Moravia, the Czech Republic’s major wine-growing region

With the exception of a few hundred hectares north of Prague in Bohemia, the vast majority of Czech vineyards are located in Moravia, in the south-east of the country.

This small wine-growing region, covering a total area of less than 20,000 hectares, is one of the northernmost in Europe. It has a continental climate characterised by cold, long winters and hot summers with little rainfall. The plots that are best sheltered by the terrain are therefore favoured, as they ensure that the growing cycle enjoys favourable conditions for a sufficiently long period.

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Dobra Vinice, Organic and Natural Wines in Moravia

Dobra Vinice is an exceptional vineyard in Moravia, Czech Republic, just a stone’s throw from the Austrian border. Under the leadership of Petr Nejedlik and his wife Andrea Nejedlíková, the estate is part of the ‘Authentists’ group. It therefore adheres to a charter based on the principles of biodynamics. It is also one of the pioneers of natural winemaking in Moravia.

The estate produces wines in harmony with nature, made by hand and without the use of chemicals. Furthermore, Dobrá Vinice produces wines using an 8,000-year-old technique in Georgian amphorae (qvevri).

The Veltlínské zelené vintage

A 100% Grüner Veltliner from Moravia that perfectly encapsulates the philosophy and craftsmanship of the Dobra Vinice estate. It boasts a beautiful, fairly deep yellow colour. The wine’s bouquet centres on yellow fruits, enhanced by a hint of honey and a touch of fresh nuts. The stony-sandy soil, with a significant proportion of quartz, lends the wine an almost electric minerality. Of particular note are its intensity, depth, remarkable balance and long finish, marked by a lovely salinity. [SEE THE WINE PROFILE]

Wines from the Czech Republic today

Czech wines are struggling to make their mark in a country of beer drinkers. Two-thirds of Czech wine production consists of white wines. The main grape varieties used are Müller-Thurgau, Veltlínské zelené (the Czech equivalent of the Austrian Grüner Veltliner) and Riesling.

As for reds, Svatovavřinecké (or Saint-Laurent) is the most common variety, whilst Pinot Noir (Rulandské modré) is also highly prized by winegrowers who are devoted to the Burgundian style.

Production is almost exclusively destined for the local market. Exports amount to just 78,000 hectolitres per year. The growth of domestic wine consumption is held back by the popularity of beer among Czechs. With 150 litres per capita per year, the Czech Republic is the world’s largest consumer of this drink.

History of Czech Viticulture

The Czech Republic is a wine-growing region that remains relatively unknown today, yet its origins date back to Roman times.

Wine-growing began to develop in the region from the end of the 3rd century, after Emperor Probus lifted the ban imposed by Domitian on planting vines north of the Alps. As was the case throughout Europe, religious orders, particularly the Cistercians, played a key role in the development of the vineyards.

Czech wine enjoyed its heyday in the 16th century, before the incessant conflicts in Central Europe, which continued until the early 20th century, depleted the local workforce on which it depended. The country’s accession to the European Union in 2004, and the preparations for this since the late 1990s, enabled the restructuring and improvement of wine-growing practices.