Republic has a tradition that dates back over two thousand years. Since as far back as medieval times, Czech wines have enjoyed a good reputation with people of all classes, not just in the domestic market, but also in Poland, Silesia and the Imperial Court in Vienna. Today Czech wines are among the finest in Europe and are enjoyed all over the world.

Present-day Czech viticulture uses modern and economical technologies, with the aim of “world-best” production. Several awards received by Czech wineries from international competitions are a testament to the industry’s commitment to quality wine production.

Moravian and Bohemian wines are characterised by a broad spectrum of aromas, rich flavours and harmonic balance, with fresh acids predominating in white wines. In recent years, red wines have started making a breakthrough as being full-bodied and distinctive due to the advances of modern wine-making technologies, while at the same time remaining soft and velvety, distinguished by pleasant fruity aromas. Rosé wines are developing a trend for the future – they are beautiful not only in terms of colour, but also their exceptionally youthful character. Wine introduced to the market on Saint Martin’s Day (November 11th), appropriately called “Saint Martin’s wine”, is gaining in popularity. The consumption of burčák (or “stum”, i.e. partially fermented grape juice) is unusual for foreigners, although it is common practice in Czech wine regions during vintage.

In the Czech Republic the area under vine is approx. 18,000 hectares – 96% in Moravia and 4% in Bohemia. Of the whole area under vine, 67% is planted with white varieties.

The most widely planted types are Grüner Veltliner, Müller Thurgau, Saint Laurent, Welschriesling and Blaufränkisch. Each of these varieties occupies more than 1,000 ha, which in total represents half of the Czech vineyards. There are also several domestic newly bred varieties, for example the whites Moravian Muscat and Pálava and blue types André, Cabernet Moravia and Neronet.

The Wine Region of Bohemia  

Bohemian vineyards have always been situated in the warmest areas along the Labe River and the lower part of the Vltava and Ohře rivers in the Central Bohemian Basin and the Bohemian Central Highlands.

The Mělník sub-region

This sub-region includes not only Mělník and its surroundings, but also Kutná Hora, Slaný, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Prague, Karlštejn, Kuks, Liběchov, Loděnice and Vinaře. The sub-region’s major grape varieties include Müller Thurgau, Rhine Riesling, Saint Laurent, Blauer Portugieser and the traditional Pinot Noir.

The Litoměřice sub-region

This sub-region includes Litoměřice, Most, Roudnice, Malé and Velké Žernoseky, Kadaň and the area of Roudnice nad Labem. A major part is located on the dry southern slopes of the Czech Central High- lands. The sub-region’s most popular grape varieties are Müller Thurgau, Rhein Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Blue varieties include mainly Saint Laurent, Blauer Portugieser, Pinot Noir and Zweigeltrebe.

The Wine Region of Moravia

The Znojmo sub-region

The largest wine-growing communes include Vrbovec, Dolní Kounice, Znojmo, Hnanice, Hostěradice, Božice, Miroslav, Pravlov and Jezeřany-Maršovice. The sub-region is acclaimed primarily for its aromatic white wines. White varieties are grown on an area of 2,175 ha – the most prevalent varieties being Grüner Veltliner, Müller Thurgau, Rhein Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Welschreisling. Traminer, Pálava and Moravian Muscat are the main wines with distinct aromas. Blue varieties, grown on 960 ha, include Saint Laurent, Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir and Zweigeltrebe in particular.

The Mikulov sub-region

The climate is very warm and dry. The largest wine communes include Valtice, Novosedly, Mikulov, Dolní Dunajovice, Sedlec, Popice, Brod nad Dyjí, Pavlov and Horní Věstonice. White varieties occupy a significantly larger vineyard area (3,225 ha), with Welschriesling prevailing, traditionally followed by Grüner Veltliner. Both are regularly used as base wines for the production of sparkling wines. Others include Rhein Riesling, Müller Thurgau and Sauvignon Blanc. and Burgundy varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, which produce wines of distinctive taste from this sub-region. Blue varieties are represented mainly by Saint Laurent, Blaufränkisch and Zweigeltrebe. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have been recently tested on a larger scale.

The Velké Pavlovice sub-region

The largest wine commune in the Czech Republic, Velké Bílovice, contains 695 ha of vineyards. Other important communes include Čejkovice, Velké Pavlovice, Kobylí, Hustopeče, Rakvice, Němčičky, Zaječí, Bořetice and Přítluky. This sub-region is the very heart of production of Moravian red wines. Blue varieties are grown on an area of 2,006 ha – the largest of all Moravian wine sub-regions. They include Saint Laurent, Blaufränkisch, Blauer Portugieser, Zweigeltrebe and a relative newcomer, André. White varieties are represented mainly by Grüner Veltliner, Müller Thurgau and, in older vineyards, the traditional grapevine of the Kloubouky area – Neuburger. Other white grapes grown here are Rhine Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Traminer.

The Slovácko sub-region

The climate here is more continental. The southernmost part of the sub-region is the Podluží area, with mostly flatter terrain and wine slopes along a terrain fault at the Kyjovka River. Major wine communes include Mutěnice, Blatnice pod sv. Ant., Hovorany, Prušánky, Bzenec, Moravská Nová Ves, Lipov, Dambořice, Strážnice and Břeclav. Two-thirds of the sub-region’s vineyards bear white varieties, whereas one-third is dedicated to red grapes. The most popular varieties are Müller Thurgau and Rhine Riesling followed by Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling and Chardonnay. Aromatic grapes are represented by Sauvignon and Moravian Muscat. Blaufränkisch, Saint Laurent, Zweigeltrebe, Blauer Portugieser and Cabernet Moravia prevail among the blue varieties.