Ladislav HolecFour Generations of Pálava
Since 1946, when great-grandfather Pavel first plowed the vineyards with his own hands. Not a return to the past, but a continuation—listening to the vines, not ruling them. Chemistry is a shortcut; we prefer time.
ATION
A decision made in 1946—not a plan, but a need to stay and leave something living behind.
In 1946, great-grandfather Pavel Holec got the first rows of vines under the Pálava hills. It wasn't a business plan. It wasn't a strategy. It was a need to stay and leave something living behind—something that would remember more than they could [^104^].
The wine found grandfather Ladislav, and he found Welschriesling (Ryzlink vlašský). For decades, he worked those vines—year after year, season after season. When the time came, he passed everything on. Not as property, but as responsibility [^104^].
Today, Ladislav Holec tends the same plots his great-grandfather first plowed with his own hands. He has significantly expanded the winery, but the soul remains: "Some of our plots are still the same ones that great-grandfather first plowed... and what we do isn't a return. It's a continuation" [^104^].
"Chemistry is a shortcut and we prefer time. We learn not to get in nature's way."
The Holcovi approach is one of accompaniment rather than control. They don't rule the vineyards—they listen to them. Every grape matters, which is why they take such care in the vineyard: only healthy, ideal fruit makes it to the cellar [^101^][^104^].
Their philosophy centers on patience and natural processes. "Chemistry is a shortcut and we prefer time." Rather than intervening with synthetic solutions, they observe, learn, and adapt—allowing the vines to express their true character through the calcareous subsoil of Pálava [^104^].
As part of the Natural Wine Fest Brno lineup (2025-2026), they stand alongside Moravia's most progressive natural winemakers. Their inclusion signals their commitment to natural winemaking principles—working with nature's rhythms rather than against them [^107^][^111^].
Don't Rule
Prefer Time
Continue
Under Table Mountain in the heart of Pálava—calcareous soils that give wines their mineral soul.
Table Mountain
The winery is located under Table Mountain (Stolová hora), right in the heart of the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. The distinctive limestone hills create a unique microclimate with excellent sun exposure and cooling evening breezes from the surrounding forests [^101^][^104^].
Calcareous Subsoil
The calcareous subsoil of Pálava gives the wines a typical mineral undertone. This ancient seabed limestone, rich in fossils and marine deposits, provides excellent drainage and imparts a distinctive chalky, saline character to the wines—especially Ryzlink vlašský [^101^].
Sunny Slopes
The vineyards spread across sun-drenched slopes under the Pálava hills, capturing maximum sunlight during the day while benefiting from cool nights. This diurnal temperature variation helps preserve acidity while developing complex flavors in the grapes [^104^].
Varieties with great potential—where calcareous Pálava meets four generations of care.
Ryzlink vlašský
The grape that grandfather Ladislav found and cherished for decades. Welschriesling thrives in Pálava's calcareous soils, producing wines with distinctive minerality, bright acidity, and the ability to age gracefully. The Holcovi flagship variety, representing four generations of accumulated knowledge [^104^].
Pálava
The namesake variety of the region—an aromatic crossing of Müller Thurgau and Traminer. Known for its intense floral aromatics, stone fruit flavors, and ability to express terroir. The Holcovi version captures the limestone minerality and sun-kissed warmth of their Bavory vineyards [^101^].
Ryzlink rýnský
Riesling in its Moravian expression—crisp, mineral, and age-worthy. The Pálava terroir gives it a unique character: more generous than Mosel, more mineral than Alsace, distinctly Moravian. One of the varieties with "great potential" that the Holcovi cultivate with special attention [^101^].
Rulandské modré
Pinot Noir—the heartbreak grape that rewards patience. In Pálava's calcareous soils, it finds a home similar to Burgundy. The Holcovi approach emphasizes gentle extraction and long aging, producing elegant, terroir-driven reds that reflect their philosophy of accompaniment over intervention [^101^].
Frankovka
Blaufränkisch—the traditional red variety of Moravia. Spicy, medium-bodied, with dark berry fruits and characteristic acidity. The Holcovi version benefits from their careful vineyard work and the limestone soils, producing wines with depth and freshness that pair beautifully with local cuisine [^101^].
Rosé
A traditional Moravian rosé capturing the sun-drenched character of Pálava. Made from red varieties with minimal skin contact, emphasizing freshness and drinkability. Perfect for warm afternoons under the Pálava hills—drinking the landscape in liquid form [^101^].
Natural Principles
All Holcovi wines share the same philosophy: healthy grapes from careful vineyard work, gentle processing that preserves the fruit's integrity, and patience in the cellar. As part of the Natural Wine Fest community, they follow principles of minimal intervention, native yeast, and respectful farming [^107^][^104^].
Tasting at the Cellar
Visit the 100-year-old wine cellar where the Holcovi age their wines in stainless steel and acacia barrels. Experience the continuation of a four-generation story directly from the family. Contact them to arrange a tasting and discover what makes Pálava wines so distinctive [^108^][^101^].
Natural Wine Fest Brno
Featured Producer
Moravia's Finest
Natural Community
Progressive Moravia
Minimal Intervention
True Expression
"Among Moravia's natural winemakers—well-known OGs, young rising stars, and underdogs of the natural wine movement."
A Continuation, Not a Return
Vinařství Ladislav Holec represents Moravian winemaking at its most authentic—four generations of accumulated wisdom passed down not as property, but as responsibility. While many wineries claim tradition, the Holcovi embody it: they still farm the same plots that great-grandfather Pavel first plowed with his own hands in 1946 [^104^].
Their philosophy of listening rather than ruling, of preferring time over chemistry, and of continuing rather than returning marks them as guardians of a living tradition. In the calcareous soils of Pálava, with Table Mountain watching over their vineyards, they produce wines that are unmistakably of this place—mineral, sun-kissed, and honest. As they say: "We want to remain part of that story" [^104^].
- Founded 1946 by Pavel Holec
- Four generations (Holcovi)
- Great-grandfather's original plots
- Grandfather Ladislav's Welschriesling
- Current Ladislav expanded winery
- Bavory 109, under Pálava
- Calcareous limestone soils
- Table Mountain terroir
- Sunny slopes, cool nights
- Ryzlink vlašský heritage
- Pálava regional variety
- Riesling & Pinot Noir
- Natural wine principles
- Listen, don't rule
- Chemistry is shortcut
- Prefer time
- Natural Wine Fest Brno
- 100-year-old cellar
- Acacia barrel aging
- A continuation, not return