Svatomartin wine can be tasted this year even before November 11th. „Svatomartin wine is the first wine of the new vintage. Traditionally, it is opened on November 11th at 11 o'clock. The Wine Fund, the owner of the brand „Svatomartin“, has allowed young wines to be opened before the feast of St. Martin. The first bottles of young wine can thus start being sold as early as November 8th,“ explained Jiří Sedláček, director of the Svatomartin festivities and roasted goose festival.
This year's edition of the popular festival, which attracts around six thousand visitors each year, promises a rich participation of winemakers from all corners of the country. „Twenty Czech and Moravian wineries will present their young wines. According to local wine regulations, the allowed white varieties for Svatomartin wine are Müller Thurgau, Veltlínské červené rané, and Moravian Muscat, while the allowed red and rosé varieties are Modrý Portugal and Svatovavřinecké, and since 2013, Zweigeltrebe, which is only a rosé variety. There will also be still wines at the stands. Winemakers will offer tastings and sales of their regular still wines from older vintages and for warming up, the popular 'svařák',“ said Jiří Sedláček.
Entry to the festival is free, but purchasing a tasting set is necessary for wine tasting. „Wine will be tasted from glasses, which will be part of the tasting sets along with a tasting card and a pencil, priced at 150 crowns. Purchasing a tasting set is not a condition for entry to the festival; it is free for all visitors,“ stated Jiří Sedláček.
In addition to young wines, the celebration of St. Martin's Day must not miss the golden-brown roasted goose. Visitors will be able to enjoy it in various variations. „They can look forward to goose roast with Karlovy Vary dumplings and cabbage, goose kaldoun with dumplings, goose liver with apples and onions, and the popular Svatomartin goose burgers, sandwiches with pulled goose meat, quiche with goose meat, or goose pâté,“ listed Jiří Sedláček.
The festivities will offer not only goose specialties but also a whole range of other delicacies. Vendors will offer snacks suitable for wine in 18 stands – cheeses, cold cuts, or Mediterranean specialties that pair perfectly with young wines. Sweet treats will also be available – for example, pastries or pancakes. In addition to mulled wine, there will also be warm non-alcoholic beverages on offer.
The popular Svatomartin festivities and roasted goose festival is not just about drinking wine and indulging in goose specialties; a rich accompanying program is prepared. „Throughout the day, several bands will perform on stage. There will be cimbalom music and other live bands playing jazz and country for listening and dancing,“ listed Jiří Sedláček.
If you want to roast a goose yourself, you can buy one on the day of the festival directly at the riverbank. „Geese will be available for purchase at the farmers' market, which will be part of the festivities. However, it will only be open until 2 PM. The price of geese will be around 250 crowns per kilogram,“ concluded Jiří Sedláček.
SVATOMARTIN FESTIVITIES AND ROASTED GOOSE, www.svatomartinskeslavnosti.cz
The now-traditional event Svatomartin festivities and roasted goose first took place in 2010 at Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, and a year later it moved to Rašínovo nábřeží, where it is held to this day. The festival regularly attracts around six thousand people. The event is organized by the Archetyp association.
FARMERS' MARKET NÁPLAVKA, www.farmarsketrziste.cz
The unique genius loci along with the relaxed atmosphere makes the farmers' market Náplavka a popular place for both locals and tourists. Every Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM, it is possible to buy food made from quality ingredients – from seasonal vegetables and fruits, bread, meat, fresh fish to goat, cow, and sheep cheeses, as well as homemade eggs. The farmers' market Náplavka is part of the Association of Farmers' Markets in the Czech Republic, which adheres to the farmers' market code.
