Wine in the Czech Republic is produced mainly in southern Moravia, although a few vineyards are located in Bohemia. However, Moravia accounts for around 96% [1] of the country's vineyards, which is why Czech wine is more often referred to as Moravian wine. Production centers on local grape varieties, but there has been an increase in the production of established international strains such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the 2nd Century CE, the Roman 10th Legion based at Vindobona built an extensive outpost near the Amber Road and the Pálava Hills in Mikulovská, near the present-day village of Pasohlávky. Around the year 278, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus annulled the edict of Emperor Domitian that had prohibited the planting of grapes in colonies north of the Alps, and encouraged the planting of new vines in the northern Roman colonies.[ citation needed ] Modern-day archaeological excavations of the ancient Roman outpost near Pasohlávky have yielded many artifacts, including a vine pruning knife. Wine historians theorize that, during the Roman occupation, the Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling grape varieties may have been introduced to the region. [2] Viticulture was practiced during the Great Moravian Empire (833–906), as evidenced by numerous pruning knives and grape seeds unearthed during archaeological excavations of Slavic settlements. [3]
Around 875, according to legend, the Great Moravian Prince Svatopluk sent the Bohemian Prince Bořivoj a barrel of wine to celebrate the birth of his son Spytihněv. Bořivoj's wife Ludmila sacrificed some of the wine to Krosyně (goddess of the harvest) while making a plea for abundant rain. Her wish came true, the crop was saved and Bořivoj and Ludmila planted the first Bohemian vineyards around Mělník. Their grandson Saint Wenceslas later learned how to cultivate vines in these vineyards and make wine. He is honored by Czech winemakers as "Supremus Magister Vinearum" (Supreme Burgomaster of the Vineyards) and every year at the end of September a wine festival is held in Mělník on Feast of St. Wenceslas.
During the 13th century, monasteries helped to establish large vineyard areas which were planted with grape varieties imported from France and Germany. The vine training and pruning methods of these countries were also adopted. The vineyard groupings made it easier to maintain the vineyards, protect against thieves, and to collect tithe payments and taxes during the harvest.
In 1249, Ottokar II of Bohemia granted the land of Mikulov (then called Nikolsburg) and the surrounding area to the Austrian noble Henry I of Liechtenstein. Afterward, more vineyards were planted in the Pálava Hills. In 1309, a new set of viticultural and winemaking regulations was established for many southern Moravian villages, based on the application of Bergrecht laws and vineyard rules of Falkenstein, Lower Austria in the district of Mikulov. For those villages under the jurisdiction of the Falkenstein Bergrecht, Falkenstein served as the Supreme Appeals Court in vineyard disputes. By 1368, Mikulov was one of the largest wine centres in Moravia. In 1414, a large number of the vineyards around Mikulov and Valtice were documented in the Liechtenstein Duties Register, later to become the oldest preserved register of the Liechtenstein vineyards. [3]
The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) destroyed a significant portion of the vineyards in Moravia, and over the next hundred years they were gradually replanted. In 1763, Austrian vintners asked Maria Theresa to limit new vineyard plantings in Moravia to reduce the competition from Moravian wines. In 1783, the local Bergrecht laws and the activities of the wine regulation court in Moravia were abolished by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor and replaced with a new set of vineyard regulations for Moravia. [3]
Wine academies, dedicated to training capable enologists in the art and science of winemaking, were founded in Bzenec (1855), Znojmo (1868), Valtice (1873), Mělník (1882), Lednice (1895), Mikulov (1903) and Klobouky (1921).
The vine pest Phylloxera arrived in Šatov in 1890, Mikulov and Dolní Dunajovice in 1900, struck Perná in 1901, and hit Horní Věstonice and Bavory in 1902, devastating the vineyards throughout Moravia. Using Phylloxera-resistant rootstock, the vineyards were replanted with quality vines of single varietals. [3]
The establishment of modern wine laws in the Czech Republic began in 1995 with the enactment of Wine Act No. 115/1995 on viticulture and winemaking practices into the Collection of Laws (Sb). The wine section of the European Union regulations was translated into Czech and subsequently incorporated into the Wine Act. The original draft of the Amendment to the Wine Act also contained provisions for establishing the Czech Wine Fund through Act No. 50/2002 Sb. After the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004, the Wine Act No. 321/2004 Sb on viticulture and winemaking practices was adopted, bringing Czech wine legislation into conformity with EU standards. [3]
Czech wine law (2004) defines two wine-growing regions (Czech: Vinařská oblast). These are Moravia (Vinařská oblast Morava) and Bohemia (Vinařská oblast Čechy). [4]
Wine production in the Czech Republic centers on southern Moravia, particularly around the river Dyje. Four wine growing sub-regions (Czech: Vinařská podoblast) are located here, each named after a major town or region. These sub-regions are:
| Wine sub-region | Origin of the name |
|---|---|
| Mikulovská | Town of Mikulov |
| Znojemská | Town of Znojmo |
| Velkopavlovická | Town of Velké Pavlovice |
| Slovácká | Moravian Slovakia region |
Wine production intertwined with the local culture made Moravia a key wine tourism destination in Czech Republic. Established in 1999, Moravian Wine Trail is a unique project designed to protect cultural heritage and encourage further development of wine tourism in the region. The trail covers almost 300 towns and villages in the Moravian region inter-connected by a network of cycling routes. [5]
The Czech National Wine Centre and Wine Salon of the Czech Republic in Valtice Castle are located in Moravian wine country.
Bohemia is home to a relatively tiny collection of vineyards [6] that are among the most northerly in Europe. They are situated around 50° north latitude, the same as Wiesbaden in the Rheingau. Two defined wine-growing subregions are located in Bohemia:
| Wine Subregion (Vinařská podoblast) | Origin of Name |
|---|---|
| Mělnická | Town of Mělník |
| Litoměřická | Town of Litoměřice |
Small vineyards can be found in Prague, [7] but they do not produce a significant amount of wine. The top five grape varieties grown in Bohemia are Müller-Thurgau (26% of vineyards), Riesling (16% of vineyards), St. Laurent (14% of vineyards), Blauer Portugieser (10% of vineyards), and Pinot noir (8% of vineyards). [6]
As of 2018, the following wine municipalities were the largest: [8]
| Wine village | Vineyard area (ha) | No. of producers | Subregion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velké Bílovice | 766 | 956 | Velkopavlovická |
| Valtice | 578 | 197 | Mikulovská |
| Mikulov | 516 | 299 | Mikulovská |
| Čejkovice | 515 | 656 | Velkopavlovická |
| Dolní Dunajovice | 457 | 357 | Mikulovská |
| Novosedly | 421 | 86 | Mikulovská |
| Velké Pavlovice | 378 | 596 | Velkopavlovická |
| Vrbovec | 344 | 71 | Znojemská |
| Kobylí | 301 | 505 | Velkopavlovická |
| Mutěnice | 283 | 919 | Slovácká |
The most commonly grown grape varieties in the Czech Republic, including the approximate percentage of wine produced for each variety, are listed below:
| White Grape Varieties [8] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Name | International Name | Percentage of Wine Produced | |||||
| Rulandské šedé | Pinot gris | 10.63% | |||||
| Ryzlink rýnský | Riesling | 9.45% | |||||
| Chardonnay | Chardonnay | 9.16% | |||||
| Sauvignon blanc | Sauvignon blanc | 8.65% | |||||
| Tramín červený | Gewürztraminer | 7.79% | |||||
| Pálava | Pálava | 7.75% | |||||
| Veltlínské zelené | Grüner Veltliner | 7.53% | |||||
| Ryzlink vlašský | Welschriesling | 7.39% | |||||
| Rulandské bílé | Pinot blanc | 5.35% | |||||
| Hibernal | Hibernal | 4.20% | |||||
| Müller-Thurgau | Müller-Thurgau | 3.96% | |||||
| Muškát moravský | Moravian Muscat | 2.86% | |||||
| Sylvánské zelené | Silvaner | 2.20% | |||||
| Neuburské | Neuburger | 1.94% | |||||
| Aurelius | Aurelius | 1.04% | |||||
| Solaris | Solaris | 1.02% | |||||
| Irsai Oliver | Irsai Oliver | 0.75% | |||||
| Kerner | Kerner | 0.75% | |||||
| Děvín | Děvín | 0.57% | |||||
| Other white grape varieties | [note 1] | 7.00% | |||||
| Black Grape Varieties [8] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Name | International Name | Percentage of Wine Produced | |||||
| Rulandské modré | Pinot noir | 17.39% | |||||
| Frankovka | Blaufränkisch | 16.95% | |||||
| Zweigeltrebe | Zweigelt | 12.25% | |||||
| Svatovavřinecké | Saint Laurent | 8.84% | |||||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Cabernet Sauvignon | 7.44% | |||||
| Modrý Portugal | Blauer Portugieser | 5.76% | |||||
| Merlot | Merlot | 5.65% | |||||
| Dornfelder | Dornfelder | 5.26% | |||||
| Cabernet Moravia | Cabernet Moravia | 5.09% | |||||
| André | André | 3.41% | |||||
| Neronet | Neronet | 1.62% | |||||
| Alibernet | Alibernet | 1.17% | |||||
| Other black grape varieties | [note 2] | 8.61% | |||||
The wine-producing areas of the Czech Republic are well known for their wine festivals (Czech: vinobraní) which take place around harvest time in September. The biggest of these festivals in Znojmo, Mikulov, Brno and Mělník will feature samples of hundreds of local wines as well as local music, dancing and cuisine. These wine-festivals take place in big towns apart from the wine-producing areas as well (such as Prague).
Czech wine law classifies wine according to the origin of the grapes and the ripeness of the grapes determined by measuring the must weight in the grape juice at the time of harvest. [4] Sugar content is expressed in units of °NM on the Czecho-Slovak Normalised Must-Weight Scale (Czech: Normalizovaný moštoměr ), which indicates how many kilograms of sugar are contained in one hundred litres of grape juice. One degree on the NM scale is equivalent to one kilogram of natural sugar in 100 litres of grape must. Czech wine is typically labeled with its variety, detailed description of its origin, and wine quality attributes. In general, wine produced from grapes with a higher must-weight level and from a single vineyard is considered higher quality.
A Czech wine label will typically specify the wine's origin with one or more of the following terms:
A Czech wine label must contain one of the following terms that designates its classification:
1. Jakostní víno s přívlastkem (Quality Wine with Special Attributes)
| Jakostní víno s přívlastkem (Quality Wine with Special Attributes) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | Translation | Description | |||||
| Kabinetní víno | Kabinet | Wine made from grapes whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 19 °NM. | |||||
| Pozdní sběr | Late Harvest | Wine made from grapes whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 21 °NM. | |||||
| Výběr z hroznů | Special Selection of Grapes | Wine made from grape bunches ripened very long on the vine whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 24 °NM. | |||||
| Výběr z bobulí | Special Selection of Berries | Wine made from selected berries that have ripened very long on the vine whose must-weight levels have reached at least 27 °NM. | |||||
| Výběr z cibéb | Special Selection of Botrytis-affected Berries | Wine made from selected berries affected by noble rot whose must-weight levels have reached at least 32 °NM. | |||||
| Ledové víno | Ice wine | Wine made from grapes frozen on the vine. The grapes are pressed frozen at a temperature not greater than -7 °C and with a must-weight level of at least 27 °NM. | |||||
| Slámové víno | Straw wine | Wine made from grapes dried for no less than three months after harvest on straw or reed beds, or suspended in a well-ventilated area. The must-weight of the grape juice at the time of pressing can be no less than 27 °NM. | |||||
2. Jakostní víno (Quality wine)
3. Moravské zemské víno or České zemské víno (Country wine)
4. Stolní víno (Table wine)
In the late 2000s, in parallel with the origin and the composition and quality attributes, system the appellation-based system was introduced - vína originální cetrifikace (VOC, wines of original certification). Following VOCs are certified as of 2019: [8]
| Name | Location | Founded | Producers | Subregion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOC Znojmo | Znojmo | 2009 | 20 | Znojemská |
| VOC Mikulov | Mikulov | 2011 | 12 | Mikulovská |
| VOC Modré Hory | Němčičky | 2011 | 19 | Velkopavlovická |
| VOC Pálava | Perná | 2012 | 7 | Mikulovská |
| VOC Blatnice | Blatnice | 2013 | 31 | Slovácká |
| VOC Valtice | Valtice | 2015 | 6 | Mikulovská |
| VOC Mělník | Mělník | 2015 | 4 | Mělnická |
| VOC Slovácko | Josefov | 2016 | 7 | Slovácká |
| VOC Hustopečsko | Hustopeče | 2016 | 4 | Velkopavlovická |
| VOC Kraví Hora | Bořetice | 2017 | 5 | Velkopavlovická |
| VOC Bzenec | Bzenec | 2017 | 3 | Slovácká |
| VOC Mutěnice | Mutěnice | 2018 | 3 | Slovácká |
| VOC Velké Pavlovice | Velké Pavlovice | 2019 | 7 | Velkopavlovická |
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes, and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards are often characterised by their terroir, a French term loosely translating as "a sense of place" that refers to the specific geographical and geological characteristics of grapevine plantations, which may be imparted to the wine itself.
Viticulture, viniculture, or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, ranges from Western Europe to the Persian shores of the Caspian Sea, the vine has demonstrated high levels of adaptability to new environments, hence viticulture can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.
The South Moravian Region, or just South Moravia, is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia. The region's capital is Brno, the nation's 2nd largest city. South Moravia is bordered by the South Bohemian Region to the west, Vysočina Region to the north-west, Pardubice Region to the north, Olomouc Region to the north-east, Zlín Region to the east, Trenčín and Trnava Regions, Slovakia to the south-east and Lower Austria, Austria to the south.
Mělník is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 20,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional winegrowing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. The phrase connotes a distinction between these "New World" wines and those wines produced in "Old World" countries with a long-established history of wine production, essentially in Europe, most notably: France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, as well as the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world, with an area of 702,000 hectares under vineyard cultivation, and contributing a 2013–2017 annual average of 48.3 million hl of wine. In 2018 Italy accounted for 19 per cent of global production, ahead of France and Spain. Italian wine is both exported around the world and popular domestically among Italians, who consume an average of 42 litres per capita, ranking fifth in world wine consumption.
Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country.
Spanish wine includes red, white, and sparkling wines produced throughout the country. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 1.2 million hectares planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely planted wine-producing nation, but the second largest producer of wine in the world, behind Italy and ahead of France and the United States. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry soils found in some of the Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumption with Spaniards drinking, on average, 21.6 litres per person a year. The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain, though 88 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes — including the reds Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, and Monastrell; the whites Albariño, Airén, Verdejo, Palomino, and Macabeo; and the three Cava grapes Parellada, Xarel·lo, and Macabeo.
The glossary of wine terms lists the definitions of many general terms used within the wine industry. For terms specific to viticulture, winemaking, grape varieties, and wine tasting, see the topic specific list in the "See also" section below.
Straw wine, or raisin wine, is a wine made from grapes that have been dried off the vine to concentrate their juice. Under the classic method, after a careful hand harvest, selected bunches of ripe grapes will be laid out on mats in full sun.. This drying will probably be done on well exposed terraces somewhere near the wine press and the drying process will take around a week or longer. Small scale productions were laid out on flat roofs; however, if this still happens, it is extremely rare nowadays.
Fiano is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Campania region of southern Italy and on the island of Sicily. In Campania, this fairly strong flavored white wine grape is particularly noted around Avellino where the Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine of Fiano di Avellino is produced. The grape has a long history in the Campanian region and is believed to have been the grape behind the ancient Roman wine Apianum. Even today, the name Apianum is permitted to appear on wine labels of the DOCG wine Fiano di Avellino.
Slovenia has more than 28,000 wineries making between 80 and 90 million litres annually from the country's 22,300 ha of vineyards. About 75% of the country's production is white wine. Almost all of the wine is consumed domestically with only 6.1 million L a year being exported—mostly to the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and lately the Czech Republic. Most of the country's wine production falls under the classification of premium (vrhunsko) wine with less than 30% classified as basic table wine (namizno vino). Slovenia has three principal wine regions: the Drava Wine-Growing Region, the Lower Sava Wine-Growing Region, and the Littoral Wine-Growing Region.
Ancient Rome played a pivotal role in the history of wine. The earliest influences on the viticulture of the Italian peninsula can be traced to ancient Greeks and the Etruscans. The rise of the Roman Empire saw both technological advances in and burgeoning awareness of winemaking, which spread to all parts of the empire. Rome's influence has had a profound effect on the histories of today's major winemaking regions in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Croatian wine has a history dating back to the Ancient Greek settlers, and their wine production on the southern Dalmatian islands of Vis, Hvar and Korčula some 2,500 years ago. Like other old world wine producers, many traditional grape varieties still survive in Croatia, perfectly suited to their local wine hills. Modern wine-production methods have taken over in the larger wineries and EU-style wine regulations have been adopted, guaranteeing the quality of the wine.
This glossary of viticultural terms list some of terms and definitions involved in growing grapes for use in winemaking.
Bulhary is a municipality and village in Břeclav District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants. Bulhary is partly located within the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Slovak wine is produced in the southern part of Slovakia, which is divided into 6 wine-producing areas. Although Slovak wines except Tokaj are not well-known internationally, they are popular domestically and in neighbouring countries. The best wines are produced by medium-sized wineries with their own vineyards, with white wine production being most dominant, including the full range of historic sweet wines – ice wine, straw wine, and botrytized wine.
Mikulovská is one of four Czech wine regions within southern Moravia, Czech Republic. The Mikulovská wine region, containing 30 wine villages, is famed for producing white wines grown in the limestone soils, particularly in and around the area of the Pálava Landscape Protected Area. Historically a centre of viticulture and winemaking in Moravia, Mikulovská is home to the historical town of Mikulov, and the Czech National Wine Centre and Wine Salon of the Czech Republic, located at Valtice Castle.
Pálava is a variety of white wine grape developed in 1953 by Josef Veverka in Moravia. The variety is a genetic crossbreed of the Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau grape varieties.
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