Wine Production in the Czech Republic

Wine production in the Czech Republic is an ancient tradition, with roots dating back to the Romans and evolving through centuries of culture and progressive know how. While not as globally known as France or Italy, Czech wines deserve their own stage by many rights. They too offer some of the fresh, and aromatic profiles that stand out in Central Europe.

Now, with export markets slowly expanding to nearby countries and select destinations worldwide, you will soon get a chance to discover all that we're saying here first hand. I will admit, exploring Czech wines became a thing to me while travelling and seeing a Grüner dominant white blend on a menu, and yes, you guessed it, it was from a Czech Republic producer, Milan Nestarec. The wine was complex and thought worthy, so much so, that I thought I would share some of my findings in digging into Czech wines, in this article.

The famous Prague Castle in the Czech Republic

History of Czech Wine Production

Winemaking began in the Czech lands during the Roman era, around the 3rd century AD, when grapevines were planted in Moravia. Legends link the first Bohemian vineyard to a royal gift from Moravian Prince Svatopluk in 892.

Monasteries boosted wine culture from the 12th century, and the region saw both royal protection and competition from Austrian producers in the Middle Ages. By the 20th century, Czech wine experienced modernization, leading to improvements in quality and international recognition.

It is important to stop here and discuss the pinnacle change that led to 20th century revolutionary wine production in the Czech. Like so many areas where wine is produced, transformative change in wine production usually follows major government change and or civil unrest. In the case of the Czech Republic it was the fall of communism in 1989 (the Velvet Revolution) which allowed independent and family-owned wineries to re-emerge, bringing fresh energy, and soon to follow, investment to the country.

The Czech Republic 'Wine Law' of 1995 inevitably followed, and it set modern standards for viticulture and winemaking, and the wide-scale privatization that followed, affecting both vineyards and production.

The final major milestone in Czech wine production came when the country joined the EU in 2004. To join the EU, Czech Republic had to harmonize its wine laws with the EU's, implement geographic indications (PDO/PGI), and adopt stricter quality standards similar to other EU wine regions.

Milan Nestarec Vineyards

Czech Wine Regions

Compared to world-famous wine regions like Bordeaux or Tuscany, Czech wine regions are smaller but highly diverse. The Czech Republic has two main wine regions:

1. Moravia

Moravia covers about 96% of vineyards and is the heart of wine production. Subregions include Znojmo, Mikulov, Velké Pavlovice, and Slovácko.

2. Bohemia

Bohemia is located near Prague, it represents just 4% of vineyards, with Mělník and Litoměřice as notable subregions.

These regions sit on the same parallel as Champagne and top German areas, giving Czech wines cool-climate freshness similar to their French and German counterparts.

Well-Known Czech Wine Subregions

Znojmo: Famous for aromatic white wines such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, known for citrus and herbal notes.

Velké Pavlovice: Renowned for red wines, particularly Blauer Portugieser (nothing to do with Portugal despite its name), Pinot Noir, and Merlot.

Mikulov: Historical center with limestone-rich soils, producing elegant whites.

Slovácko: Known for both white and red wines with expressive character.

Mělník: In Bohemia, Mělník stands out for Pinot Noir and historical importance.

Czech Wine Exports and Markets

Czech wine is produced at levels below most major producers, ranking 25th globally in 2023 with about 70,000 metric tons. Export volumes remain modest, focusing mainly on neighboring European countries. Czech sparkling wine exports, for example, reached $2.5 million in 2021 and are projected to grow slowly, with Poland as the main market and others including Italy, Spain, Singapore, and the UK. Most Czech wine is consumed domestically, but international recognition and exports are rising steadily.