📍 Mikulov

Mikulov is the centre of South Moravian winemaking in Czechia, by the Austrian border. The wine district of the same name is part of Moravia, which holds about 96% of all Czech vineyards. It lies on the slopes of the Pálava hills in the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. The hills are made of limestone, so the wines have a clear mineral character.

Winemaking here is very old. As early as the second century a Roman legion built a large outpost nearby on the Amber Road, and the Romans may have brought Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling. In 1249 the lands of Mikulov were granted to the Austrian nobleman Henry I of Liechtenstein, and afterwards more vineyards were planted in the Pálava hills.

Today the district grows Welschriesling (Rizling Vlašský), Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Riesling, as well as Pálava, a Czech grape named after the hills. The wines are white, fresh, with good acidity; there are reds too. A special local product is Novosedelské Slámové Víno, a sweet straw wine from dried grapes.

Mikulov is a small town with a castle that attracts travellers with its vineyards and old cellars.