The Bohemian wine region has its new champion: At the region’s largest wine competition, a Saint Laurent 2023 from Rájec prevailed. The natural red wine project by Nectar Lucis convinced the jury and took home the coveted title.
The national wine season in the Czech Republic is underway – and right at the start, there is a new champion. At the traditional evaluation of wines from the Bohemian (Čechy) growing region, this year’s winner was the Saint Laurent 2023 Special Kvevri from the Nectar Lucis winery in Rájec. The prestigious event is organised by the Association of Winemakers of the Czech Republic with the support of the Wine Fund and the National Wine Centre.
The small winery Nectar Lucis, situated in one of the less typical wine regions of the Czech Republic, secured a triple victory this year: alongside the title of “Champion,” their natural, unfiltered Saint Laurent won the category for “Dry Red Wines” and also received a prize in the form of a French oak barrique barrel, donated by the Guild of Czech Winemakers.
Besides the winning wine, a Ryzlink rýnský 2023, Spätlese, from the family winery Vondrák in Mělník scored highly in the category “Dry White Wines”, which also secured victory in the semi-dry and sweet wines category with a 2007 Riesling selection wine. The best collection was again assembled by the winery of the Czech University of Life Sciences (Vinařství ČZU na Mělníku na Chloumku) – eight wines, averaging an outstanding 90 points, including two Grand Gold medals.
In the rosé category, the Svatovavřinecké Rosé 2024 from Vinné sklepy Kutná Hora prevailed. In total, three expert commissions tasted 102 wines from the region and awarded 9 Grand Gold, 20 Gold, 4 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal. 92 wines were nominated for the national final of the Salon of Wines, which will decide the overall Czech champion this autumn in Valtice.
Those who want to try for themselves can do so on 12 August 2025 (3.00 pm to 9.00 pm) in the Aula of the Campus of the University of Life Sciences in Prague (České zemědělské univerzity v Praze). The best winemakers of the region will present their award-winning wines – from fresh Riesling to the new champion from Rájec. Further information and tickets can be found here.
With just around 710 hectares of vineyard area, the Bohemian wine region is small but exceptionally diverse: from the picturesque vineyards of Prague to the steep slopes along the Labe (Elbe), wines with a distinctive character are produced here. Alongside classic varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Pinot Blanc, red wines like Svatovavřinecké and Pinot Noir particularly shine – this year led by the prize-winning Saint Laurent 2023 Special Kvevri.
