11 Czech wineries, vinotékas and tasting trips every vino lover should know

DANU turns the Danube into a wine route, with 350 wines by the glass or bottle tracing Central Europe from Württemberg through Austria and Hungary. Bottles from other regions, including Tokaj, Alsace and Alto Adige, broaden the journey. The family-run restaurant near Národní třída pairs them with creative dishes inspired by Czech, Swabian, Tyrolean and other regional cuisines. Stop by for breakfast or brunch, or settle in for dinner with help from its winemaker and sommelier-led team. Special events also bring visiting winemakers together with dishes created for their wines.

Minutes from the Hradčanská and Dejvická metro stations, Vinný přístav gives the city's Dejvice district its own relaxed port of call for Moravian wine. The neighborhood bar focuses on boutique local producers, filling its shelves with classic and natural wines, sparkling bottles and pét-nats. English-speaking staff can help you settle on a glass, while seasonal plates of local delicacies are designed for sharing. Stop by for an after-work drink or an unhurried evening with out-of-towners who want to see what Czech wine is all about.

Bettina Lobkowicz has continued her family’s winemaking tradition at Lobkowicz winery since 1992, using grapes grown in the winery’s own vineyards along the Elbe. Visitors can work their way from light whites and Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, orange wines, pét-nats and traditional-method sparkling wines. Individual tastings are available daily, while groups of at least 10 can request a sommelier-led tasting. Within easy reach of Prague, Mělník is close enough for a spontaneous wine trip, with direct connections by train from Masarykovo nádraží and by bus from Ládví.

You don’t need to leave Prague to drink wine beside the vines that produced it. In Troja, Salabka Winery sits amid the city’s largest vineyard, spanning 4.5 hectares. Its sweeping views make it an easy escape within the capital. Riesling and Pinot Noir are the signatures here, expressing the character of the local growing conditions. Try them yourself through an intimate seasonal tasting or book a meal at the restaurant, where the wines are paired with carefully prepared cuisine.

If you want a broad introduction to Czech wine without plotting a route between individual vineyards, head to the National Wine Centre at Valtice Castle, just south of Brno. Its historic cellars house the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic, where visitors can taste and purchase an extensive selection of gold medal winners from the country’s national wine competition (100, to be exact). Thousands of bottles compete for a place in the annual selection, which brings together wines from Moravia and Bohemia. The year-round exhibition also offers a straightforward way to explore different regions and styles in a single stop.

At its shop on Laubova Street near Jiřího z Poděbrad (also known as JZP to the foreigners who frequent the area), family-run VINO CIBULKA pours organic, low-histamine wines produced at its Mikulov winery. The selection moves from traditional-method sparkling wines and playful pét-nats to rosés and fuller-bodied reds. Stop by for a glass, browse for a dinner bottle or ask the team to point you toward something new. A larger location is soon to open at Korunní 64, so keep the address handy; it will have more room for tastings and wine by the glass.

Sauvignon Blanc takes center stage at Fabig Winery, accounting for 80 percent of its production. After working at wineries in Spain and New Zealand, owner Roman Fabig founded the winery in 2011, bringing his experiences and expertise to Hustopeče. Alongside its main variety, Fabig produces Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay and Cabernet Moravia. The winery has no regular opening hours, which makes this a trip to plan rather than an impromptu stop, but wine sales and tastings can be arranged in advance. Those based in Prague can find Fabig bottles at many of the city's restaurants and wine bars, including Bokovka, Vinograf, Field and Café Imperial.

At Vinograf, wine, seasonal cooking and an easygoing atmosphere come together in central Prague. Their list is organized first by grape variety, then by country and region, making it easier to explore according to your tastes. Wines by the glass range from Moravian frizzante, Riesling and Pálava to Champagne and orange wine, with alcohol-free options also available. Sommeliers are available to help guests explore the selection, so come for a glass, stay for food and make an evening of it without leaving the city center.

Wine by the water gets a playful update at Dog in Dock, a contemporary winery beside the Baťa Canal in Veselí nad Moravou. Grapes sourced from vineyards near the White Carpathians become Chardonnay, Pálava, Merlot and the less expected Frankovka bílá, a white wine made from red Frankovka grapes. Its Bubbles & Barks range packages light frizzante in portable cans, complete with QR codes linking to curated playlists. Take home a bottle and admire the textured label artwork created by British illustrator Ashley Percival.

Part wine shop, part Italian pantry and part neighborhood gathering place, VINOdiVINO brings a taste of Italy to Prague’s Vysočany district. Its shelves lean heavily toward Italian wines, with bottles from Austria, Germany, France and Czechia also represented. Pair a glass with prosciutto, bresaola, regional cheeses or other delicacies from the display counters, then browse olive oils, balsamic vinegars and artisan pasta to take home. The shop also hosts tastings and themed events, creates custom gift baskets and organizes private celebrations and guided team-building sessions.

Beneath Mikulov’s Svatý kopeček, an old farmstead has been restored as the home of Fučík Winery. Its hand-picked white grapes come exclusively from nearby vineyards, allowing them to be processed shortly after harvest. During a cellar tasting or guided tour, visitors can taste up to 12 wines, including Welschriesling, Pálava, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. For a longer escape, add a picnic among the vines, stay at the four-star Hotel Ryzlink, or enjoy a dinner paired with Fučík wines at Ryzlink Restaurant, which holds a place in the prestigious Gault&Millau guide.