Although
Czech
Republic travel is becoming ever more popular, the country's
wines are still not well known in international wine circles.
However,
the wine producers of Moravia and Bohemia are working hard to
change that.
High quality
wines - both white and red - are beginning to win international
awards as well as support from fans both within and outside the
Czech borders.
By tradition,
the Danube in southeast Moravia provides the warmth and moisture
that add up to an excellent grape wine crop on the more than 11000
hectares currently under vine in the Czech Republic. In Bohemia,
north of Prague, protected slopes along the rivers Labe, Vltava
and Berounka tributaries of the Elbe river, provide a base for
a smaller region comprised of only 400 hectares of vineyards.
White wines
produced from Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Wälsch, Pinot
Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner and Neuburger
grapes make up a little over 74 percent of the wines. Pinot Gris,
Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner or Chardonnay are also grown, but these
grapes account for a very small portion of the Czech whites.
The white
wines are light, aromatic and usually dry and there are some very
good sparkling wines available.
Red wines
are produced from grapes such as Frankovka (Blaufränkisch),
Vavrinecké (Saint-Laurent), Blauer Portugieser and Pinot
Noir. A later addition, Cabernet Sauvignon, meanwhile is quickly
becoming more popular with wine makers and drinkers alike.
More about Czech wines and wineries around the Web:
Czech wine - Wikipedia - Check out the long, colorful history of Czech wine production with more detail on wine growing regions, the grapes, and terroir.
The National Wine Center - This is the official
site of the Národní salon vín, the National
Wine Salon, which offers cellar tours and wine tasting of all
of the Czech wines. The information on wines is not overwhelming,
but the resources are fantastic.