Before we visited the Czech Republic, we didn’t read or hear anything about the Czech wine region of Moravia or the wine culture in general. Therefore, it also wasn’t in our initial itinerary, however, we decided to add the wineries on our drive from Cesky Krumlov to Brno. Moravia is a hidden gem in the heart of the Czech Republic, where you will find many lush vineyards and hills, leading to beautiful and unexpected views. Moravia, renowned as the core wine area of the Czech Republic, boasts a rich winemaking heritage. In this blog post, I’ll guide you past some of the best wineries to be found in Moravia, that will make up for an unforgettable day in Moravia, full of wine tasting. In my opinion, this can’t miss in your Czech Republic itinerary and it was one of my favourite days in the country.
Due to the unique microclimates and skilled winemakers, the Moravian region produces a wide variety of wines. From fresh and juicy white wines to full-bodied reds, Moravian winemakers are preserving traditional techniques while embracing modern innovations. In Moravia, you can find plenty of amazing wineries that offer tastings or the opportunity to buy their bottles. Most of them are centred around specific locations. I’ll give you an overview of the wineries that you can add to your itinerary. This guide takes you through multiple wine areas in the Czech wine region of Moravia, such as the Znojmo region, Mikulov region and the Palava Hills / Hustopece.
Needless to say, to visit wineries, you most often need a car. Don’t drink and drive.
Winery Lahofer is a large winery in Moravia and can be found next to Dobsice / Znojmo town. The winery offers tastings and during opening hours you can just pop by and order a couple of glasses to taste. Most of their wines can be ordered in a small tasting class, so you can create your tasting. A tasting glass starts from 25CZK (€1). Ask for some advice on what wines will best match your taste or try their most famous wines, such as the Riesling, Gruner Veltliner or Cabernet Moravia.
Lahofer Winery is open daily from 09:00 and closes at 18:00. At the weekend, they open until 20:00 or 22:00.
Another Winery located near Dobsice is Špalek Winery, a family organic winery. At this winery, you can book tours in advance to see the cellars or join a food pairing and tasting. You can make your reservation at their website, however, this makes them a bit less easy to visit.
Another popular option near Dobsice / Znojmo is the Znovin Znojmo Winery, which is one of the oldest and most pristine wine estates in the Czech wine region of Moravia. The place is known for the Riesling (and the Riesling ice wine!) and Gruner Veltliner. You can do a wine tasting in the Louka Monastery, which is supposed to be a real experience. You can check out this link for more information.
Mikulov is one of the best-known wine villages in Moravia and is worth a visit in itself. With several bistros and restaurants, Mikulov is a great place to have your lunch. If you would like to spend some more time exploring Moravia, I would advise you to spend a night in Mikulov and enjoy the many wine bars in town.
Where to stay in Mikulov: Apartman Bella, Boutique Hotel Golf Garni, Comenius Moravus vinařský dvůr
One of the best-known wineries in Mikulov, is the Mikulov Family Winery, including a wonderful terrace to taste some wines. The prices are quite high, but the quality is great.
There is also a wine shop in town, where you can taste the Mikulov Family Winery wines, as well as other wines from Mikulov. This place is called Vinoteka Mikulov.
Next to the multiple wine bars and wineries inside Mokulov, there are plenty of other well-known wineries to be found on the edges of Mokulov. You already get the reason why it is worth staying here for the night in case you are into wine. Two great options are Lipa Mikulov (north of Mikulov) or Vinařství Volařík (East of Mikulov). The latter is perfect if you want to walk in to taste some wines, as you can just order tasters from all wines available.
Sonberk Winery is a must-visit when exploring the Czech wine region of Moravia. The Winery is located in the Palava Hills, close to Hustopece and has the most amazing location. From the balcony terrace, you can oversee the vineyards, a beautiful lake and the hills. The place is beyond beautiful and their Riesling and Gruner Veltliner are great.
There are plenty of wineries to explore in the Hustopece area. Because you can’t do unlimited wine tasting when by car, we decided to call it a day after our visit to Sonberk. Nevertheless, Vinarství U Kapličky, Vinarstvi Reisten, and Vinařství Starý vrch are great options if you would like to explore the region and its wines further. Vinarství U Kapličky is an award-winning boutique winery, with great Riesling and Pinot Noir. Vinarstvi Reisten has an amazing terrace and organizes events on beautiful summer evenings.
All in all, it is clear that the Czech Republic has way more to offer than beer and Moravia is worth a visit as part of your travels through this wonderful and diverse country.