Nature & Food StorylineAutumn in the CountryPart 3 of 3

Drought trims the Czech grape harvest, but reds may benefit

The Wine Fund expects a harvest 20 to 30 percent smaller; the last harvest festivals of the season run into late October.

Hana Brabcová · Nature & Food Reporter
3 October 2026, 16:00 CEST · South Moravia · 2 min read

Illustration

Illustration: Grapes in a Moravian-style vineyard.

The news

This year's grape harvest in Czechia will be markedly smaller because of drought. Zbyněk Vičar, director of the Wine Fund, estimated in September that the harvest would be about 20 to 30 percent lower than usual and that grapes would also yield less juice.¹

A survey by the Czech Winegrowers' Union found clear signs of drought on more than half of its members' vineyards, and on more than three quarters in some cases. Winemakers in all Moravian sub-regions reported smaller berries and grapes ripening unevenly. In places, hail added to the damage; the union reported heavy losses in the Velké Pavlovice area.¹

The details

Good news for red wine

Vičar said the hot, dry summer could suit red varieties and that fans of fuller red wines should do well. An earlier harvest also gives winemakers more time to work on St. Martin's wine, the young wine released on 11 November, although its volume may be lower.¹

A few harvest festivals are still ahead. The Chrámce winery in the České středohoří hills holds a burčák festival on 17 October, and the village of Vrbovec near Znojmo closes the season on 31 October with a procession, the ceremonial pressing of the last grapes and open wine cellars.²³