The Czech Republic, the western half of the former CzechoSlovakia, is better known for its beer than its wine. However, it produces both in respectable quantities.
Czech wine production flourished in the early years of the 21st century. The government offered large subsidies for planting NewVineyards and modernizing obsolete wine-making equipment.
These measures, which were Part of the country's preparation for EU membership in 2004, were managed by the new Wine Fund of the Czech Republic.
Since then, the Czech wine industry has made considerable progress in terms of quality and quantity. Czech wines now compete in (and win) wine competitions throughout Europe and the United States. In 2011, for example, the country's contingent at the San Francisco International Wine Competition won 80 medals, led by a Grape/sauvignon">Sauvignon Blanc from Moravia that won the category.
Wine production in the Czech Republic is divided into two distinct worlds. The Moravian wine country in the Southeast is prolific and densely planted. Bohemia, in the Northwest, is characterized by smaller, more traditional family vineyards. The fragmented vineyards of Bohemia are located north of Prague in the Litomerice and Melnik regions.
Müller-Thurgau shows the character of its noble origins. This Swiss white grape variety is a cross between the royal madeleine and the riesling. The idea that the latter was crossed with the sylvaner is irrelevant. The variety can be recognized by its vigorous character and its semi-erect habit. Preferring rich soils and short prunings, the plant sees its buds open quite early. The buds are cottony and soft green in color. The slightly embossed and tormented blade, with 5 to 7 lobes, makes it possible to distinguish the adult leaves. The clusters appear compact, pyramidal or cylindrical in shape and small to medium in size. The flavour of the Müller-Turgau berries is reminiscent of Muscat. The juicy and crunchy pulp is revealed under a greyish skin. When ripe, the fruit has a mottled shell on a golden yellow background. Switzerland prefers to extract the juice from this variety. The wine made from it is rather heavy and does not keep well.
white wines from the region of Czech Republic go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of cassoulet, salmon and zucchini gratin or zucchini quiche.
On the nose in the region of Czech Republic often reveals types of flavors of orange, jasmine or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of floral, grapefruit or citrus.
