Opis
Even if Polish winemaking is at the beginning of its journey to greatness, it is impossible to ignore the new phenomenon and the growing interest in Polish wines.
The geographical and climatic context in which Polish vineyards are presented is supplemented by historical background and considerations for the future of winemaking in our country. The entire publication is richly illustrated and filled with basic meteorological data. The author also took care to include a number of wine trivia “from our backyard”, which can provide an excellent discussion anchor for those enjoying our local pinot or pét nat.
The Atlas can be an excellent support for all those who plan an original holiday in areas of concentration of vineyards and wineries.
Wine Atlas – POLAND in numbers
- 100 unique photographs and illustrations
- 8 original maps of wine regions
- 40 recommended wineries
- 12 long-term measurements from meteorological stations
Content overview
A bit of history
Although our winemaking is growing and generating a lot of interest, still not many people realize that in the history of our country, this is not its debut – that we have centuries-old wine traditions. It started with the baptism of Poland. The grapevine came to us together with the monks preaching the Good News. The liturgy had its requirements – wine was needed for its celebration….
Revival
A new chapter of Polish winemaking begins at the beginning of the 21st century. In the new political, economic, cultural realities, viticulture and wine production have a chance to return to greatness. The favorable changes are supported by the climate. Modern researchers – contrary to popular opinion – claim that a favorable belt for viticulture in the northern hemisphere extends between the 32nd and 52nd parallels. Poland, in turn, is located between 49°00’N and 54°50’N. It is easy to see that a large part of our country lies in the right place.
Lesser Poland
This is where the archaeological finds with some of the oldest traces of wine in Poland come from. They testify that as early as the 10th century a vineyard was cultivated on Wawel Hill. Fundamental changes were brought by modern times, the 21st century. Gradually increasing wine consumption, interest in it, the first attempts with vineyards, warming climate, have slowly awakened interest in production possibilities. The opportunities are real. Malopolska is a highly diverse landscape of habitats and microclimates, it seemed that in suitable, sunny and warm places, cultivation was possible.
Lesser Poland’s Vistula Gorge
This region is an exception in the Atlas: its borders were not defined by modern vineyards, but by history. The symbolic point on this map is the castle in Janowiec. Its escarpment was once overgrown with vineyards; today it is the headquarters of a wine association, and a wine festival is held in its courtyard every year. Full of monuments, the picturesque Vistula gorge with towns such as Kazimierz Dolny, Janowiec, Puławy and Nałęczów offers numerous attractions on both sides of the river (ferry crossings!), including, of course, the opportunity to visit vineyards.
Subcarpathia
This region strongly influenced the rebirth of modern Polish winemaking. This rebirth took the form of a small revolution started by one man. Podkarpacie is located in a temperate climate zone, at the interface between the influences of the maritime climate of northwestern Europe and the continental climate of eastern Europe. However, since the latter, cooler one prevails here, it is very important to properly, efficiently and safely locate the vineyard, not exposing it to moisture or frost stagnation.
Lubusz
Zielona Gora. It is hard to find a better example of a place where great history and wine are intertwined. National borders shifted here, wars swept through, settlers from different countries appeared. One thing remained constant – the vineyards. Vineyards and winemakers are favored by the local moderately warm climate. Zielona Gora is located at an altitude of 139 meters above sea level. The growing season here is longer than in other regions. The Zielona Gora area is characterized by significant rainfall, even during the driest months. With such favorable conditions, winemaking can flourish. The number of vineyards is gradually increasing, with almost 104 hectares in Lubuskie Voivodeship – the largest area among all provinces in Poland.
Lower Silesia
A favorable location and climate for viticulture (including the utterly unique Trzebnickie Hills), a varied landscape, plenty of historical monuments and a rich history. All this makes Lower Silesia a region worth exploring. All the more so because in recent years there has really been a lot going on in local winemaking. The vineyards of Lower Silesia are scattered, located in different parts of the region, although a certain density can be seen north and south of Wroclaw.
Swietokrzyskie
It can be said that the division of the Swietokrzyskie region is similar to that of a few hundred years ago – it is formed by Sandomierz (within the city is the monastery’s St. James Vineyard, for example) and its surroundings, and the rest of the province. There was a revival at the beginning of the 21st century. At that time, several daring wineries were established, which triggered interest in wine in the region. Over time, their activity grew, and new venues were added. Sandomierz’s charm and numerous attractions make the Sandomierz region an attractive destination for oenotourists. Going to meet the rapidly growing interest, the Sandomierz Wine Route was established in 2014. The vineyards belonging to it are registered ventures, having their own wine and welcoming tourists.
Other regions
Vineyards are now in every province. Investors consciously choose good habitats, so the greatest development can be expected in the proven southern and western regions. However, it can be seen that cultivation is also increasing in less representative wine sites.
AUTHOR
Mariusz Kapczynski – journalist and wine critic, creator and editor-in-chief of the VINISFERA website; popularizer of wine culture, juror of numerous domestic and foreign wine competitions. Since 2009, he has been a member of the Polish Institute of Grapevine and Wine. From the very beginning of the modern revival of Polish winemaking, he has promoted, described and analyzed it. For more than 10 years he has been a content consultant for the Cracow Enoexpo Fair and the accompanying wine competition. He has organized and hosted countless wine tastings and events. In 2015, he received the Grand Prix of “Magazyn Wino” for the promotion of wine culture in Poland; in 2018, he was awarded by the Cracow Chapter of the Saint Martin’s Award “for exceptional contributions to the promotion of Polish wine.”