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In 278 A.D., Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus had his men grow grapes near what is now Pasohlavky, about 25 miles south or Brno. In the 13th century, monasteries planted vineyards in South Moravia. South Moravia’s slice of Czech heaven is where I polished a growing wine palate after 8 1/2 years living in Rome. It eventually opened back to the public in 2002 and is a great place to get a low-flying bird’s eye view of the countryside from the 14th century Square Tower. Look through one of the windows atop a claustrophobic staircase and Van Gogh couldn’t have caught the beauty any better.
Of the four South Moravia subregions, Mikulov packs the biggest punch in the way of things to see and do. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as much surprise that it is also the most popular wine-growing region in South Moravia. For that reason, we’ve put together everything you need to know before planning your trip to the Mikulov Wine Region including how to organize your own personal tour of the area. If you only have a day in South Moravia but still want a wine tasting experience the Mikulov Winemakers also host regular wine tastings at The Wine Store in Mikulov’s main square. The guided tastings last 60 to 90 minutes and include six wines for up to 15 people. The cost for tastings is 4,000 Kč (€155) total for the group .
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In fact, 65% of wine production is white and 90% of it is made in South Moravia. The most frequent variety in South Moravia is Green Veltliner (Grüner Veltliner), which is primarily grown in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. South Moravia is also home to several local varieties, including Moravian Muscat, Cabernet Moravia, and our favorite – Pálava. The Czech Republic has two wine regions; Bohemia (Vinařská oblast Čechy) and South Moravia (Vinařská oblast Morava). This comes after the industry took a massive hit during the Communist era, which lasted from 1948 to 1989. With them, they brought wine and tools which hint at the region’s first primitive vineyards.
Its most notable landmarks include Mikulov Castle, which towers of the town square, and St. Sebastian Chapel, located on top of the town’s Holy Hill. That said, summertime is high season, and on weekends accommodation can be hard to come by. Though weekdays are significantly less busy, if you’re planning a trip between June and August, we highly suggest booking your hotel or pension several months in advance.
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Depending on the time of day, a return ticket usually costs around €20.00. As mentioned earlier, the Mikulov wine region was once stomping grounds for the noble Lichtenstein family. Sparing no expense, royals of the family took seasonal residence in Lednice Palace and Valtice Palace. The history of the Mikulov wine region all comes back to the Pálava hills – a series of limestone cliffs protected by the UNESCO biosphere reserve. The Czech Republic is known for its light to medium-bodied white wines.
The Mikulov Winemakers can offer guests visiting the region bespoke, multi-day trips visiting wineries, vineyards, and popular sites in the area. Depending on the time of year and group size guests can experience tastings in vineyards and the opportunity to experience the wine harvesting process. They can arrange as little or as much as you require including accommodation, transportation, tastings, and meals. If you’re looking to combine your trip with something active, Southern Moravia is a hotspot for both novice and experienced cyclists. Based in the town of Mikulov, bike rental company, Cyklopomoc, gives visitors the opportunity to experience the region from a new perspective. For 350 Kč (€13.50) per day, you can rent a high-quality bike , and ride your way through the Mikulov countryside, making stops at local wineries and vineyards along the way.
Where to Stay in the Mikulov Wine Region
For that reason, not to mention the beautiful countryside, South Moravia is the perfect escape for wine lovers, or anyone looking to take a break from the busy streets of Prague. South Moravia, which is located in the southeast of the country, is the undisputed leader of Czech wine production. Representing 96% of registered vineyards, the South Moravia wine-growing region is around the 49th parallel; the same as the Champagne region in France. Despite many trials and tribulations, over the last three decades, wine-makers in South Moravia have steadily made their comeback.
From Brno to Mikulov the trip will take approximately 40 minutes to an hour. Once you arrive in Brno, you have several options to reach your destination. In this article, we will focus on the popular Mikulov subregion.
Nearby Accommodation and Restaurants
Many of their vineyards and cellars have been passed down for generations. In this way, you quickly begin to see how South Moravian wine is not just business but rooted deeply in tradition and the region’s culture. If you’re traveling with a family, and have a car there is no better accommodation option thanPenzion Pastuška. This lovely family home has everything you need to experience an authentic country stay in South Moravia. The penzion has a children’s palyground, water sports facilities, and on-site restaurant serving delicious local homemade cuisine and a bar.
Other notable towns include Petrov, known for its unique preservation of original wine cellars, and Prušánky. You should definitely visit the local wine cellars and taste some Moravian wine. The Moravian Karst with more than a thousand caves and the famous Macocha abyss is also worth seeing. When travelling with children, take them to the fairytale underground passages in Znojmo or the zoological gardens in Brno, Hodonín and Vyškov. Compared to the small family cellars and village wineries, Sonberk and Gotberg are excellent examples of how polished the industry has become in some instances.
And a hundred and two reasons to take some day trips from Prague. As mentioned earlier, the town of Mikulov is part of the Mikulov subregion in South Moravia and is about 43 km from Brno. To reach South Moravia from Brno, you have the option to travel to Mikulov by train, taxi or night bus. Buses leave regularly from Prague Florenc Bus Terminal (Prague ÚAN Florenc) and arrive within 2.5-3 hours at the Brno Hotel Grand.
As tourism continues to grow in South Moravia, so do the number of wine tours in the area. In the Mikulov wine region, visitors can select from a wide variety of historic wine trails, cycling tours, personalized tastings and winery visits. Depending on your interests, and knowledge of wine, there is something for everyone.
The best time to visit South Moravia’s wine region is from April through September. In the spring, new vintages from the previous year are released and the vineyards start to come alive. In early September, the harvest begins, much of which is still done by hand.
Throughout the centuries, Pavlov has been a major excavation site for archeologists and wine historians. It’s equally distributed with 10.6 Pinot Gris, 9.5 Riesling, 9.2 Chardonnay, 8.7 Sauvignon Blanc and 7.8 Gewurztraminer among others. The Trail of Life has five routes with panoramic views of the White Carpathians on the Slovak border. Facilities and a training area are right next to the reservoir.
After arriving in Brno, guests are picked up for a guided tour of the region’s most popular sights. Typical stops include Lednice, Mikulov and 1.5 hours of wine tasting in Valtice at the National Wine Salon of the Czech Republic. Mikulov is easily the most well-known and visited towns in the historic South Moravia wine region. Currently, there are approximately 850 registered wineries throughout the country. In South Moravia, there is also a large number of domestic winemakers who mainly produce wine for friends and family.
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