To experience unforgettable atmosphere of local gastronomy, wine, folklore, crafts and knight jousting whilst drinking some sweet and fizzy Burčák (young, slightly fermented wine)? Then the best choice is to visit the Burčák festivities in Hustopeče – the town of good wine.

Every year thousands of people arrive in Hustopeče to feel the festive atmosphere celebrating the drink which belongs to South Moravian autumn just like spiders with their cobwebs flying through the air. The moment when the fermenting process turns grape juice into this drink with its typical taste and smell is awaited by all the wine makers and wine lovers. Just take the glass of Burčák, examine its colour and watch the bubbles fizzing away. Smell it, close your eyes and you’ll find yourself on top of a sunny hill amidst vineyards. Have a sip and you’ll get sweeter tones mixed with pleasant acidity. Have you ever drunk red Burčák made from blue grapevines? That is another speciality which you’ll have an opportunity to taste on the first weekend in October at Hustopeče Burčák festivities.

The main programme starts on Friday evening when the drums invite everyone to open wine mázhauses. The significance of this word isn’t really known but it might be that mázhaus is a part of a town house where Burčák or wine is prepared and poured. There are about twenty mázhuses in Hustopeče.

The parade headed by the representative of all wine makers the Purkmister and his board who are in charge of the town during the festivities set off towards the shrine of wine, where they give thanks for grape juice being turned into Burčák. There is even a Burčák “anthem” to be heard.

Then the Pukmister goes around mázhauses together with the members of the board, knights and Burčák police. It is necessary to check the quality of Burčák. Sometimes it is tested by spilling it on the knight’s armour to see if it starts rusting. Everyone has to agree that Burčák is of a good quality and if they do, the owner of mázhaus can start serving it. If, however, there is someone whose Burčák isn’t of an acceptable quality, they will be punished. It could be with a slap of a sword across their bottom. On Friday night different places at the square are awake with cimbalom music, country music bands or somewhere with just a man playing his accordion. It is not surprising that this evening is thought by many to be the most beautiful one in the whole of Burčák festivities.

On Saturday morning people are woken by the knights of Hustopeče who ride through the town and invite everybody to come and take part in the festivities:

It is hereby announced that today we celebrate our Burčák. Come and see the market, the knights and the jugglers. A long parade will march through the town. Come, as everyone is welcome.

We aren’t held back by breakfast and we rush to the square which changed overnight into one big mediaeval market with stalls of various crafts and goods. First though we have to walk through one of the town gates. After that, there is so much on offer here. Pig on the spit, smoked sausages, spicy kebabs, hot honey liquor, ginger bread, almond bread, Mexican beans, Czech beer and Moravian Slivovice. There is also “zabijačka” and the maids of Hustopeče who serve the “zabijačka” soup, also called the soup for the poor. We are entertained by a busy programme taking place on a large stage including the knights’ jousting and theatrical performances. Tired of eating all the food we hope to have a rest at midday. How could we though? Everyone awaits the historical parade which is supposed to arrive any minute. Knights, page boys, nobility as well as peasants. It is worth mentioning that in the Hustopeče parade you won’t see dressed up members of theatrical societies. They are the citizens of Hustopeče. So if there is someone greeting the visitors from a carriage it is the mayor himself. If you had helped yourself to one of the koláčky (sweet, doughy balls) then be assured that the girl offering them to you would have baked them as well.

We also spotted many town representatives in the parade. They make up the Burčák Union. You don’t know what it is? It is an imaginary, fun, state organisation that unites villages and towns that have something to do with Burčák. It might be the fact of their mayor enjoying the drink. Let’s not be fooled in thinking that it is only in the region around Hustopeče. The Burčák Union has its offshoots as far as in Nepal or South America. If there are no vineyards they first have to establish a Burčák Missionary Station which is in charge of spreading the word of Burčák and maintaining the code of viticulture. The Union has its armed forces too: the Underground Army and Burčák Police who guard this liquid treasure and detect those who don’t taste enough Burčák during the festivities. As you can see this is a truly fun event where people come to have a good time.

The drummers are drumming and the convict is brought and Purkmister reads out the sentence of the Crown Court with no possibility of further appeal. The convict receives his last anointment and is decapitated. The executioner holds up the head of the convict dripping with blood.

This is something that really happened in Hustopeče four hundred years ago. It was when a local citizen got executed for stealing some grapes. It is the only story of its kind recorded in our country. So if you are into similar “horror” scenes, you will also find something to enjoy in Hustopeče. The re-enactment of the execution will be the highlight of this year’s programme. It wouldn’t be for the people of Hustopeče though if they didn’t manage to turn such a bloody event into entertainment. But I won’t say anymore. You should therefore tick the first weekend of October in your diary and come to Hustopeče.