Welcome and thank you for attending our virtual Masterclass!

The past thirty years have seen a renaissance in the Czech wine industry, particularly as the country has become a driving force behind the latest global consumer demand for cool-climate, lower alcohol, and skin-contact wine styles. This webinar will explain how wines from the Czech Republic mightily deliver. Notably, in the gastronomy sector, Czech wines offer sommeliers, wine buyers, distributors, and importers an enormous catalog of aromatic grape varieties and versatile wine styles. Those which have helped to carve out a unique niche for Czech wine in international markets.

This event aired live on April 7, 2021, but you can watch the recording by clicking the button below.

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Speaker Profiles

Miroslav Volařík

Owner and founder of Volařík Winery

Dáša Fialová

Marketing and Sales Director for Sonberk Winery

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Miroslav Volařík is the owner and founder of Volařík Winery, a midsize winery located in the heart of Mikulov. Established in 2007, Miroslav Volařík has since been awarded Winemaker of the Year in 2011, 2014, and 2018, along with numerous other medals and accolades from both domestic and foreign wine competitions, such as Decanter, Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles, Vinalies, the Czech National Wine Salon, and Kral Vin. Currently managing eighty hectares of vineyards under integrated production, of which four hectares are certified organic, the winery’s central focus is on the production of predicate white, rosé, and sparkling wine. A savvy entrepreneur and viticulturist, Miroslav and his winery team demonstrate an inherent passion to showcase the versatility of Moravian winemaking. In particular, the winery emphasizes the strength of their local and Central European grape varieties, ones that exhibit the marked acidity and minerality that reflects the sloped limestone hillsides of the Pálava Protected Landscape. The Volařík range of wines offer a dynamic, progressive collection of wines that garner a unique freshness and vibrancy. In addition to their main production, the winery has recently introduced a Terroir Line, reflective of the unique macroclimate found in Mikulov, as well as their Certified Organic range of wines. Through diligence, docility, humility, expertise, and a relentless love and passion for wine, Volařík Winery has established themselves as producers of some of the highest quality wine in the Czech Republic, catapulting their popularity both at home and abroad.

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Dáša Fialová is the Marketing and Sales Director for Sonberk Winery, a midsize winery located in Popice, South Moravia and recent recipient of the 2020 Czech Winery of the Year. Founded in 2003, Sonberk winery now farms forty hectares at the foot of the Slunečná Hill (236 m; from German original Sonnberg – the Sunny Hill), which is the current namesake of both the vineyard and the winery. The winery produces approximately 150,000 bottles a year, primarily crafting premium white wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Mikulov subregion. After earning her Economics and Management Degree from Mendel University, Dáša originally joined the Sonberk team in 2014 where she worked as a winery intern, organizing tastings and events while advancing marketing, promotions, and sales objectives. In this role, she successfully integrated her prior gastronomy expertise from both living in Brno and living abroad in Ireland. In 2017, after completing various junior roles in the wine industry, she was provided the opportunity to return to Sonberk as their Sales and Marketing Director. For Dáša and for Sonberk, it is the shared enthusiasm, passion, joy, and love of wine that strengthen their vision as a team. In addition to the prestigious title of Czech Winery of the Year, Sonberk wines also were awarded with Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Two Bronze medals at the Decanter 2020 awards. Sonberk Winery reflects a unique and exceptional place in South Moravia, one that continues to demonstrate the versatility of Czech wine.

Milan Bukovsky

Restaurateur and Entrepreneur, Owner Atelier Bar & Bistro

Arielle DeSoucey

Founder of Civil Wines

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Milan Bukovsky is a Brno-based Restaurateur and Entrepreneur. In 2018, Milan opened his restaurant, Atelier Bar & Bistro in Brno’s city center, with the intention of introducing an innovative gastronomy and dining experience for his customers. Focusing on a dynamic, rotating cocktail and wine list, Atelier Bar & Bistro prides themselves on elevated bistro cuisine, sourcing local ingredients and partnering with local wine producers to highlight and promote Czech culture. Milan’s experience in wine and spirits began in Prague at Tretter's Bar, where he was trained by chef/bartender Josef Zelenka. After that time, he was head bartender in Runway, the cocktail bar located inside Brno's famed restaurant Pavillon. Future plans include opening a boutique hotel in South Moravia and starting his own winery, producing certified organic, artisanal wines.

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Arielle DeSoucey is an American expat currently living in Brno, Czechia, where she founded Civil Wines (www.civilwines.com) as an outlet to provide wine education to the English-speaking community in Czechia. Originally from New York, Arielle began her career in hospitality management and sales, while simultaneously earning her WSET Level Three Advanced Certification. Since arriving in Brno in 2018, Arielle has participated as a tasting panel judge for VINEX Wine Competition in Valtice in 2019, and as a judge for the 2019 Grand Prix Austerlitz Wine Competition in Brno. In November 2020, Arielle was also published in Europe Now Journal, with her co-written article entitled ‘Bottle Revolution : The Emerging Importance of the Wine Industry in South Moravia.’ Over the past two years, Arielle has collaborated with local wineries and wine bars in hosting both in-person and virtual online wine tastings. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in French from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, as well as a WSET Level 2 and Level 3-Advanced Certification.

Czech wineries available now in the US

While Czech wines are elusive to most of the US market, the following winemakers are currently imported into the US. These brands represent a variety of wines and styles from biodynamic french varieties to classic regional grapes. Contact to find out current inventory and availability.

Vinařství Volařík manages 80 hectares of vineyards and produces predicate white wines. The Volařík love for wine began during World War II when Leopold Volařík learned the art of viticulture and wine-making from the Germans. They put great emphasis on the quality of grapes, terroir and being responsible in their management of the vineyards. They employ their vast knowledge and the latest technology when processing the grapes. Their vineyards are non-contiguous, so it affords them the opportunity to develop a range of terroir wines of the same varietal and each develops its unique characters.

Imported by Ahtel Wines. Contact info@ahtelwines.com for current inventory and availability.

Gala Winery produces original wines of superior quality. They follow the historical traditions of Moravian viticulture, contributing to landscape maintenance and protection while respecting an ecologically sound approach. Their wines originate from outstanding locations, grown on historically renowned vineyards with a specific origin, providing the wines with unique and out-of-the-ordinary character.

Imported by Ahtel Wines. Contact info@ahtelwines.com for current inventory and availability.

As a small family winery, Krásná hora winery manages approximately 15 hectares of biodynamic, certified organic vineyards in Czechia that they harvest by hand. With the goal of achieving only moderate levels of alcohol according to the season, they’re able to fully express the ‘sense of place’ or terroir in their wines. Their focus is on releasing high-quality, biodynamic wines from small parcels of premium fruit after long and careful aging in their cellar - the result is brilliant dry wines with complexity, elegance, harmony, silky texture, and great length.

Imported by Ahtel Wines. Contact info@ahtelwines.com for current inventory and availability.

Baloun winery was established in 1991 in Velké Pavlovice in the Czech Republic. We deal with both modern and traditional wine production. In our wine cellars, we have 150 vessels with a capacity exceeding 130,000 gallons. Each wine is dedicated with maximum care. There are 3000 to 5000 vines per hectare on mainly calcium-rich soils. Grape growing is a lower level of organic produce. Our wines were tasted by Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, and many more. You can find them at NY Bohemian Spirit restaurant awarded by Michelin Bibgourmand.

Imported by Ahtel Wines. Contact info@ahtelwines.com or obchod@baloun.cz for more information.

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Spevak Winery is a small family winery located in Dubnany, Czech Republic. Since the inception in 1993, our signature has been a focus on novel and unique grape varieties - Cabernet Cortis, Rubinet, Nitra - just to mention a few. But whether you want to discover something new or you prefer noble varieties, we have them all – all 100% grown and vinted on Spevak Estate. Through balanced and sustainable management of our vineyards, with careful attention to phenolic and sugar ripeness during hand-harvest and unique processing in the cellar, our wines are true to their varietal characteristics.

If we were to describe the nose and palate profile of Spevak wines, they are intensely fruity often with floral aromas that beautifully carry over into the flavor with a lingering finish. We like them clean, refreshing, playful, interesting, and drinkable – that is how we make them. With lots of love. Let’s get in touch – we will help you find your wine.

Specifically tailored for the US market, you can discover Spevak wines through our local distributor in Massachusetts, Wills International LLC. Contact info@willsinternational.com for more information.

Vinne Sklepy Lechovice is a traditional producer of quality, natural wines in the Znojmo region. In this area, white aromatic wines are mainly in the foreground that, thanks to slower maturing and the reduced harvesting of grapes, have a high quality and aroma typical of the northern wine region. Particularly highly appreciated are the varieties of Sauvignon, Pálava, Traminer, and Chardonnay, which is proven by frequent awards at international exhibitions.

Visit their Website or contact them at t.rehak@vslechovice.cz for more information.

Czech wineries with interest to export to the US

These wineries have an interest to export, but do not have current representation in the US market. See wineries.

About Czech Wine

Czech wine is new, yet old-world at the same time. The wines can be edgy, playful, and approachable but also elegant, elevated, and serious. Czechs drink almost all the wine produced in the country, so very little of it is exported. Its wine is elusive to the rest of the world, but locals know it’s brilliant. The Czech Republic (Czechia) has two wine regions - Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemia is an area nearer to Prague, and only produces 5-10% of the country’s wine. Moravia is in the southeastern part of the country, bordering Austria, and produces 90-95% of the wines from the Czech Republic. Learn More >>