Richard Stávek is experimental and insightful, producing wine in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic since the 1990’s. Stávek has 15 hectares of land in South Moravia, 4.5 of which are dedicated to his vineyard. The rest is home to animal life, sea buckthorn bushes, berries for brandy, and more. His vineyard is home to mostly indigenous grape varieties, many of which are field blended in his wines.

He is a co-founder of Autentisté, a group of natural winemakers in the Czech Republic rooted in Central European tradition and focused on producing terroir-driven wines. In a region primarily known in the beverage world for beer, Stávek and his fellow winemakers take pride in producing wines truly representative of their land. Autentisté insists on low-yield production using hand-picked grapes, with organic farming practices and, in the cellar, natural fermentation with no added yeasts, low sulfur, and no genetically modified organisms or additives.

Vinification Method: Grapes are hand harvested and whole bunches are fermented in 400 and 800-liter wood tanks for about 10 days with only indigenous yeast. The grapes are foot stomped after fermentation completes, where it then spend 10 months in elevage in 600-liter barrels, with battonage performed during the first 5 months about 1-2 times per month. The wine has zero sulfur added and is unfiltered and unfined.

– Jenny & Francois

A helpful guide to the grapes Richard uses for this cuvée, thanks to Jancis Robinson:

Frankovka: Blaufrankisch

Svatovavřinecké: Sankt Laurent

Modrý Portugal: Blauer Portugieser

Cabernet Moravia: a cross between Cabernet Franc and Zweigelt created for use in the Czech Republic

André: A cross between Blaufrankisch and Sankt Laurent created for use in the Czech Republic