Melnik Wine Harvest

Melnik's wine tradition traces by legend to the ninth century, when Princess Ludmila is credited with founding the town's first vineyard above the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. The first documented modern vintage festival was held in 1911, followed by an eleven-year gap before its revival, which gained prestige from a visit by founding President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk; the festival is now held annually at the end of September on the Feast of Saint Wenceslaus.

Melnik's wine tradition reaches back to the ninth century by legend, when Princess Ludmila is credited with founding the town's first vineyard on the slopes above the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers, and the community is said to have celebrated a successful grape harvest there every autumn ever since.