Ultimate Local’s Guide to Moravia, Czech Republic’s Wine Region

Many people visiting the Czech Republic head straight to Prague – and miss the criminally underrated Moravia region, known for their sprawling vineyards, glassy lakes and red-roofed villages. South Moravia, Czech Republic has long been a hidden gem to the wine world, but this region has much more to offer than simply wines. 

Moravia is truly unlike any other place in the world. As you make your way down south, you’ll pass historic wine regions like Mikulov and Velké Pavlovice, known for their crisp white wines and winding roads, perfect for biking with the whole family. Nestled between rolling hills, find chateaux of former kinds and historical gems with pristine interiors.

It’s the perfect place to explore a different side of the Czech Republic. And, if I’m being honest, Moravia, Czech Republic is one of my favorite parts of the country. This is my ultimate local’s guide to South Moravia and the surrounding wine country. 

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When to Visit South Moravia

Czech Republic’s Moravia region is considered a national treasure – and many Czechs will visit the region each year to explore the endless rolling hills and bountiful nature. The best time to visit Moravia is the summer and fall. 

I personally recommend August to September. Why? Well, the weather is excellent during this time – warm, sunny, and generally perfect for biking. Plus, this is the typical “wine season” in Czech Republic – and during August to November, Czechs are legally allowed to sell burčák, or young wine. This light, sweet wine is a typical Czech drink, and many wineries make their own variety. 

How to Get There: Moravia, Czech Republic

To best visit Moravia, you’ll want to rent a car. In many cases, when traveling Czech Republic, there are excellent public transit alternatives…But in this case, I truly believe it’s best to rent a car for maximum flexibility (I personally always use this site for the best deals).

If you have no other option and need to take public transit, take one of the many trains from Prague to Brno. From there, you can take public transit to local towns (buses, primarily). 

Alternatively, you can take this awesome e-bike and wine tour from Brno – because really, Moravia is best seen on a bike – or this castle and wine combo tour to visit some of the region’s most beautiful sights. 

Where to Stay in Moravia, Czech Republic 

Looking for the perfect spot in the Moravia region? When planning your trip, I’d recommend picking a hotel central to everywhere you might want to visit. 

Most visitors will stay in a certain wine town with wine varieties they like (more on this later!) so they can walk around – and avoid drunk driving. It’s also very common to stay at a hotel that makes their own wine and doubles as a winery. 

I personally recommend staying in Velké Pavlovice, Bořetice, Mikulov, Hustopeče. However, it’s easy to drive between towns once you’re in the region, so if you fall in love with a hotel – don’t worry! 

The Luxurious Option: Šlechtitelka, Lotrinsky Hotel or Boutique Hotel – Vinařství Škrobák

The Middle Ground: Penzion U TŘÍ RŮŽÍ or Vinařství a penzion Knápek

The Budget Option: Penzion Živá Pálava, Pension Dolni Dunajovice

The Unique Option: Bobule v sudu (stay in an old wine barrel!)

What to Do in Moravia, Czech Republic 

Moravia, Czech Republic is the perfect place to visit with family – or for a special couples retreat. Most people visit Moravia to spend time outdoors, grill out with the family and visit local wineries. Every time we visit with my husband, we feel completely overwhelmed by everything there is to do. Here are some of the best things to do in Moravia. 

Biking

Most Czechs will drive down to Moravia to do one of two things: biking or visiting wineries. Moravia is one of the best places for a biking trip thanks to the region’s scenic views and rolling hills.

Most hotels and Airbnbs will recommend local routes, but if you’re feeling really up to it, you can try this 300 kilometer route, which starts on the Czech-Polish border and ends in South Moravia. Of course, there’s always this Moravia wine cycling route!

Historical Wineries

Traditional wine cellars in Vrbice, or Vinné sklepy Vrbice, are absolutely worth a visit. In the town of Vrbice, you’ll find these unique cellars, carved into sandstone up to seven floors on top of each other. You’ll notice them by their Gothic arches. This is their exact location. 

Bonus: they look a lot like Hobbiton, but in the Czech Republic! 

Visit Lednice Castle

Czech Republic is known for their castles, and Lednice Castle is perhaps one of the most beautiful. Located in the heart of Moravia, Lednice Castle is an 1800s palace built on a Renaissance chateau and Gothic fort, with a riding hall and formal gardens. What more could you ask for? 

If you’re staying in Brno, this guided tour includes pretty much everything and makes it easy to see one of Czech Republic’s most beautiful castles. This guided tour combines the castle with a wine tour – so, basically, the perfect day trip. Alternatively, rent a car and visit the castle on your own time. 

Local Wineries

Moravia is all about the wine – so you can’t leave without visiting local wineries! Some of my favorites include Sonberk, Vinařství Springer, and Vajbar. I’ll delve more into local wineries below and the open cellars you can’t miss. 

Observation Decks

Moravia has SO many observation decks to soak up the views. Here are some of the best lookout points for that epic view:

• Slunečná lookout
• Majak Lookout
• Vyhlídka U Obrázku
• Observation tower Cow Mountain
• Nedánov tower
• Dalibor Lookout
• Vyhlídka na Hustopeče
• Hustopeče Lookout
• Kobylí vrch

Lavender Farm 

Fresh lavender, anyone? Lavandia grows fresh lavender in Moravia, making it the perfect spot to stop on your South Moravia road trip. You can come here to pick your own lavender or purchase some of their divine lavender products at their shop. Or, you know, take advantage of the excellent photo opportunity (without the trip to France). 

Brno 

Brno, the region’s capital, is the country’s second largest city after Prague. Don’t write it off, though. This city has so much heart, from the historical castle perched on a hill to the bustling foodie scene. If you have time, don’t skip a walking tour of Brno to highlight the historical gems the city has to offer. Alternatively, check out Brno’s bunkers from World War II and the Cold War – now a museum – with these skip-the-line tickets. 

From here, you can visit wine country – or the Punka Caves, a beautiful and oft-overlooked cave system in Moravia. You can also opt to visit the stunning historical towns of Olomouc and Kromeriz, which can honestly be considered some of the best the country has to offer. 

Wine Varieties in South Moravia

The Czech Republic’s Moravia region has been recognized across the world with silver and gold medals for its excellent wines. 

The region is separated into four key wine growing regions: Znojmo, Mikulov, Velké Pavlovice and Slovácko.

Znojmo is perhaps best known for its Grüner Veltliner, Müller Thurgau, Sauvignon, Pálava and Riesling varieties. 

The Velké Pavlovice is well-known for its Blue Portugal, but wine growers here also produce excellent Pinot Gris and, more specifically, the aromatic varieties of Gewürztraminer, Moravský Muškát, Müller Thurgau and Pálava.

If you’re visiting Slovácko in South Moravia, you’ll want to look out for Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris prosper varieties as well as Moravský Muškát. 

Known primarily for its white wines, Moravian winemakers specialize in sweet, extractice wines and produce crisp and aromatic varietals. Additionally, Moravia is home to unique indigenous grape varieties such as Veltlínské zelené and Moravian Muscat, adding to the region’s distinctive vinicultural landscape.

Local winemakers in Moravia are also experts in ice and straw wines – made from pressed frozen grapes at temperatures close to freezing; straw wines, on the other hand, are produced by drying well-matured grapes in straw. 

The Best Wineries in Moravia 

When visiting the best wineries in Moravia, you have two options: wineries, or cellars. Let me explain what I mean by each of these options. 

The Best Wine Cellars and Wine Towns in Moravia

Moravia is perhaps best known for their open cellars. When visiting just about any wine town in the region, you’ll walk through downtown and notice families with open cellar doors, selling their local wines to anyone who wants to stop in. 

It’s part of the magic of Moravia: excellent wines sold out of cellars. If you’re interested in this option, I’d recommend the following areas and/or towns: 

• Šobes, known as one of the oldest areas (be sure to visit the villages of Šatov, Saldorf-Sedlešovice, Hnanice, Chvalovice and Jaroslavice)
• Blatnice pod Svatým Antonínkem (also known as the Burgundy of Moravia)
• Petrov (known for their beautiful cellars)
• Pavlov
• Dolní Dunajovice
• Sedlec 
• Horní Věstonice / Dolní Věstonice

Moravians are so friendly and so kind, you’re guaranteed to have a good time and even make a friend or two. If this doesn’t intimidate you, I’d highly recommend exploring your local town and opting for one of these cellars! 

The Best Wineries in Moravia 

Alternatively, you have wineries. Moravia has their fair share of beautiful wineries! These are some of my favorites in the area: 

• Sonberk Winery (they have a LOVELY view!)
• Znovín Znojmo
• Vajbar Winery (Try their Award-Winning Palava!)
• Springer Winery 
• Vinařství u Kapličky
• Vinice Hnanice
• Špalek Winery
• Vinařství Volarik
• Vinium 
• Jan Stávek Winery (this family has been making wine for 5 generations!)
• Růžička Winery
• Škrobák
• Vinařství Petr Kočařík
• Milan Nestarec
• Vinařství Plenér
• Gala Winery

Seem like a super long list? It’s because the Czech Republic is such an underrated wine region. There are SO many excellent wineries and wine producers in this area. Have you visited? 

Samantha Tatro

Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.