Wine Regions of Europe – Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is better known for beer than wine. Some wine is made in the western area of Bohemia, but 95% of wine production takes place in the southwest, Moravia, adjacent to the Austrian wine producing region of Niederösterreich.

Bohemia’s wine areas are among the northernmost in Europe. The top five grape varieties are Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, St. Laurent, Blauer Portugieser, and Pinot Noir.

Moravia has four wine appellations, all hugging the southern border with Austria: Znojemská, Mikulovská, Velkopavlovická, and Slovácká. Grapes include Rivaner (Müller-Thurgau), Pinot Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Blauer Portugieser. Cabernet Moravia, which is a truly indigenous variety, is a cross of Cabernet Franc and Zweigelt first bred in the early 1970’s, and officially a new variety of grape as of 2001.