Moravian Pinot Noir wins 'world's best' title at prestigious international competition

The Mondial des Pinots is a competition for producers, distributors and importers of wines made from Pinot grapes. It is the only international competition dedicated entirely to grapes from this specific family, with expert judges from around the world choosing the best wines in a range of categories.

A Pinot Noir (Rulandské modré) from the Weinperka vineyard trail, located near the village of Miroslav in Moravia, won a gold medal, the highest rating, and the title of overall champion at this year’s Mondial des Pinots. The wine beat off stiff competition from some of the world’s most renowned red wine growing regions with an exceptional score of 93.6 out of a possible 100.

The jury evaluated more than a thousand samples delivered by 335 producers from 20 countries. As well as the overall winner, Czech wines claimed another gold medal, awarded to a Pinot Gris from the Dívčí vrch vineyard in Strachotice, owned by the Znovín winery. A sommelier from Znovín said the region's terroir plays a part in making the perfect Pinot.

“It is associated with an ideal soil character, as well as the microclimate at individual vineyards,” said Martin Šmíd. Wine makers must “know and master their craft perfectly, and without an open approach a beautiful wine will not be born.”

South Moravia accounts for 96 percent of Czech wine production, and over the last 25 years the Czech wine industry has seen significant improvements in winemaking technology and vineyard management. Two-thirds of the wine produced in Moravia is white, a similar proportion to other Central European wine growing regions, for example in Germany.

It is hoped the success of Moravian Pinot Noir on the international stage could pave the way towards similar recognition for Czech red wines.

“Moravia is known for its full-bodied white wines, but the region also offers amazing reds,” Jaroslav Machovec, director of the Czech Wine Fund, told Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

“The vineyards in the so-called Modré hory (“Blue Mountains”) in Velké Pavlovice are the heart of red varieties in the Czech Republic. The soils there are characterized by a high magnesium content, which contributes to the unmistakable taste of Moravian reds.”

With its stunning natural landscape, well-tended vineyards and scenic “wine trails” interlacing its wine regions, an autumn trip to South Moravia is already popular among Czechs. With the region’s wines winning international renown, its reputation as a mecca for wine lovers shows no signs of slowing.