Czech Wine Legislation – Official Wine Regions
Reference date: 3 August 2026.
Czechia has 2 wine regions (Morava and Čechy) with 6 subregions and 10 V.O.C. appellations.
Sources: Vinařský fond, SZPI (Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority) and Wine of Czech Republic (wineofczechrepublic.cz). Total: approx. 17,735 ha of vineyards, 383 wine villages, 1,313 vineyards and approx. 14,089 winegrowers (2023).
1. Classification System (EU-harmonised)
| Designation | Level | Description | Requirement |
|---|
| V.O.C. (Víno originální certifikace) | Highest | Wine with Original Certification | Comparable to French AOC; regionally distinctive; strict controls |
| Jakostní víno s přívlastkem (CHOP) | Quality | Quality wine with special attributes (PDO) | Kabinetní through to výběr z cibéb; no added sugar |
| Jakostní víno (CHOP) | Quality | Quality wine (PDO) | Min. 15°NM; odrůdové or známkové |
| Zemské víno (CHZO) | Regional | Regional wine (PGI) | Min. 14°NM; moravské or české zemské víno |
| Víno bez původu | Basic | Wine without geographical origin | Formerly table wine; no geographical restriction |
2. The 2 Wine Regions (Vinařské oblasti) and 6 Subregions (Vinařské podoblasti)
| Region / Subregion | Area | Characteristics |
|---|
| MORAVA (Moravia) Wine Region | 17,025 ha (96%) | 4 subregions, 308 wine villages, 1,142 vineyards |
| Znojemská vinařská podoblast | Western Moravia | Full-bodied, spicy white wines; influenced by the Dyje and Jevišovka rivers |
| Mikulovská vinařská podoblast | Pálava Hills | Limestone, loess and mineral wines with a distinctive character |
| Velkopavlovická vinařská podoblast | Central Moravia | Heart of red wine production; sandy soils |
| Slovácká vinařská podoblast | Slovak/Austrian border | Diverse terroirs and a rich folklore heritage |
| ČECHY (Bohemia) Wine Region | 710 ha (4%) | 2 subregions, 75 wine villages, 171 vineyards |
| Mělnická vinařská podoblast | Around Mělník | Charles IV imported Pinot Noir from Burgundy |
| Litoměřická vinařská podoblast | Around Litoměřice | Basalt soils and mineral notes |
3. Jakostní Víno s Přívlastkem – Quality Attributes
| Attribute (Přívlastek) | Minimum sugar content | Description |
|---|
| Kabinetní víno (Kabinett) | 19 °NM | Light, dry wines |
| Pozdní sběr (Late harvest) | 21 °NM | High-quality dry or off-dry wines |
| Výběr z hroznů (Grape selection) | 24 °NM | Full-bodied, extract-rich wines, sometimes with higher residual sugar |
| Výběr z bobulí (Berry selection) | 27 °NM | Medium-sweet to sweet wines made from late-ripened grapes |
| Ledové víno (Ice wine) | 27 °NM, harvested at ≤ −7°C | Very sweet wine; frozen grapes are pressed |
| Slámové víno (Straw wine) | 27 °NM (or 32 °NM after 2 months) | Grapes dried on straw for at least 3 months |
| Výběr z cibéb (Raisin selection) | 32 °NM | Highly extractive and sweet; grapes are often raisined |
| Víno originální certifikace (V.O.C.) | Variable | Regionally distinctive; the strictest quality category |
°NM = Normalizovaný moštoměr: kg of natural sugar per 100 litres of must.
4. V.O.C. – Víno Originální Certifikace (Appellations)
| V.O.C. Appellation | Subregion | Typical grape varieties / Characteristics |
|---|
| V.O.C. Znojmo | Znojemská | Ryzlink rýnský, Veltlínské zelené, Sauvignon |
| V.O.C. Mikulov | Mikulovská | Ryzlink rýnský, Pálava, Rulandské bílé |
| V.O.C. Modré Hory | Velkopavlovická | Frankovka, Svatovavřinecké; red wines |
| V.O.C. Blatnice | Slovácká | Ryzlink rýnský, Rulandské šedé |
| V.O.C. Čejkovice | Velkopavlovická | Various varieties; historic wine town |
| V.O.C. Velké Bílovice | Velkopavlovická | Largest wine-growing municipality (777 ha) |
| V.O.C. Dolní Kounice | Znojemská | Historic wine cellars |
| V.O.C. Pálava | Mikulovská | Limestone hills and mineral wines |
| V.O.C. Mělník | Mělnická | Rulandské modré (Pinot Noir) |
| V.O.C. Litoměřice | Litoměřická | Basalt soils |
V.O.C. is comparable to French AOC, Italian DOC or Austrian DAC, with an emphasis on terroir and authenticity.
5. Largest Wine-growing Municipalities (2023)
| Wine-growing municipality | Vineyard area | Subregion |
|---|
| Velké Bílovice | 777 ha | Velkopavlovická |
| Valtice | 586 ha | Mikulovská |
| Mikulov | 517 ha | Mikulovská |
| Čejkovice | 505 ha | Velkopavlovická |
| Dolní Dunajovice | 434 ha | Mikulovská |
| Novosedly | 433 ha | Mikulovská |
| Velké Pavlovice | 368 ha | Velkopavlovická |
| Vrbovec | 350 ha | Slovácká |
| Sedlec | 315 ha | Mikulovská |
| Mělník | 110 ha | Mělnická (Bohemia) |
| Most | 68 ha | Litoměřická (Bohemia) |
6. Main Grape Varieties
| Grape variety (Czech) | Type | Characteristics |
|---|
| Veltlínské zelené (Grüner Veltliner) | White | Most widely planted; fresh wines |
| Ryzlink vlašský (Welschriesling) | White | Popular; fruity and floral |
| Ryzlink rýnský (Riesling) | White | Noble grape; typical of V.O.C. Znojmo |
| Müller-Thurgau | White | Aromatic and early-ripening |
| Rulandské bílé (Pinot Blanc) | White | Elegant white wines |
| Rulandské šedé (Pinot Gris) | White | Full-bodied, rich wines |
| Pálava | White | Czech crossing (Tramín × Müller-Thurgau); aromatic |
| Chardonnay | White | International classic |
| Sauvignon | White | Fresh, spicy wines |
| Tramín červený (Gewürztraminer) | White | Intensely aromatic and spicy |
| Frankovka (Blaufränkisch) | Red | Most important red grape |
| Svatovavřinecké (St Laurent) | Red | Soft, elegant red wines |
| Rulandské modré (Pinot Noir) | Red | Historic in Mělník (Charles IV) |
| Zweigeltrebe (Zweigelt) | Red | Popular Austrian crossing |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Red | International classic |
7. Czech Grape Crossings
| Crossing | Type | Parent varieties / Characteristics |
|---|
| Pálava | White | Tramín × Müller-Thurgau, 1977, Josef Veverka |
| Aurelius | White | Seyve-Villard × Müller-Thurgau |
| André | Red | Frankovka × St Laurent, Mikulov 1980 |
| Neronet | Red | Complex crossing; dark colour; named after Nero |
| Cabernet Moravia | Red | Cabernet × Zweigelt; Moravian style |
| Cerason | Red | St Laurent × Blauer Portugieser |
| Laurot | Red | St Laurent × Merlot |
