Jiří Bárta

Succulent and easy-drinking wines from the light soils of Kobylí, Czech Republic. Organically grown on a tiny 0.25 ha plot by Jiří Bárta, the father of Vinofactum's founder Šárka. It runs in the family, you could say!

Wines by Jiří Bárta

Bárta Essentials

Size: 0.25 ha, estate-owned

Location: Kobylí, Moravia, Czech Republic 

Soil: loess and sand

Farming: Organic (not-certified)

Grapes: Blaufränkisch (Frankovka), Grüner Veltliner (Veltlínské Zelené), Blauer Portugieser (Modrý Portugal), Welschriesling (Ryzlink Vlašský), Pinot Blanc (Rulandské Bilé) and Sauvignon Blanc 

Production: 1,200 – 2,000 bottles / year

Born into an agricultural family, Jiří has always had a very strong bond with land and farming, so even when working elsewhere, he always took care of some land and vineyards in his free time. You can take the man out of the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the man!

He now farms only 0.25ha of vineyards, organically and mostly by hand. The vineyards are more than 40 years old and planted with a mix of locally typical grapes like Blaufränkisch or Gruner Veltliner.

Everything is farmed organically, with very little tractor work to avoid soil compaction. No herbicides or pesticides ever; the only fertiliser are grape pomace, spread in the vineyards after the harvest, and cow manure every 7 years.

The soils in Kobylí are quite light – mostly loess and sand, ideal for making light, easy-drinking wines that express their variety. The village is part of the Modré Hory winegrowing area ("blue mountains"), renowned especially for its red wines. The wines are born in a tiny cellar under the family house, where they spontaneously ferment and slowly age in a few oak barrels. 

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Fun facts

Jíří is a member of Barrique Club, a group of local wine lovers and winemakers established more than 20 years ago. They gather for tastings, wine events and mainly travels abroad, visiting regions and growers for inspiration and learning.

One of his fellow members is Jaroslav Osička, the Czech natural wine traiblazer an another winemaker in our portfolio.

All kinds of fruit

Besides grapes, Mr. Bárta is a big lover of fruit trees, his garden is full of apricots, pears, apples, plums and cherries, and his wife – Šárka's mom – makes all kinds of preserves out of it.