Prague Castle revives wine harvest festival with free entry, open-air tastings

As summer fades into autumn, the 18th annual Vintage at Prague Castle will take place in the Royal Garden on the first weekend in September, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year, organizers have reimagined the festival to be more accessible.

“We created a new, friendlier concept for this year’s festival,” explains Veronika Wolf, Cultural and Program Director of Prague Castle. “Unlike previous years, tastings won’t be confined to one tent requiring a ticket. Stalls will be freely accessible around the Míčovna, and entrance to the Royal Garden will be free.”

This shift means visitors can wander the historic gardens, sample wines at leisure, and enjoy the castle atmosphere without barriers. The tasting glass is CZK 120.

For the first time, Prague Castle is collaborating with national sommelier Klára Kollárová and the National Wine Centre. Kollárová describes it as “an important opportunity to present our winemaking culture. Alongside the essential burčák (young wine), we want to proportionally represent all wine regions of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as different styles of wineries. We’ve also included sparkling wines released under the national brand ‘Bublinky.’”

Expect everything from freshly pressed grape juice and traditional burčák to still wines and sparkling Bublinky, showcasing the diversity of Czech vineyards.

The festival also offers a rest zone with coffee and refreshments, plus a children’s corner where young visitors can enjoy storytelling, medieval swordplay, and even try writing with a quill.

On the music front, folk groups Studánka and Frajeři z galérky will perform throughout the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the festival culminates with a concert by cimbalom group Sudovjan in front of the Royal Summer Palace.