Czech wine

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.

History

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. 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 the Czech Republic, 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 the Czech language 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]

Regions

Czech wine law (2004) defines two wine-growing regions (Czech: Vinařská oblast). These are Moravia (Vinařská oblast Morava) and Bohemia (Vinařská oblast Čechy).[4]

Moravia
Wine region of Moravia

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 Subregion (Vinařská podoblast)Origin of Name
MikulovskáTown of Mikulov
ZnojemskáTown of Znojmo
VelkopavlovickáTown of Velké Pavlovice
SlováckáSlovácko region

The Czech National Wine Centre and Wine Salon of the Czech Republic in Valtice Castle are located in Moravian wine country.

Bohemia

Bohemia is home to a relatively tiny collection of vineyards[5] 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
MělnickáTown of Mělník
LitoměřickáTown of Litoměřice

Small vineyards can be found in Prague,[6] 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).[5]

Grape varieties

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[7]
Czech NameInternational NamePercentage of Wine Produced
Rulandské šedéPinot gris10.63%
Ryzlink rýnskýRiesling9.45%
ChardonnayChardonnay9.16%
Sauvignon blancSauvignon blanc8.65%
Tramín červenýGewürztraminer7.79%
PálavaPalava7.75%
Veltlínské zelenéGrüner Veltliner7.53%
Ryzlink vlašskýWelschriesling7.39%
Rulandské bíléPinot blanc5.35%
HibernalHibernal4.20%
Müller-ThurgauMüller-Thurgau3.96%
Muškát moravskýMoravian Muscat2.86%
Sylvánské zelenéSilvaner2.20%
NeuburskéNeuburger1.94%
AureliusAurelius1.04%
SolarisSolaris1.02%
Irsai OliverIrsai Oliver0.75%
KernerKerner0.75%
DěvínDěvín0.57%
Other white grape varieties7.00%
Black Grape Varieties[7]
Czech NameInternational NamePercentage of Wine Produced
Rulandské modréPinot noir17.39%
FrankovkaBlaufränkisch16.95%
ZweigeltrebeZweigelt12.25%
SvatovavřineckéSaint Laurent8.84%
Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon7.44%
Modrý PortugalBlauer Portugieser5.76%
MerlotMerlot5.65%
DornfelderDornfelder5.26%
Cabernet MoraviaCabernet Moravia5.09%
AndréAndré3.41%
NeronetNeronet1.62%
AlibernetAlibernet1.17%
Other black grape varieties8.61%

Wine festivals
Traditional wine cellars in Petrov, near Strážnice, Southern Moravia
Wine cellar in Chvalovice, near Znojmo

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).

Classification
Two bottles of Moravian wine (an Irsai Oliver and a Cabernet Moravia), showing the usual labeling for geographical origin

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.

Origin specification

A Czech wine label will typically specify the wine's origin with one or more of the following terms:

  • Vinařská oblast – (Region) e.g. Morava (Moravia)
  • Vinařská podoblast – (Subregion) e.g. Velkopavlovická (Velké Pavlovice)
  • Vinařská obec – (Municipality)
  • Trať – (Vineyard)

Composition and Quality Attributes

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)

Wine must originate from a single wine sub-region and the grape varieties, their origin, must-weight levels, and weight must be verified by the Czech State Agricultural & Food Inspectorate (SZPI). Chaptalisation is not permitted.
Jakostní víno s přívlastkem (Quality Wine with Special Attributes)
ClassificationTranslationDescription
Kabinetní vínoKabinetWine made from grapes whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 19 °NM.
Pozdní sběrLate HarvestWine made from grapes whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 21 °NM.
Výběr z hroznůSpecial Selection of GrapesWine made from grape bunches ripened very long on the vine whose must-weight levels have reached no less than 24 °NM.
Výběr z bobulíSpecial Selection of BerriesWine made from selected berries that have ripened very long on the vine whose must-weight levels have reached at least 27 °NM.
Výběr z cibébSpecial Selection of Botrytis-affected BerriesWine made from selected berries affected by noble rot whose must-weight levels have reached at least 32 °NM.
Ledové vínoIce wineWine 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 vínoStraw wineWine 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)

Wine produced from grapes grown in the Czech Republic within a single wine region. Yields must not exceed 12 tons/hectare and must-weight levels must be no less than 15 °NM.
Jakostní víno odrůdové (Quality Varietal Wine)
Wine made from at most three grape varieties
Jakostní víno známkové (Quality Brand Wine)
Wine that is a blend (cuveé) of at least two grape varieties

3. Moravské zemské víno or České zemské víno (Country wine)

Wine produced from grapes originating from the Czech Republic, must-weight levels must be no less than 14 °NM.[8]

4. Stolní víno (Table wine)

Wine produced from grapes originating from any country in the EU. This is the lowest wine category.

References
  1. Wine of Czech Republic: Wine Region Moravia Archived 2011-04-07 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: June 26, 2011
  2. Blom, Philipp (2000), The Wines of Austria, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0-571-19533-4
  3. Wine of Czech Republic: History of Wine in Czech Republic Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: June 29, 2011
  4. Czech Wine Fund: Viticulture Act of 2004 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, (Czech Language), Accessed: June 26, 2011
  5. Wine of Czech Republic: Statistics and Charts Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: June 26, 2011
  6. The Mělník sub-region Archived April 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Situační a výhledová zpráva Réva vinná a víno (2019)
  8. Zemské víno | Znalec vín (in Czech language)
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