Znak obce Město Úštěk - oficiální stránky města

Nápis stránek města
Fotonápis města Úštěk

MENU:

Česky
English
Sitenmap







Viniculture in our region

Viniculture in Velké Žernoseky Even though Velké Žernoseky is at the actual end of the lexicon of Czech viniculture (remember that individual places are classified in alphabetical order, not by significance in Czech viniculture), Mr. František Kupsa was the first of the great Czech vintners whom I visited. Directly at the square of this picturesque village, the dominant feature of which is a church tower, behind which even rows of vineyards rise on steep hills, there is a wine-producing company, belonging to the firm Žernosecké vinařství s.r.o. I came to talk with its head Mr. František Kupsa about Žernosecky wine, which has always been - and still is - one of the highest quality Czech wines.

The ratio of production of white wine to red wine is 4:1. There is a lot of interest in local wine, which is also evident by the fact that the produce is easily sold. I myself have not found Žernoseky wines available for sale, except in specialised wine restaurants, but fans of the wine go directly to Velký Žernoseky and buy them there. In the village itself there is also a wide variety of these wines on offer in the local shop under the church wall.

The wines are in demand by Czech citizens as well as by a large number of people from other countries. These are mainly Germans, but guests from Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden have also been welcomed there. This situation is a result of the efforts of a travel agency, which Mr. Kupsa works together with. Agrotourism is not unknown to occur here. Guests can look through historic cellars and can of course taste the excellent local wines. However, as it was pointed out to me, this is conditional upon having an interest in wine and viniculture, hence these specialist excursions are determined rather for specialists. The prestige and high quality of local wine is also evident from a long list of awards, which it was given at various wine exhibitions and competitions.

Žernoseky wines are also bottled into small 0.35 1itre bottles and are determined for the Olympik hotel in Prague.

Viniculture in Velké Žernoseky For other customers they are bottled in classic 0.75 litre bottles, and for celebratory occasions also into 1.5 litre bottles. Wooden cases and other packaging is also on offer. An effort to adapt to the demands of the market is evident. Of course, I was most looking forward to the local cellars that are proud of their tradition, which reaches as far back as the end of the 13th century. The size of the carved rock cellars is also considerable - they cover an area of 2,146 square metres and are connected by corridors 275 metres long.

When I was standing in the company of wooden barrels, in which local wines are being matured, I felt as if I was at a holy site. I could imagine the astonishment of guests from other countries, who took part in specialist excursions there. I am convinced that Žernoseky viniculture significantly contributes to the fame of Czech viniculture outside of the country as well, and the locally-produced wines that I tasted are exceptional. Mr. Kupsa, who is currently the boss, is the third man, who since 1945 has been the head of what is without a doubt a very significant wine-producing firm. His predecessors were Mr. Gabriel and Mr. Jaroš. In 1998 Mr. Kupsa introduces the first 1,000 bottles of Žernoseky 'barikové' wine (wines named in this way mature in new 225 litre oak barrels) onto the Czech market.

Žernoseky vineyards, which have their own famous names, include Kostelní, Pod Lovošem (named after Lovoš peak), Mariánská (according to the restored statue of the Holy Virgin Mary), Malá Vendule and Velká Vendule, of which the latter two are very well-known and famous. It is said that the name Vendule has been kept since Celtic times.


Wine products of Velké Žernoseky viniculture

Wine - Muller Wine - Ryzlink