November 11 - time to open St. Martin's wine

November 11 was a very important day for every wine lover. This date is connected with the „Svatomartinske“ which means St. Martin’s wine – the first young wine of the new vintage. On November 11 at 11 o’clock comes the right time when you can open and taste the bottle from the new vintage.

The St. Martin’s wines are young and lively, very refreshing with fruity character. To keep the high standard of the young wines, there is a common logo with St. Martin on white horse, which guarantees that the wine was approved and tested by the comission of Czech wine association. The branding of St. Martin’s wine can be used only for approved wines from white grapes of Müller Thurgau, Veltliner Frührot and Moravian Muscat. The red wines can be produced from Blauer Portugieser or St. Laurent’s, the rosé wines furthermore from the grape of Zweigeltrebe. This year the comission has approved 375 wines, out of which 98 were produced from the grape of Müller Thurgau. Altogether there will be around 2.3 million bottles of St. Martin’s wines sold in the Czech market.

The tradition of St. Martin’s wines is very old. In the past, on November 11 the workers hired for duty on the vineyards finished their work for current year and they discussed the work conditions for the next year with their employer with a glass of young wine. This tradition is also connected with festive food – traditionally with roasted goose. St. Martin’s goose is roasted with stuffing from apples and it is served with sweet-and-sour red or white cabbage and dumplings or potato pancakes. The dessert consists of sweet baked rolls stuffed with walnuts.

Nowadays the day of St. Martin is dedicated to events with tasting of new young wines. Many restaurants offer also traditional menu of goose paired with young wines. The consumer can easily recognize the wines thanks to the unitary branding of Martin on white horse. This logo reminds of an old proverb which says St. Martin comes on white horse which means he brings the first snow. This year the proverb has fulfilled ensuring the right atmosphere for tasting of new vintage 2016. Cheers!

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