Czech Sommelier Picks Prague’s Best Mulled Wine

Mr. Dvořák admitted to being pleasantly surprised by his findings: “I thought that the level of mulled wine will be worse,” he told the publication of the six different spiced wines that he sampled.

Who were the winners and which svařák vendors should you avoid?

The Old Town Square and Prague Castle markets were rated as having the best mulled wines sellers while the worst, according to the wine afficionado, were to be found in Wenceslas Square, where vendors were discovered to be using inferior wine.

Each of the establishments visited were ranked according to quality and service and given a score of one to three (a “1” being best). Price was also given, though not factored into the rankings.

While its wine was described as simple, diluted, and tasting more like cider, the svařák at Havelské tržiště was the least expensive at 39 CZK/0.2L.

The most expensive mulled wine was to be found at Prague Castle where Dvořák gave the wine high marks for its “aroma with notes of red currant and pomegranate…[and] sweet, spicy, harmonious [taste].” There a 0.2L-wine will cost you 60 CZK.

Náměstí Republiky ranked as average (2) while Náměstí Míru received poor marks (3) for its bitter-tasting wine.

Overall the best svařák (1) was to be found in Old Town Square (50 CZK/0.2L): “The aroma is clean, fruity, which is reminiscent of prunes. The taste is fuller, slightly sweet, with a pleasant spiced undertone. They deserve good and probably the best ratings.”