La Blanca

Czech wine still surprises people, and Krásná Hora is one of the names slowly changing that. They farm around 15 hectares of certified organic, biodynamic vineyards in Moravia, in the southeast of the country — which, as they like to point out, sits on the 49th parallel, the same latitude as Alsace and Burgundy, right at the northern edge of where wine grapes will ripen at all.

La Blanca is a gemischter satz — a field blend of white varieties grown and picked together — built from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Neuburger. The grapes spend two to three weeks on their skins before fermentation, which nudges the wine gently into orange-wine territory: more texture, more aromatic lift, a touch more grip than a conventional white.

It pours a vibrant straw gold. The nose is generous and floral — pear, peach, orange peel and elderflower, with a whisper of straw and honey underneath. On the palate it's dry and lively, juicy with citrus and a little exotic fruit, and it carries a long, gently textured finish. For all that going on, it stays remarkably easy to drink. This is the kind of bottle that wins over people who think they don't like skin-contact wine.

How to Serve

Serve at 10–12°C in a wide white wine glass so the aromatics and light texture can open up. A little air suits it well; drink it young.

Where to Drink It

Planque in Haggerston, built for exactly this kind of low-intervention bottle. Bright in Hackney, for something raw and a curious glass. Sager + Wilde in Bethnal Green, always game for a field blend.

Food Pairings

Try it with roast chicken and herbs, a plate of charcuterie, or spiced vegetable dishes — that gentle grip and aromatic lift handle bolder flavours with ease.