WINE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2009
VINSELEKT MICHLOVSKÝ THE HISTORICAL FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE WINE COMPANY OF THE YEAR TITLE
Associate Professor Miloš Michlovský, MSc, DrSc., the founder, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the leading personality at the Vinselekt Michlovský a.s. wine company from Rakvice in the District of Břeclav received the winner’s plaque for the first year of the Wine Company of the Year competition (a bronze casting with a diameter of 34 cm and a weight of 4.3 kg) at the U Hybernů Theatre.
The competition was organised by the Winegrowers’ Association of the Czech Republic, the largest organisation uniting grape growers and winemakers, in association with the Viticultural Fund and the National Wine Centre. In the first round, leading viticultural experts, representatives of the largest wine and gastronomical institutions and representatives of the specialist press nominated the best wine companies from their point of view. 5 finalists arose from the evaluation of this questionnaire and they were then visited and evaluated according to predefined criteria by the final judging committee. The committee members were Ivo Dvořák, the Vice President of the Czech Association of Sommeliers, Pavel Krška MSc, the Director of the National Wine Centre, Bronislav Pavelka MSC, the Head of the Wine Inspection Department at the State Agricultural and Foodstuffs Inspectorate, Associate Professor Pavel Pavloušek, MSc PhD, the Head of the Winegrowing and Viticulture Institute at the Mendel University, and Vlastimil Peřina, an ecological vintner.
“The Wine Company of the Year is a new category project – like other competitions, it does admittedly take into account the momentarily achieved wine quality, but it also considers a number of other criteria, of which many are of fundamental importance to those who have come to love wine, seek it out and find enjoyment in it,” was how Miloš Michlovský commented on his excellent success. “I am exceptionally happy that the jury has given the first ever award in history to Vinselekt and that our exhibition will open the newly established Hall of Fame in the Wine Salon at the Valtice Château. Even though the result should only reflect our results in 2009 according to the competition’s statute, I think that our “achievements” in previous years may also have been a partial deciding factor in the first year.”
“We were once the ones who addressed the wider public with a new type of fresh, full wines with an at-that-time-uncommon fruity aroma as a product of controlled fermentation,” recalled Associate Professor Michlovský. “We have always endeavoured to be at the forefront, if not the direct initiators of new and sometimes risky and revolutionary procedures. We are currently concentrating on the expression of the most convincing terroir imprint in our wines both by means of maximum care for our vineyards and the most sparing processing of the grapes. We have introduced several different technological systems for white and red wines which enable us to choose the optimum path as if we had several small vineyards under one roof. Innovation and creativity are still in first place with us.”
“I am sure that we have been able to find the optimal expression for white Sauvignons or for the Pálava variety. We are dedicating a lot of attention to some of the newest varieties which are suitable for ecological viticulture due to their increased resistance. Our success is born out by the fact that our organic Hibernal wine recently became a Grand Prix Vinex winner amongst conventional wines. I have been involved in the creation of the most natural wines for many years and I support a sparing relationship with nature, sensible management and sustainable development. In my opinion, however, the current vitis vinifera varieties, i.e. all of the varieties known as Rieslings, Sauvignons, Veltliners or Burgundies, require adequate protection even in the best quality vineyards both in this country and in Europe and they are not completely suitable for ecological or bio-dynamic production. Integrated production with commensurate protection, the most sparing of spray applications and grassy areas between the rows of vines are suitable for them. Yes – let us administer them responsibly in relation to nature, sew the areas between the rows of vines, support biodiversity, work sparingly within the framework of integrated production, improve it and perfect it. I only make organic products – no matter whether this involves wines or pure unfermented wine juices – from our new varieties which we have been able to cultivate at Vinselekt and to have approved, i.e. from Malverin, Lena, Laurot, and from this year we will also include Rinot and Nativa as newly acknowledged varieties. They stand out for their increased resistance to the widest possible range of illnesses and pests, they have natural resistance and they are able to guarantee a harvest which will secure reasonable and stable prosperity for the winemaker while respecting all of the requirements of the ORGANIC principles.”
“I think that the Wine Company of the Year competition has already exceeded expectations in its first year – and I am not only saying so because we were the most successful participant in it. The organisers were able to keep the winner a secret until the very end. Not only the public, but also the five finalists were presented with the answer to this riddle on stage during the gala evening. The preserved secrecy clearly increased the interest of journalists and wine lovers in recent weeks, the competition enjoyed wide publicity and thanks to that it will be able to awake interest in Moravian wine among that part of the public which includes only occasional consumers. I am sure that the good ones definitely deserve this kind of attention.”
Statistical data:
The company was established in 1993, it has been a joint stock company since 2003, it now has about 60 employees
It works 120 ha of its own vineyards according to the rules of integrated production, part of the area is also in so-called ecological viticulture, it purchases approximately the same volume of grapes from long-term contractual suppliers who adhere to the same rules and instructions.
Annual production: in excess of 1 million bottles of wine.
The biggest production range is the Premier range, wines with a distinctive terroir imprint produced from perfectly ripened grapes with the most natural procedures and bottled without filtration. The Premier range consists of Vinum Palaviense with the inspected origins of the grapes from the calcareous Pálava vineyards and Chateau Dowina – an extractive attributive wine which matures in French oak barrels. Further production ranges include Latitude 49, Harmony, Passio Christi, Standard and the Private Archive range for collectors. The original Crémant de Vinselekt sparkling wines which are fermented in the bottles constitute an independent category.
Contact information:
Miroslav Majer, Commercial Manager, majerm@michlovsky.com, (+420) 777 569 605.
Vinselekt Michlovský a.s, Luční 858, 691 03 Rakvice
Prague trading office - U náměstí 714, Dolní Břežany
