What sort of Wines does South Moravia produce?

Traditionally, South Moravia specialised more in white wines than red because it is on approximately the same latitude as Paris and doesn’t experience the same levels of sunshine as Spain and Southern France. However, the fall of the communist system has allowed the wine producers to explore their potential and some increasingly fine red wines are being produced here.

The tradition of viniculture dates back to around 250 AD and throughout the centuries, generations of vignerons have developed many special cultivars. But what really sets South Moravia apart from other wine producing regions is its size; South Moravia’s vineyards are tiny by comparison with those of Spain (about 750 times tinier, in fact!) which means they can compete only in terms of quality and very little of the wine is exported. As a result, the wine forms an inseparable part of a distinctive tradition and folklore which is unique to this region.

Despite its small size, South Moravia produces a wide variety of wines, many of which have won international awards. You can find organic and biodynamic producers, cuvées, single varieties, easy drinking wines and complex wines aged in every kind of barrel.

Red wines specific to South Moravia

Zweigeltrebe

Introduced at the beginning of the 19th Century from Austria, where it is known as Zweigelt. It is the third-most widely planted red-grape variety, comprising approximately 4.7% of total vineyards.

Svatovavřinecké (Saint Laurent)

A very old variety of wine and the most widely-planted variety in the Czech Republic, making up about 9% of total vineyards.

Cabernet Moravia

A fairly recent crossing of Zweigeltrebe and Cabernet Franc. First produced in 1975 by Lubomir Glos in Moravska Nova Ves, it accounts for about 1.2% of total vineyards

André

A crossing of Lemberger and St. Laurent, developed in South Moravia in the 1960’s and now grown in around 1.5% of the total vineyards.

Other red wines of South Moravia

Cabernet Sauvignon

About 1.3% of total vineyards.

Merlot

Around 0.6% of total vineyards.

Pinot Noir

Known locally as Rulandské modré, it makes up approximately 4.2% of total vineyards.

Frankovka

The local name for Blau Fränkische, accounting for about 7.1% of total vineyards.

White wines of South Moravia

Grüner Veltliner

The second most widely grown variety in the Czech Republic at around 11% of total vineyards

Welschriesling

A very old variety making up about 7.2% of total vineyards.

Chardonay

4.5% of total vineyards.

Sauvignon

The variety was probably introduced by the Hutterites in the 16th Century. Today it forms approximately 5% of total vineyards.

Palava

A crossing of Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau which is only cultivated in this particular area with its limestone bedrock. It makes up around 1.1% of vineyards.

Aurelius

A crossing of Neuburger and Riesling, which currently forms about 0.28% of the total vineyards.

Hibernal

First registered in the Czech Republic in 2004, there are around 33 hectares (approximately 0.001% of total vineyards) at the moment.

Awards for South Moravian wines.

From San Francisco to France, Monaco to Moravia, South Moravian wines have won a large collection of Great Gold, Gold and Silver medals. For a more detailed list of wines, prizes and competitions, Wines of the Czech Republic keeps an up-to-date website here.