Pražský hrad, 119 08 Praha 1
Prague, Czech Republic
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It was our fifth day in Prague and a beautiful Sunday. It would have been a waste to stay home, so we decided to go for a walk to explore little more of Prague’s beauties.
Walking near Prague Castle and Royal Garden we arrived to Prague wine harvesting festival (vinobrani) and we decided to stay and check it out. Our participation consisted in tasting of young fermenting wine and purchase of some old wine for later.
Throughout southern Moravia local ‘vinobrani’ (wine festivals) celebrate the arrival of ‘Burcak’, the new, semi-fermented wine, in late August and early September. Visitors can also expect to be entertained by costumed jugglers, sword fighters and dancers. The weekend presents a full program, beginning with an evening costume procession. Other events and attractions include a knights’ tournament, an historical market, medieval music, dances, theater performances and plenty of opportunities to try the celebrated burcak. The grand finale comes with a display of fireworks.
The tasting and drinking of burcak has been part of Czech fall since old times. Tasting this young wine bring back so many memories from childhood, when this was only “alcohol” we have been allowed to drink.
Burcak is very young grape juice that is just starting fermenting. It is high in sugar and low in alcohol, but throughout fermentation the ratio between them is changing in favor of alcohol and wine is being born. We are not wine experts, but in our travels we learn little about flavor, color and taste.
From a wine producer we wound some interesting facts about the Czech wine production. The most productive part of the Czech Republic is the southeast part of Moravia. They have some vineyards in Bohemia and Prague, but Moravia with its plentiful sunshine, fertile soil and the right amount of rain gives grapes an excellent color, flavor and taste that give the wine the best quality that can be compared to quality of French and Italian wine.
We know that in north America it would be hard to find this wines, but if you look after small Czech, Polish, Slovak, Hungarian or Romanian store you could find them or you could order them. The California’s wine can’t even compare with the sweetness of this wines. You have to trust us by word.
While tasting the burcak you can listen some folk music or watch some folk dancing. It is a very popular event and you are surrounded all time by people all drinking burcak.
