Roztoky Viticulture has a long and great tradition thanks to its relatively good position in Bohemia.
The first winegrower was one of the Premysl dynasty,
Prince Borivoj who, along with his wife Saint Ludmila, established
the vineyards of "Levohradecka" and "Melnicka" near their residence in 870 AD. The "Melnicka" vineyard has become one of the historical features of Bohemian viticulture.
Following his conversion to Christianity at Svatopluk, Prince Borivoj brought large quantities of wine into Bohemia. He also brought a lot of gifts for the establishment of Christian services, including altar wine and vine plants.
From the 12
th century, the "Hradecka" (Levohradecka) vineyard was given to, and cultivated by, Benedictine nuns from the first Bohemian convent in Prague Castle. Even though the vineyard fell into disuse in the 19
th century, it was still referred to in local place names such as " Nad a Pod Hradecka Vinice" ( "Over and Under Hradecka Vineyard"). Its good position makes it worthy of restoration.
The second oldest vineyard, "Matky Bozi" ("Holy Mother") was planted at the end of the 10
th century by the oldest Czech Benedictine monastery, "Brevnov", near Prague. This monastery was founded in 993 by St. Vojtech, bishop at the time.
The Premysl Dynasty granted property in Roztoky to the "Brevnov " monks. Near Roztoky, there was a moated fortress beside the Uneticky brook . On the other side of the brook, closer to Prague, stood the residence of the Brevnov primate. Both the Benedictine nuns of Prague Castle and the monks of "Brevnov" were the first religious orders in this area. They were endowed with land and servants by the Premysl princes.
The "Matky Bozi" ("Holy Mother") vineyard was situated on the southern slopes of the "Tiche Udoli" valley. For hundreds of years its name was retained above the entrance to Villa No. 81 - "U Matky Bozi".
In the 14
th century, King
Charles IV. expanded the vineyard to cover almost half of the "Tiche Udoli" valley. A little further up the valley, he also created the "Velky Rybnik" pond, with a dam that has been preserved until the present day. Downstream there is a water mill and a wine estate with a grape press and wine cellars.
Records from the year 1453 show that after the death of Reinhard, a prominent citizen of Prague, King Ladislav Pohrobek awarded Roztoky fortress and three vineyards to Fridrich of Donina. The vineyards were recorded in the contracts until 1623 when they were bought by Charles of Liechtenstein . It remained his family's property until 1803.
At the end of the 17
th century all viticulture and agriculture on the estate was improved by
David of Lhota, an entrepreneur knight. He is buried in Levohradecky Church.
Hradec and Roztoky's wines were supplied to Roztoky Castle, Prague Castle, Prague and its surrounding towns and monasteries.
History shows Roztoky viticulture as supporting several wine cellars in the "Tiche Udoli" valley, for example, "U Vosahliku-Vacku" and its facilities. These include a vine called "Isabela" which remains from these times. In the 1970s it was reproduced by local teacher,
Jan Simku, who succeeded in producing grapes with it three years later.
Roztoky, with its surroundings, and
Lower Povltavi have more than a thousand year tradition of Bohemian viticulture. It extends from Prague Vinohrady (the historic vineyard area of Prague), Petrin and the slopes of Prague Castle, through to Troja, Podhor and Kralupy-upon-Vltava and on to Tuchomerice, Okor and Budei. Located in this area is Dole, near Libcice, where there has been a productive vineyard for the last thousand years and which continues to produce wine to this day.
The first Roztoky wine restaurant was opened by the son of the Roztoky mayor, Matej Vosahlik , prior to the First World War in a house on Nadrazni Ulice Street, which was demolished in 1950.
The next restaurant which was opened during the 1920's in the cellar of house number 81 - "Mala Sakura".
There were 18 restaurants, as well as wine restaurants, operating in the Roztoky and Zalov areas. There were also two famous hotels, The Maxmilianka and The Sakura, which relied on the popularity of the area as a summer resort both for international visitors and daytrippers from Prague. In Levy Hradec and Roztoky, with their natural and historical interests, they found an oasis of calm and relaxation. After the Second World War these towns again experienced a popularity boom.
In 1953 the renovation of the demolished castle area was started. Firstly, the museum was built and in 1967 the castle restaurant was opened.
In 1990s tourism and social life experienced another revival. This was also the case with the Roztoky wine tradition and a new wine restaurant was built on one of
the historical wine cellars in the Tiche Udoli valley.
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