Southern Moravia, wandering through the wine region

From the past to the present.
Wine making in Moravia is among the most ancient in Europe. Grapevines have been cultivated here since the time of the Romans, and nowhere else in the world will you find so many small wine cellars as right here in Moravia. By the time of the Middle Ages, Moravian wines already had a good name. They were supplied to the noble houses of the Czech Kingdom, and there was interest in them from Poland and Silesia. In Vienna, and even Champagne in France, wines from Moravia were used for their qualities as coupage in the making of champagne. Wine making is the breath of life for the people who live in Southern
Moravia. In the heraldry of the aristocratic families and cities there are frequently bunches of grapes, vine leaves or viticulture knives. Extensive colonies of cellars were built in the neighbourhood of the wine-growing villages, adding up to hundreds of buildings that have been preserved to this day, and which offer guests the opportunity to sit and taste a glass of the local wine.
Every village has at least one winemaking or folk event during the year. Over the last few decades Moravian wine making has undergone revolutionary changes. Vineyards are ecologically maintained, most of the companies have installed waste-free technologies for grape processing, and Moravian wine makers regularly win awards at international exhibitions.

Wines and wine varieties
Moravian white wines have a characteristically wide range of attractive elements and well-balanced harmony between full body and fresh acidity. This is thanks to the unique natural conditions ideal for growing white wine varieties. The red wines, thanks to modern technological processes, are full and bold, noticeable for fruity, smooth velvety tones in their flavour and bouquet. The 18,500ha of vineyards in Moravia grow 42 kinds of grape for wine making, including famous international varieties, but also domestic grapes such as Pálava, Moravian muškát or Cabernet Moravia which you can only get from Moravian wine makers. And this is a good reason to visit!

Moravian wine trails – through the wine region by bicycle
A one thousand and ninety kilometre long network of cycling trails weaves through Southern Moravia. The trails wind between the vineyards and do not miss a single tourist site. They run on quiet roads, in places on field or forest routes, and over well marked terrain. The Tourist Information Centres sell maps and guides. You can bring your own bike, or rent one in Moravia.
The Moravian wine region is divided into four sub-regions. The westernmost is Znojmo, where the typical wine variety is Veltlinské Zelené, made world famous by the Šobes vineyard in the conservation area of Podyjí National Park. To the east lies Mikulov, from which comes the excellent Ryzlink Vlašský. The castle cellars in Mikulov hold a giant cask with the respectable capacity of 26,871 gallons of wine, and in Valtice you can taste the hundred best wines from the premier national wine competition in the Salon vín České Republiky (Wine Salon of the Czech Republic) exhibition. The third sub-region is Velké Pavlovice, known by Moravian wine makers as the heart of red wines. This is justified. In the east, near the border with Slovakia, we find Slovacko. Here all the folk traditions are still maintained, and running into a parade of people in folk costume during one of the celebrations is not at all rare.

Questions can be e-mailed to: michal.solarik@vinarskecentrum.cz

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