The discovery of seven vineyard knives and a clay wine bowl from the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., discovered on the Molpir Mountain near Smolenice, testifies to the existence of winegrowing in Slovakia before the arrival of the Romans.

Wine was loved and revered even by Great Moravian princes. The claim is supported by three preserved prayers: one for planting a vineyard, one for grape harvesting, and the last one for fermenting grape must.

In 892, king Svätopluk had an unprecedented gift sent to prince Borivoj: a barrel of wine. Princess Ludmila liked it so much she asked king Svätopluk for grape vine seedlings and founded a vineyard by Melnik.

Following the Tatar invasion in 1241, German and Italian colonizers helped revive viticulture and wine production in Slovakia.

From the first time queen Maria Theresa (1740-1780) tasted Frankovka modra from Rača, she became enchanted by it and greatly contributed to the continuing glory of this wine. It wasn’t until two hundred years later that the existence of resveratrol, an ingredient believed to have heart-healthy benefits, was found in Frankovka.

In 1825, Bratislava became the first producer of sparkling wine outside of France, marking the foundation of one of the most famous Slovak wine brands, J.E. Hubert.

In 1859, Jacob Palugyay’s winery was founded. His wines were enjoyed by rulers of Japan, a Turkish sultan, Brazilian emperor, or a Belgian king. It was even served on board of the most luxurious ship of all times, the Titanic.

Palugyay made winemaking history by building the first wine duct, leading from the cellars on today’s Pražská Street to the Main Station in Bratislava, where it was racked into barrels and bottles.

Pressburg (Bratislava) wines have been savoured by many famous people. Famous music composers Beethoven, Liszt, Rubinstein, or poet Petoffi all tasted Slovak wines.

Slovakia is a producer of the famous Tokaj wines, drunk not only by kings, popes, or presidents, but also the first cosmonaut of the world, Yuri Gagarin.

The 2001 Rizling rýnsky (Riesling) from Chateau Belá became Slovakia’s first wine entered in the world-renowned Wine Spectator.

American president George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, visited Bratislava in 2005. President Bush was served red cuvée President from Vinanza Vráble at Hotel Carlton, while President Putin tasted Frankovka modrá with Rizling rýnsky at Hotel Bôrik.

British Queen Elisabeth II made her first visit to Slovakia in 2008. She tasted Klevner from Radošiná, which was also served during her coronation fifty-five years ago, as well as wines made by Mrva&Stanko, Pavelka and Villa Vino Raca.

The most complete collection of Slovak wines can be found and tasted at the Slovak National Collection of Wines. It includes one hundred wines from the most recent vintage.