Czech Wines Impress at the Polish Sommelier Championship in Warsaw
For the second consecutive year, Czech and Moravian wines were presented at the Polish Sommelier Championship 2026 in Warsaw. The masterclass, prepared by the National Wine Centre as part of the competition's professional programme, brought together sommeliers and wine professionals from Poland and abroad and highlighted the growing interest in Czech wines on the Polish market.
The masterclass was led by Zuzana Vejmelková, Export Manager at the National Wine Centre, and Dominika Holešínská, Project Coordinator at the National Wine Centre.
This year's masterclass, entitled "Local Darlings", focused on two flagship grape varieties of Czech winemaking – Welschriesling and Pálava. During the 50-minute tasting, participants were introduced to six wines from Czech and Moravian producers. The line-up opened with a PET-NAT, followed by three examples of Welschriesling and two wines made from Pálava. The seminar attracted 44 professional sommeliers and was fully booked.
"We were delighted to see such a high level of engagement from the participants. Sommeliers actively responded to questions, took detailed notes and showed genuine interest not only in the wines themselves, but also in the wine regions, gastronomy and the broader story of Czech winemaking," said Zuzana Vejmelková of the National Wine Centre.
A follow-up survey completed by 29 participants revealed a significant increase in interest compared to last year's edition. The results confirmed the strong potential of both featured varieties. Pálava was particularly appreciated for its expressive aromatics, consumer appeal and commercial potential on the Polish market. Welschriesling received outstanding feedback from wine professionals for its elegance, minerality and versatility in food pairing.
Participants also highly rated the overall quality of the wines, the authenticity of the individual styles and their excellent value for money. Many respondents felt the wines would pair naturally with contemporary Polish cuisine, while several sommeliers indicated they would seriously consider including Czech wines on their wine lists.
The masterclass's educational concept also received strong praise. Rather than taking a traditional sales-oriented approach, the seminar focused on introducing two distinctive local grape varieties and their role within Czech wine culture. Several participants described this format as refreshing and particularly effective in building awareness of Czech wines internationally.
"We were especially pleased that Lucas Wiegman, the overall winner of this year's championship, responded very positively to both the Mikulov wine region and Welschriesling during the masterclass. The following day, he personally thanked us for the seminar, which we consider a very meaningful endorsement," added Zuzana Vejmelková.
In addition to the masterclass, Czech wines were also presented during a walkaround tasting and the evening Bar de Sommelier event. Both activities were primarily aimed at competition partners, members of the sommelier community, and wine trade professionals attending the championship. The Czech Republic showcased a broader portfolio of wines representing a wide range of styles.
The participating wineries included IWAYINI, Mikrosvín Mikulov, VILAVIN, Vinařství Volařík, Vinné sklepy Kutná Hora, and Zámecké vinařství Bzenec.
Participation in the Polish Sommelier Championship forms part of the National Wine Centre's long-term strategy to increase awareness of Czech and Moravian wines in Poland and to strengthen relationships with the country's sommelier, wine, and gastronomy communities.
