Art Wine Mikulov

How We Make Our Wines

Crafting fine red and white wines in the varied weather conditions of the Mikulovska oblast is a non-routine process that demands skill, sensitivity, patience and attention to detail from vineyard to bottle.

Winemaker Mark Rutherford employs low-intervention practices that balance tradition with innovation. Our philosophy is built on gentle handling, a deep respect for each distinct grape varietal, and keeping SO2 levels as low as possible to improve flavor.

Harvest & Sorting

The process of harvesting in September and October is carried out strictly by hand. The decision of when to pick is influenced by various factors such as the weather, taste (organoleptic aspects), phenolics (color and tannins), and sugar levels (Brix).

Prior to harvest, we walk our vineyards daily and continuously sample the grapes to ascertain full flavor, tannin development, and the optimal “crunch” of the grape seeds that together signal hand-harvesting can begin. The grapes are first hand-sorted in the vineyard, collected in small boxes, and then transported to Lednic,e where everything is gently crushed and destemmed.

With the Mikulovska region’s varied growing conditions, the annual harvest extends over a prolonged period, commencing in early September and extending until late October.

Fermentation & Aging

We ferment our reds in open-top, stainless steel tanks. A two- to three-day pre-fermentation maceration (cold soak) gently extracts flavors, color, and tannins.

After fermentation and gentle pressing with our stainless steel basket press, the wine is transferred to glass, stainless tanks, or oak barriques for aging. Our barrel philosophy is to attain a result that has less pronounced oak and more vanilla notes, allowing the integration of oak spice and fruit characteristics to develop fully.

Oak Aging

When using oak, we mature our red wines in new and used French or Austrian barriques for a minimum of 12 to 18 months. The selection of oak type, toast level, and barrel age is thoughtful, aiming for desired influences without harsh tannins. The wine is usually racked two times during this process to enhance clarity and flavor development.

Finishing the Wine

We are known for our meticulous blending. Vineyard or press lots are typically kept separate during the aging process. Some wines are single-varietals, while most reds are skillful blends of varieties, thus leveraging the Palava region’s diverse growing conditions to craft a wide array of flavors. Most of our wines are bottled without fining or filtration to maintain the wine’s integrity.

To order wine, please contact us at: artwinemikulov@gmail.com or call the winemaker directly +420 604 832 199

Your wines can be delivered directly to your door via Messenger (extra charges apply) and if you are visiting Mikulov, we can keep your wines in our wine cellar until you pick them up.