The Czech Republic is located in cool climate therefore it isn't easy to grow here some widely popular grape varieties. This fact based a strong tradition of new cultivars breeding which has given rise to unique delicious grape varieties perfectly fitting the local conditions.
Moravian Muscat
The Czech Republic has a demanding colder climate conditions therefore there wasn't any suitable grape variety with muscat aroma. This gap in the wine market was filled in 1987 when Moravian Muscat was breeded by V. Krivanek. It is a cross of Muscat Ottonel and Prachttraube and the cultivar has gained wide popularity becoming the most grown local variety. Nowadays it is planted on more than 400 ha of vineyards. The processing of grapes and production of wine from Moravian Muscat is highly demanding both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The variety is suitable only for cold areas and the yields should be reduced to obtain high quality grapes. The cultivar contains low amount of acids therefore it is necessary to harvest the grapes in time and proces them by low temperatures with intent to preserve the acidity. It is highly aromatical variety, the high quality wine has a pleasant muscat aroma with fruit notes. The wines have lighter character and are not suitable for aging.
Palava
Palava is a highly popular native Czech grape
variety which was cultivated in 1953 at breeding station in Velke Pavlovice by
prof. J. Veverka – it is a cross of Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurghau. The
breeding was finished in 1970s‘ at breeding station in Perna and registered to
allowed varieties for wine production in 1977. The cultivar was named after the
limestone massif called Palava Hills in Mikulov subregion. It is a rare grape
variety, the overall area of vineyards is about 400 ha in the Czech Republic, but
thanks to the high popularity, it is constantly increasing. The variety is
quite demanding on fertile soil, on dry soils the yields are poor and
irregular. At the appropriate slopes, the yields are high and regular with high
must-weight levels, therefore the wines mostly reach higher Prädikats classes.
The color of the grape is grey-red, therefore also the wine has usually rich,
gold-yellow or even amber color. It is highly aromatical variety with character
similar to Gewürztraminer, but compared to it, the spiciness is lower and more
harmonic.
André
André is a local Czech grape variety
breeded in 1961 in Velké Pavlovice by J. Horák. The cultivar was registered for
wine production in 1980. It is a cross of Blaufränkisch and St-Laurent. It
became popular for the regular yields and currently it is the sixth most grown
red variety planted on 250 ha of vineyards. André wines are full-bodied, high
extracted with notes of blueberries, blackberries and plum jam. The wines are
very suitable for long maturing in oak barrels and further for bottle aging.
The cultivar was named after a German pedagogue and scientist Ch. K. André who
was a school director in Brno in 1798. There he founded the association for breeding
and based the interest of gaining new hybrids.
Cabernet Moravia
Cabernet Moravia is another cultivar
carrying the name of the largest wine region of the Czech Republic. It is a red
grape variety breeded since 1975 by L. Glos from Cabernet Franc and
Zweigeltrebe, it was registered for wine production in 2001. It was widespread
quite quickly, nowadays the overall planted area is about 250 ha of vineyards,
similar to André. The wines from Cabernet Moravia have rich ruby color, lower
acidity and harmonic tannins with notes of blackcurrant, cherries or tobacco.
They are suitable for aging.
Czech natural scientist are quite productive in terms of breeding of new grape varieties, there are plenty of other local Czech varieties such as Erilon, Agni, Aurelius, Fratava, Kofranka, Laurot, Lena, Malverina, Nativa, Neronet, Rinot, Rubinet, Veritas, Vesna... and new are cultivated every year. Some of them could be found also in neighboring Slovakia as they were developed during the times of Czechoslovakia.
In our offer you can find the two mentioned white grape varieties –
Moravian Muscat 2015 and Palava 2014 or Palava 2015.
Which one would be your favourite?
Follow Check Czech Wine to learn more!
Follow our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkczechwine
View more photos on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/checkczechwine/
Visit our website to see wines we offer: http://www.winehills.eu
No comments:
Post a Comment