The world's leading wine experts are heading to Moravia and Bohemia. They will assess the potential of our wines.

Prague/Valtice — At the turn of August and September, the Czech wine industry will experience a landmark moment. For the very first time, the Czech Republic will welcome an organized delegation of twenty holders of the prestigious title Master of Wine (MW)—the highest and most respected professional distinction in the global wine industry. Accompanied by prominent British journalists and media representatives, they will participate in a five-day professional program from August 31 to September 4, 2026. During this time, they will explore the wine regions of Bohemia and Moravia, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, meet with local winemakers, and participate in a series of specialized masterclasses.

The first official study program in the Czech Republic is sponsored directly by the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine. The interest shown by this global institution demonstrates that the systematic promotion of Czech and Moravian wines abroad is having a tangible impact and that the international wine community recognizes their growing quality. There was enormous interest among experts in the opportunity to explore the Czech and Moravian terroir—from a large number of applicants , 20 MWs from 9 countries around the world were ultimately selected by lottery , including from the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, New Zealand, and the Scandinavian countries. The organization of such a significant event is the result of close cooperation between the National Wine Center, the Wine Fund, the CzechTourism agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Czech Embassy in London, the South Moravia Tourism Board, and dozens of domestic wineries.

“Bringing such a large group of Master of Wine title holders to the Czech Republic is an event of historic significance. These individuals set the direction for the entire global wine market and represent its highest authority. We have been working toward this visit for several years, because it is precisely their expert opinions and evaluations that have the power to fundamentally transform the perception of our wines on the international stage. We believe that a firsthand experience with our wines, winemakers, and landscape is the best way to present the Czech Republic as a modern wine-producing country,” said Lubomír Maťák, director of the National Wine Center.

The title of Master of Wine, which has been awarded by the British Institute of Masters of Wine since 1953, represents the absolute pinnacle of wine education and the highest possible professional qualification. Earning the title requires years of intensive study, demonstrating both practical and encyclopedic knowledge of oenology, viticulture, and international trade, and, above all, passing extremely demanding exams, including blind tastings of wines from around the world.

Given the uncompromising standards, only about 420 elite experts from 30 countries worldwide hold this title . They serve as key judges at international competitions, advisors to global merchants, critics, and authors of seminal professional literature, and their evaluations shape global trends.

The initiator and host of the visit is Lenka Sedláčková MW, the only Czech holder of this prestigious title to date. Among the guests from nine countries around the world are some of the field’s most prominent figures, such as former Institute of Masters of Wine Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW, independent consultant Jane Masters MW, American export market development consultant Lisa Granik MW, and wine critic Bryce Wiatrak MW. This extraordinary delegation will also be accompanied by prominent British journalists and content creators specializing in wine, gastronomy, and travel, including Aleesha Hansel from Channel 4’s “Sunday Brunch,” Jane Clare from the “One Foot in the Grapes” project, Urvashi Roe, who writes for London Unattached and MSN, and representatives from the Metro UK newspaper.

“The visit by these renowned professionals is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the Czech Republic to the world not only as a country of quality wines but also as an attractive tourist destination. Winemaking connects our beautiful landscape, traditions, gastronomy, and the stories of the people who give each region its character. In this regard, personal experience plays an irreplaceable role. When you meet a specific winemaker, taste their wine, learn their story, and walk through the vineyard where it ripened, you’ll be able to recount that experience in a much more captivating way. “Through events such as Masters of Wine, the Czech Republic can attract more international visitors and show them not only well-known wine regions but also places where they might not expect to find quality wine at all—and which may pleasantly surprise them,” says František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Board—CzechTourism.

“Wine tourism has ever-growing potential in the British market, which is why we’ve been focusing on this topic for the long term in collaboration with specialized partners, the media, and representatives of the tourism industry. The involvement of prestigious British media outlets will help introduce the Czech Republic to the general public and industry professionals alike, and will strengthen its position in the long term as an attractive destination for wine tourism, gastronomy, and authentic regional experiences,” adds Katarína Hobbs, Director of the CzechTourism Foreign Representative Office for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The program is designed as a comprehensive overview of Czech and Moravian winemaking, with an emphasis on expert masterclasses, terroir, and sustainability topics. At the start of the visit, representatives from various ministries and the CzechTourism agency will welcome the guests at the Černín Palace in Prague. From there, the expert delegation will travel to Bohemia and Moravia, where they will visit key wine regions, from the Kutná Hora area through Mikulov, Velké Pavlovice, and Slovácko, all the way to the Znojmo region.

During the five-day program, the experts will participate in a series of thematic masterclasses dedicated to typical grape varieties, such as Ryzlink vlašský, Veltlínské zelené, and Pálava, as well as field tastings focused on PIWI varieties, low-intervention wines, and natural wines. The program will also feature visits to UNESCO sites, the Czech Wine Salon in Valtice, and a showcase of Czech and Moravian sparkling wines and traditional sparkling wines. The program will conclude with a discussion featuring expert feedback on the Czech wine industry and a presentation of naturally sweet and fortified wines.

The goal of the project—a joint effort involving key government and industry institutions—is not to generate one-time media attention, but to forge lasting relationships with the global elite of the wine industry. “New trends in the world of wine are shaped by people who personally get to know a region, understand its story, and start talking about it. That is precisely why we decided to bring the world’s most respected experts to the Czech Republic. We believe that their personal experience will have a long-term impact on how our winemaking is perceived abroad and will open up new export and tourism opportunities for Czech wines,” added Lubomír Maťák.

Media Contacts
Dagmar Fialová, Marketing Director, National Wine Center, o.p.s.
+420 720 820 921
dagmar.fialova@vinarskecentrum.cz

Kateřina Martykánová, PR Manager
+420 602 576 870
press@vinarskecentrum.cz