Wine tourism in Czechia is undergoing dynamic development and is becoming an important part of tourism. There is a growing interest in visiting wine regions that offer not only quality wines but also rich cultural and gastronomic experiences.
Key wine destinations in Czechia
The most popular wine destinations in the country include South Moravia, especially Mikulov and its surroundings. Last year alone, 27% of domestic and almost 43% of foreign visitors to the area chose to enjoy the region through their palates in the form of gastronomic experiences or wine consumption. This compares to just under 12% of locals and 24.5% of foreigners a year earlier, and over 29% of domestic and 41% of foreign travellers in 2019. The region is known for its wineries and traditional events such as vintage events and wine festivals. Tourists here seek authentic experiences, visiting traditional cellars and modern wineries and tasting wine from local winemakers. Key destinations for wine enthusiasts include Pálava, including the surrounding wine villages and cellar alleys. An equally important destination for wine tourism is Velke Bílovice. This largest wine-growing village in Czechia attracts visitors with tastings in family-run wineries and walks through picturesque vineyards. Another destination renowned for its wine history and also for its annual historic wine harvest is Znojmo, which attracts thousands of visitors.
"Wine tourism plays a key role in the development of not only domestic tourism. Indeed, this can be clearly seen in Italy and France, where last year local producers offered over 380 wine tours and tastings per 1 million inhabitants. Australia, Portugal and South Africa are close behind in this respect. Czechia can draw on the experience of Portugal, as the country has systematically focused on the development of wine tourism as one of the priority attractions for foreign visitors in the last few years and data show that it is successfully establishing itself among the world's leading destinations for this type of tourism," says Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism František Reismüller and adds: "Domestically, wine and the culture associated with it are among the main drivers, especially in South Moravia. The local vineyards combine traditional craftsmanship and modern gastronomic trends. However, the beauty of wine travel can be experienced not only in Moravia, but also in Bohemia, for example in Mělník or in Litoměřice and in Velké Žernoseky in Ústí nad Labem. The capital city also offers wine travel experiences, where lovers of this drink can visit, for example, Vineyard Svatá Klára in Troja or vineyard at Prague Castle. The most popular wine events include visiting local wine exhibitions, wine fairs, open cellar events or also combining wine tasting with gastronomy and music.”
Visitor profile of wine regions
Domestic wine regions are mainly visited by domestic tourists, especially from major cities such as Prague, Brno and Ostrava. They are mainly looking for weekend and short stays associated with wine tastings, wine events and visits to wine cellars.
”It is still the case that the Czech consumer indulges in wine in conjunction with a meal on a special or festive occasion rather than with a regular lunch. The French, for example, are famous for this. At the same time, however, we can say that the popularity of consuming wine during barbecues is increasing,” explains project manager of National Wine Centre Patrik Kubát and adds: ”He seeks inspiration to discover new wines, varieties and wineries.”
What consumers appreciate most about local wine is the fact that it is an integral part of the national tradition, has a unique taste, and is diverse and varied. Foreign tourists, mostly from Germany, Poland and Slovakia, appreciate the high quality of Czech wines, the hospitality and authenticity of the wine experience and the traditions associated with them.
According to research by the Wine Fund, 55% of Czech consumers are currently more likely to reach for a particular variety of white wine, while for the remaining 45% the colour of the wine is not decisive. The most preferred varieties are Pálava, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Riesling. In the case of red wine, a total of 47 % of consumers prefer specific varieties. The most popular are Modrý Portugal, Frankovka, Merlot and Svatovavřinecké. When buying, the customer makes a decision based on previous experience with the wine, quality, price/quality ratio, as well as recommendations from family and friends.
Wine Tourism Conference IWINETC 2025 in Mikulov
As already mentioned – one of the key cities for wine tourism in South Moravia is Mikulov. And it is there that the prestigious IWINETC (International Wine Tourism Conference) will take place on 26-27 March 2025. It is an event that is considered one of the most important in this area. It has been held since 2009 and is attended each year by several hundred wine and culinary professionals, including tour operators and representatives of the wine tourism and food travel media from all over the world. It has three main objectives: to offer cutting-edge educational opportunities through plenary sessions and panel discussions with experts, to provide a venue for business meetings and networking during formal and informal events. The conference programme also includes excursions to wineries themselves or other places of interest related to wine tourism. The conference will thus offer an opportunity to present Czechia as a top destination for this type of tourism, including gastronomy, which is inherently linked to wine, to professionals and journalists from all over the world.
”I see the prestigious IWINETC wine conference as a unique opportunity to present the offer of the entire region and the partners we work with to make it more visible to experts from abroad. I believe that everyone will leave Mikulov with the knowledge that we can produce world-class wine in South Moravia as well," concludes Director of Tourism Centre – South Moravia Martina Grůzová.
The most popular wine destinations in the country include South Moravia, especially Mikulov and its surroundings. Last year alone, 27% of domestic and almost 43% of foreign visitors to the area chose to enjoy the region through their palates in the form of gastronomic experiences or wine consumption. This compares to just under 12% of locals and 24.5% of foreigners a year earlier, and over 29% of domestic and 41% of foreign travellers in 2019. The region is known for its wineries and traditional events such as vintage events and wine festivals. Tourists here seek authentic experiences, visiting traditional cellars and modern wineries and tasting wine from local winemakers. Key destinations for wine enthusiasts include Pálava, including the surrounding wine villages and cellar alleys. An equally important destination for wine tourism is Velke Bílovice. This largest wine-growing village in Czechia attracts visitors with tastings in family-run wineries and walks through picturesque vineyards. Another destination renowned for its wine history and also for its annual historic wine harvest is Znojmo, which attracts thousands of visitors.
"Wine tourism plays a key role in the development of not only domestic tourism. Indeed, this can be clearly seen in Italy and France, where last year local producers offered over 380 wine tours and tastings per 1 million inhabitants. Australia, Portugal and South Africa are close behind in this respect. Czechia can draw on the experience of Portugal, as the country has systematically focused on the development of wine tourism as one of the priority attractions for foreign visitors in the last few years and data show that it is successfully establishing itself among the world's leading destinations for this type of tourism," says Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism František Reismüller and adds: "Domestically, wine and the culture associated with it are among the main drivers, especially in South Moravia. The local vineyards combine traditional craftsmanship and modern gastronomic trends. However, the beauty of wine travel can be experienced not only in Moravia, but also in Bohemia, for example in Mělník or in Litoměřice and in Velké Žernoseky in Ústí nad Labem. The capital city also offers wine travel experiences, where lovers of this drink can visit, for example, Vineyard Svatá Klára in Troja or vineyard at Prague Castle. The most popular wine events include visiting local wine exhibitions, wine fairs, open cellar events or also combining wine tasting with gastronomy and music.”
Visitor profile of wine regions
Domestic wine regions are mainly visited by domestic tourists, especially from major cities such as Prague, Brno and Ostrava. They are mainly looking for weekend and short stays associated with wine tastings, wine events and visits to wine cellars.
”It is still the case that the Czech consumer indulges in wine in conjunction with a meal on a special or festive occasion rather than with a regular lunch. The French, for example, are famous for this. At the same time, however, we can say that the popularity of consuming wine during barbecues is increasing,” explains project manager of National Wine Centre Patrik Kubát and adds: ”He seeks inspiration to discover new wines, varieties and wineries.”
What consumers appreciate most about local wine is the fact that it is an integral part of the national tradition, has a unique taste, and is diverse and varied. Foreign tourists, mostly from Germany, Poland and Slovakia, appreciate the high quality of Czech wines, the hospitality and authenticity of the wine experience and the traditions associated with them.
According to research by the Wine Fund, 55% of Czech consumers are currently more likely to reach for a particular variety of white wine, while for the remaining 45% the colour of the wine is not decisive. The most preferred varieties are Pálava, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Riesling. In the case of red wine, a total of 47 % of consumers prefer specific varieties. The most popular are Modrý Portugal, Frankovka, Merlot and Svatovavřinecké. When buying, the customer makes a decision based on previous experience with the wine, quality, price/quality ratio, as well as recommendations from family and friends.
Wine Tourism Conference IWINETC 2025 in Mikulov
As already mentioned – one of the key cities for wine tourism in South Moravia is Mikulov. And it is there that the prestigious IWINETC (International Wine Tourism Conference) will take place on 26-27 March 2025. It is an event that is considered one of the most important in this area. It has been held since 2009 and is attended each year by several hundred wine and culinary professionals, including tour operators and representatives of the wine tourism and food travel media from all over the world. It has three main objectives: to offer cutting-edge educational opportunities through plenary sessions and panel discussions with experts, to provide a venue for business meetings and networking during formal and informal events. The conference programme also includes excursions to wineries themselves or other places of interest related to wine tourism. The conference will thus offer an opportunity to present Czechia as a top destination for this type of tourism, including gastronomy, which is inherently linked to wine, to professionals and journalists from all over the world.
”I see the prestigious IWINETC wine conference as a unique opportunity to present the offer of the entire region and the partners we work with to make it more visible to experts from abroad. I believe that everyone will leave Mikulov with the knowledge that we can produce world-class wine in South Moravia as well," concludes Director of Tourism Centre – South Moravia Martina Grůzová.
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