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CZECH REPUBLIC
Finally, within the designations of origin, a classification has
emerged in recent years that is gaining significant promi-
nence: Víno Originální Certifikace (VOC).
These seals identify wines made from native varieties and
from specific areas, with full traceability and a distinctive
aromatic profile. The first was VOC Znojmo, created in
2009. Today there are 16 active certifications, all overseen
by local associations of oenologists, who ensure that the
authenticity and style of each territory are upheld.
Before reaching the market, bottles are marked with the
symbol of the corresponding VOC, a guarantee of authen-
ticity certifying that the wine faithfully reflects its origin, gra-
pe variety and method of production. In many cases, pro-
ducers strive to maintain a consistent identity, beyond the
variations of each vintage, so that consumers can always
recognise the region’s style.
The Czech Republic has thus succeeded in consolidating a
robust wine-growing system, combining tradition, technical
rigour and respect for the terroir. It is a model that offers
consumers a clear reference regarding the quality and pro-
venance of each wine, and one that reinforces the prestige
of a country that has steadily earned its place among Euro-
pe’s great wine-producing nations.
Wine styles and grapes
Although 71% of the country’s vineyards are planted with
white varieties, there is no shortage of red or rosé wines.
The latter, together with the Sekt (sparkling wines) and the
Svatomartinská vína (the first wines of the year), are those
that have shown the greatest growth in recent years.
The Svatomartinská vína are the earliest wines of the sea-
son, and their consumption has multiplied more than ten-
fold over the past twenty years. These white, rosé and red
wines are released on the market from 11 November (tradi-
tionally uncorked at 11:11), and are made exclusively from
early-ripening varieties (Blauer Portugieser and St. Laurent
for reds; Müller Thurgau, Frühroter Veltliner and Muškát
moravský for whites; Blauer Portugieser, Zweigeltrebe and
St. Laurent for rosés).
Their sweet wines are also highly noteworthy, offering ex-
ceptional value for money, with wonderfully aromatic varieties
such as Muškát moravský (native to the Czech Republic),
Hibernal (German) or Pálava (created in 1953, also in the
Czech Republic) as outstanding ambassadors. In the case of
these varieties, we recommend their sweeter versions over
the drier ones, as the high terpene content can make low-su-
gar wines markedly bitter and somewhat rough.
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