These articles were published in the Spectacular Slovakia travel guide, published annually by The Slovak Spectator since 1996. The latest editions can be obtained from our online shop.

How to read a Slovak wine label

Slovak wine labels appear complicated. But all you need to learn to understand them are a few simple terms.

First, look to see whether a wine is červené (red), biele (white), or ružové (rosé), and suché (dry) or sladké (sweet). Then check out the grading system. Slovak wine comes in three grades: révové vína stolové (table), akostné (quality), and vína s prívlastkom (wine with a special attribute). Wine lovers will want bottles from the latter two grades, which usually cost Sk100-Sk300.

Wines marked "quality" are made with a single variety of grapes from a single region, both of which are listed. They are almost always drinkable, and sometimes quite good.

Higher quality wines are marked s prívlastkom, a rating subdivided into smaller categories. Essentially, these subcategories indicate the amount of sugar in the grapes before fermentation (a sum that doesn't necessarily predict sweetness). Usually, wines marked kabinet (cabinet), neskorý zber (late harvest), and výber (grape selection) are excellent. The phrases themselves are antiquated translations from German.

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