The Mělník sub-region

vína z ČechThe Mělník sub-region covers the vineyard areas of Mělník, Roudnice, Prague, as well as Čáslav, most of which are situated on ground with limestone subsoil or on sandy gravel. The vineyards of Mělník lie mostly on a calcareous sandstone and argillite bedrock which is covered with an alluvial sandy topsoil.

 

The soils are of a light consistency, heat-reflecting and provide ideal conditions for the cultivation of black grape varieties. This has been well captured by the local winemakers ever since the Middle Ages. Only in the 19th century Riesling was planted in the vineyards here along with the black grapes Blauer Portugieser and Saint Laurent. Great wines from the Sylvaner grape have always come from the heavy argillaceous soils. In Prague several vineyards haved survived, for example in traditional sites in Troja and south of Prague in Karlštejn. Today the majority of the vineyard area of this sub-region is taken up by the Müller-Thurgau variety.