Hi all — so it turns out that an unrelated relative (parse that carefully) runs a winery in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic. We got ourselves a gift box and tried it out. Sitting at the weekly firepit with great wurst and fresh bread with awesome mustard, the mild sweetness of the wine was perfect.
It's clearly not Napa or the south of France, but it was still delicious. We had to drive for an hour until we found the winery shop in Polešovice, CZ. So if you are ever there, stop on by. Beware though — they're only open on certain days that tend to change.
1 A Word on Moravian Wine
If you only know Czech drinks by their beer, the wine will surprise you. Nearly all of the country's vineyards sit in Moravia, the south-eastern corner where the climate turns warm and continental — closer in spirit to neighbouring Austria than to anything the old maps might lead you to expect. The region splits into four sub-areas — Mikulovská, Slovácká, Velkopavlovická, and Znojemská — and Polešovice, where we finally found the shop, sits in Slovácko: a patchwork of small family growers, painted wine cellars, and meandering vineyard cycling trails.
Whites dominate here, which is exactly why a Pinot Blanc — Rulandské bílé in Czech — feels so at home. Alongside it you'll find aromatic, food-friendly bottles: Grüner Veltliner (Veltlínské zelené), Welschriesling (Ryzlink vlašský), Müller-Thurgau, and the local crossing Pálava. The reds — Frankovka (Blaufränkisch) and Svatovavřinecké (St. Laurent) — lean lighter and brighter than the New-World heavyweights. Winemaking in these hills goes back to Roman times, and it still feels personal: half the charm is that you have to drive an hour, find the half-hidden shop, and hope it's one of the days they bothered to open.
2 Where to Find It
If you're ever in the area, the winery shop is in Polešovice, CZ — worth the detour. And if a road trip across Moravia isn't in the cards, you can order their wines online: