Habánské sklepy

Invited to southern Moravia by Linhart of Liechtenstein, the Hutterite brethren became known locally as Habáni. Respected as craftsmen and winemakers, they built their compound in Bílovice in 1545 and the old Haban cellar in 1614. That cellar still serves its original purpose, giving Habánské sklepy a home with centuries of wine at its heart.

Today the house is part of the Bohemia Sekt Group. Every bottle carries DURAT ET LUCET, meaning 'it endures and it shines'. Take those words to the table: a reminder of the people who built the cellar, and an invitation to discover the wines poured from the house today.

The whites offer a clear introduction to the house's work today. For Welschriesling, grapes are picked at optimum ripeness, then fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel to preserve their fruit and the variety's character. Riesling also ferments in temperature-controlled stainless steel. In the glass, freshness gives their different aromas room to speak, from green apple and citrus to the delicate perfume of linden blossom.

An archive of bottles in the cellar opens another way to explore the house. Freshly poured whites and wines kept through the years invite different kinds of attention: the pleasure of recognising a grape, and the curiosity of discovering how it develops.

Petr Ptáček, director of Habánské sklepy, hosts tastings of archive wines in the cellar. It is an inviting way to meet the house: through a glass, in the place where its wines are kept. The setting gives the conversation a starting point, while each bottle brings something of its own to discover.

Make time for a cellar tasting when planning a visit to Velké Bílovice. Bring a question about a wine you enjoy, or simply an appetite for a new experience. A name first encountered on a label can become a place you remember, with a glass and a conversation attached to it.

Ryzlink rýnský, the local name for Riesling, and Ryzlink vlašský, Welschriesling, open the collection with fresh, dry whites. Tramín červený brings Gewürztraminer's rose-petal fragrance and a semi-dry touch. On the red side, Frankovka, known elsewhere as Blaufränkisch, offers berries and gentle spice, while Zweigeltrebe brings sour cherry and a smooth finish.

Let the meal help you choose. Fish can lead to one of the whites, aromatic poultry to Tramín červený, and game to a red. Set a bottle beside the food, pour for someone whose company you enjoy, and give these Moravian names a familiar place at your table.