Martin Vajčner is a small grower and winemaker from the Znojmo area in South Moravia, Czech Republic. Wine has been part of his family story for generations: one grandfather made wine, the other repaired barrels as a cooper. Even his family name goes back to old records and is linked to vine pruning. As a child, Martin spent time in vineyards and cellars, learning by helping and by tasting and smelling with his family.

He studied at the wine school in Valtice and later worked for years in the viticulture field, but he wanted to be closer to the vineyards and to make wines in his own way. At the end of 2018 he founded his winery and released his first wines in 2019. Today he farms about 8 hectares split into several small vineyards, all in certified organic practice.

Martin’s main idea is simple: let the place show itself. He keeps work in the cellar to a minimum—hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation, and no filtration or fining. He does not add sulphur. He also tries to work with a low impact, returning grape skins back to the vineyards and thinking about his carbon footprint.

Some wines come from Kraví hora, where he helped bring back an old vineyard that had been left unused for years, close to Podyjí National Park. For small batches, he also uses buried clay amphorae (qvevri-style) made with local clay, so the vessel becomes part of the local story. The winery is a family effort too: Martin’s father helps in the vineyards, and his partner Monika supports the daily running and communication.