Thaya winemaker Jakub Smrcka will talk to us about Czech wines and the land where they grow their natural wines.
We were live for a VeroTalk exploring the natural wines of the Czech Republic with Thaya winemaker Jakub Smrcka.
Learn about the unexplored world of Czech wines, from history, terroir, and grapes, from international to native Czech varieties.
Moderating was Vero's own Jacqui Mitchell, a chef, California winery owner and an aspiring sommelier who lives and works in Piedmont, Italy.
Click HERE to watch the recording and order Thaya's wines HERE to taste along with the winemaker.
We will be discovering and tasting all of Thaya’s wines.
Order all 9 wines to stock up for Thanksgiving. You’ll get free shipping on orders over $200 through the end of 2022!
Taste Thaya Wines from the Czech Republic
From the Czech Republic, Thaya crafts organic wines in the area of South Moravia, near the Austrian border.
A bright lemon color with apple and carnation flower aromas, this chardonnay is round, fresh and fruity with a chalky texture and long finish, all-in-all, nicely balanced. Aged 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this semi-aromatic, white wine is made from moravian muscat, and a cross between muscat ottonel and a rare Czech grape, prachtraube. Its lively acidity matches so well with 5 grams/liter of residual sugar, that it practically hides the extra natural fruit sugars, making it a white wine that both dry and sweet wine drinkers would enjoy as it is well balanced between the sweetness and acidity. It has intriguing aromas of lavander, honeysuckle and chamomile and a citrus/grapefruit taste reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc. If you like moscato and sauvignon blanc, try this!
Made naturally, with native yeast fermentation. Stainless steel fermentation and aged for 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this Muller Thurgau white wine is organic with notes of lemon, lemongrass, and white peach. Quaffable, this Muller Thurgau is fresh, with citrus lime fruit and also minerally, with a pleasant finish. Stainless steel aged for 6 months, the aroma is typical of the grape which is a cross between riesling and sylvaner.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, sipping this late harvest sauvignon blanc is like having a lemon creamsicle as a white wine.
It has an intriguing nose, floral, with cape gooseberry fruit and lemongrass, thanks to aging in french oak barrels for 12 months, of which 20% is new oak. It has great acidity with flavors of lemon and poblano chiles mixed in with a creamy taste and mouthfeel and a long, saline finish.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, the fruit for this late harvest dry riesling came from the organically farmed Staré Vinice estate vineyard, which is within a national park. The vineyard is south facing, with granite soils. The wine was made naturally and fermented with native yeast and aged for 12 months in 1,000-liter barrels. This dry, Rhine-style Riesling is golden yellow in color. On the nose, you’ll find notes of lemon ricola, vanilla, chai spice and a distinct salinity that is due to the underlying palate. The palate has a juicy acidity that is in harmony with the citrus notes. The wine has a long finish and excellent potential for aging.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this 100% Blaufrankisch rosé, which is called Frankova in the Czech language, has an orange-pink color, cinnamon red hot up front and great balance of red forest fruits and juicy acidity, that balances out the 5.9 grams/liter of residual sugar. Stainless steel fermentation and aged for 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this single vineyard late harvest Blaufrankisch, which is called Frankova in the Czech language, is a natural wine, made by fermenting with native yeasts, and is aged in different types of french oak barrels. The color is darker, ruby with violet highlights. The nose is fruity with notes of liquorice and herbs, complemented by hints of black fruit. The palate is long, with hint of spiciness.
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this single vineyard 100% Saint Laurent, which is called Svatovavřinecké in the Czech language and is a descendant of pinot noir, is from the U Chlupa vineyard with dusty loess and clay soils and which is in a national park. It has an inky deep purple color, a pretty nose, of violets, milk chocolate and spice. It is fresh with chaulky tannins, dark fruit taste, a harmonious and balanced wine. The wine was made naturally and fermented with native yeasts. It aged for 18 months in oak barrels of assorted sizes and types of toasting. It’s what’s called a “beefier Pinot Noir.”
From the Thaya estate winery in the Czech Republic, this single vineyard late harvest Zweigelt, which is called Zweigeltrebe in the Czech language and is a cross between Blaufrankisch and Saint Laurent, is from the Fládnická vineyard and which is in a national park. The wine was made naturally, fermented with native yeasts and aged in french oak barrels (60% new) for 18 months. A robust wine made from grapes with a late harvest ripeness. The color is a dark purple red color. The aroma is pleasantly fruity and spicy, moving into notes of licorice and wild animal. The palate is fruity, full-bodied and long. When tasting you will find it has a ‘little bit of everything’: acid, fruit, tannins and some saltiness. It will have you taking another sip to enjoy it more.