Central Slovakia's vineyards lie in the south of the country's central area, on southern, southeastern and southwestern slopes as well as the plains. The PDO classifies the area as warm, with a mild, dry climate. Volcanic ground has produced fertile loamy to clay soils, and local lignite seams add heat flow that supports vine growing.
White grapes are a major part of the region, including Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner. Gewürztraminer and Maiden's Blush are grown in smaller amounts. Frankovka modrá and Saint Laurent are the principal named blue varieties. The whites are typically fresh, with higher acidity and ageing potential. Red wines undergo skin fermentation and malolactic conversion, with greater extraction and two years of ageing specified.
Stredoslovenská is the region's PDO, covering seven wine-growing districts and 107 municipalities across 2,328 hectares. Near Sebechleby, Stará hora has more than 100 eighteenth- and nineteenth-century viticultural huts protected as a Monument Reserve.
Inside the region
1 named area
Each guide keeps its place within Central Slovakia clear, with a direct route back to the map.