Sonberk Palava 2020

In a nutshell:
A fragrant, rounded and award winning Czech white with a touch of fullness.

The lowdown:
Sonberk is in the Czechia's main wine region of Moravia not far from the Austrian border. This is one of their top wines and is made from Pálava grape variety which was bred here in the 1950s to suit the local climate pefectly. Made without oak ageing, on the nose it's lightly aromatic and has plenty of exotic fruity and spicy notes while on the palate there's a real richness to which the ripe flavours of pears and peaches combine to give generous creamy mouthfeel. It all draws to a pleasantly lingering finish shot through with hints of almonds.

The Producer:
Czechia's historic wine producing region, Moravia is where you’ll find the Sonberk Winery . A relative newcomer, they were established in 2003 and their name is derived from the word 'Sonnberg' which refers to the sunny, south facing aspect of their 45 hectares of vines. The grapes grown here include international favourites such as Riesling, Pinot Gris and Merlot alongside the local Pálava, a late ripening local variety which suits this dry, cool climate region. The modern winery is a quite impressive place, it was designed by the acclaimed Czech architect Josef Pleskot and built into the hillside with efficient winemaking being prime objective. It also boasts a tasting room with spectacular views over the Pálava hills not far to the south. They practice sustainable viticulture and their range of wines has, in recent years, been earning well deserved attention and more than a few awards.

When to drink:
The Czech Republic may be off the beaten track, but this is a well made wine, worth looking out for. Nicely mouthfilling, it'll go really well with lightly spiced asian fish, chicken and rice dishes.

Categories	Wine / White Wine / Floral & Aromatic Whites
Country	Czech Republic
Grape Variety	Palava
Vintage	2020
Volume	75cl
ABV	14.5%
SKU	SO0J15WN