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Your transition from elite sports to winemaking is fascinating. What captivated you about wine to pursue it so passionately?
As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized life is short yet wonderfully diverse. It would be a shame to devote myself entirely to just one passion like competitive sailing. After retiring from sports, I dove headfirst into motherhood with three children close in age. Winemaking came to us organically when we bought the dilapidated Jabloňka chateau with its vast hillside property on Černá hora in Prague’s Troja. The buildings and land were in ruins — we didn’t even know wine terraces lay hidden beneath overgrowth. After clearing them, we decided to restore winemaking where chronicles show vines grew during Charles IV’s rule.
A winery nearly in the metropolitan center is rare – how challenging was building a functional vineyard so close to Prague?
Immensely challenging. Constructing the winery and gradually planting vines took about ten years. Then came refining the product itself and establishing our iconic Riesling brand. Our location visible from across Prague is advantageous — sommeliers can pour Jabloňka wine while pointing to our actual vineyards in the city panorama. The south-facing slope’s constant sunshine, shale subsoil, and subtropical microclimate with steady airflow are ideal. The steep hillside’s limited access is challenging though – all vineyard work from planting to pruning must be done manually, making it slow and costly.
Is Jabloňka Winery your life’s work or more of a passion project?
I still see it as a passion project rather than our livelihood — quite the opposite actually. But restoring this special place’s beauty and charm while producing delicious, critically-acclaimed wine feels meaningful.
Are there parallels between Olympic sports discipline and running a premium winery?
I strive for excellence in everything. I love learning and embrace challenges. That mindset connects both worlds — I knew nothing about winemaking or sailing at age six, but I enjoy the learning process and see failures as lessons.
Your signature wine is Riesling. What captivated you about it, and how does your terroir shape its character?
They say Riesling is the “wine of kings and king of wines.” It’s premium yet versatile — perfect with food or alone. Riesling demands excellent south-facing slopes like Černý kopec and Jabloňka. Its frost resistance and disease resilience help here. Our wines show vibrant acidity, stone fruit notes, and apricot aromas. The shale bedrock adds juicy acidity with dried herb and autumn apple nuances.
The winery’s architecture is equally unique. How did the Fibonacci Pavilion concept came to life?
The southern area had a peculiar roofless semicircular structure with a small cellar tunneled under vines. After years of deliberation, Portuguese architect Marco Maio cracked this puzzle, designing the award-winning pavilion that won a 2023 Czech Architecture Award. The vision was his and my husband’s — I focused on execution.
What has been your most memorable customer tasting experience?
A ten-member South Korean family came with their translator — constantly praising the wine, bowing, and remarkably finishing every sample including open bottles. That was the ultimate compliment!
In luxury products, the story matters. What should each Jabloňka bottle convey?
I want each glass to express not just fruit, but this place’s historical roots and the fusion of urban life with traditional craftsmanship. Our new label by artist Pavel Roučka mirrors this — modern yet honoring our vineyard’s unique heritage.
What are your plans for the future plans?
We’re experimenting with barrel aging and considering traditional method sparkling wine. Our ambitions grow as our vines deepen their roots into Černá skála and our wines keep improving.
