I prefer wine. I don’t despise beer, I drink it sometimes, especially dark or amber ale, it’s just that I usually prefer to wine over beer.
The Czech Republic is known for it’s beer – most notably Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser (not to be confused with the American variety), but there are many other Czech beers as well. It has been disputed by no one that the beer in the Czech Republic is excellent.
On my visit to Prague, three times I ordered wine at a bar, restaurant or pub. The price per glass varied from $5 to $10 to $15 dollars, but it mattered not – in each instance, the wine basically sucked. Finally, I gave in and ordered a pint of beer, for about $3. It was far better than any of the wines I tasted (and nearly spit out). In fact, it was delicious.
So, my suggestion, is not to order wine by the glass in the Czech Republic. Go for the beer – it’s amazing.
If you still want wine, order a bottle.
If that’s too expensive, or not your preference, go to a local wine store, or even a supermarket and buy a bottle.
On the lower level, right at a major Prague Metro stop there is an Albert Supermarket (this is the same as the Albert Hein market in the Netherlands). There was a full selection of wines. I chose a local bottle of red – it was cheap – only about $2 or $3. I brought it to my hotel room thinking that, even if I only have one glass, it was well worth it.
How did it taste? Essentially, the same as a Trader Joe’s “2buckChuck,” which is to say it was fine, but I’d probably go up a buck or two next time.
Cheers!
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
I’m a wine drinker also (usually) — but as a rule of thumb, I usually order whatever’s local. Sounds like you figured it out!
I went to a wine bar just over the Charles Bridge on a food tour and I thought the Czech white I had was pretty good. I am not a big wine drinker though.
Prague’s on my list so will keep this in mind. Happy trails!
Had some warm red wine during the Christmas market, it was perfect
In general Czech reds are quite bad, the climate’s just not right for most types of red and the few that are good are very expensive because the yield is so low. The whites on the other hand can be very good. There are some very good wine bars in Prague though: Vinograf and Bokovka for international wines and Monarch for Czech.
Thanks Charlie – now I have yet another reason to go back to the Czech Republic!