Moravia (Bzenec part 2)

So I'm finally getting around to posting on the highlight of our trip to Bzenec: a feast and wine tasting in the family cellar. My uncle Tomas says the cellar is about 200 years old and is still only used by Otepkas and cousins of Otepkas (you can't let something like that slip out of the family). Tomas' father and grandfather (and uncles, etc) used the cellar for their wine-making exploits back in the day and I've got pictures of my grandpa Rudy down there with his cousins enjoying some wonderful Otepka-made wine once upon a time. Am also pretty sure that they made their way down to the cellar a few times during WWII as it's essentially a bomb shelter.

The cellar is walking distance from the center of Bzenec and Tomas' house and is located under an old Jewish cemetery. Mike and I had heard a great deal about it from brothers Cris and Jim who have both been to cellar parties with the family. To say we were excited to get to the cellar was an understatement. Here are a few shots of the place before I get into how the evening progressed.

Entrance. I wasn't able to get a good shot
of the cemetery on the roof b/c of night and broken camera flash.

Uncle Petr just inside the entrance and ready to turn to his right
and descend into the rest of the cellar.

Petr heading down.

Petr again looking back up at me. All kinds of wine-making equipment
lines either side of the tunnel.

A bit further into the cellar where we sat and ate and drank and sang
all night. Easily one of the best nights of my life. Mike concurs.

Mike and Petr in the deepest room of the cellar, appraising Tomas'
many different carboys of wines.

After walking through the cellar a few times in utter shock at how cool it was that this was an Otepka Wine Cellar, we sat down at the table in the "middle room" as I'll call it and began our wine tasting. Tomas went into the back room with his wine thief (glass pipette) and sucked his homemade wine out of individual carboys to bring back into us for tastings. I don't know how many different types of wine he has back there, but I would guess at dozens.

Tomas in his element.

No, these are not movie props -- this is Otepka Cellar Wine.

Another of Tomas' blends. Wonderful stuff. 

Tomas working the wine thief to steal a bit more love for all
the rest of us thirsty Otepkas.

Here's Johnny! (Mike thought this pic looked a little Nicholson-esque)

Tomas pouring out some Rose. Mike in foreground, Jirka in back.

So after we got settled down with a bit of wine, the food started showing up as did many more Otepka's. It turned into a wonderful evening of eating and drinking and laughing with family, many of whom we had only met just minutes before. It was truly an evening that neither Mike nor myself will ever forget. And the food, well it was just my style: fried meats. Can I get a hell yeah? Hell yeah.

Fried pork bits. Death sentence, but a good way to die.

Fried pork and chicken cutlets. Yes, please.

After we stuffed ourselves on the fried meats and cheeses and salamis, we did another wine flight (and another I think). By the end of the night, we are all very happy and toasty, but not too far gone...it was just right. Here are some more shots of the fam in the cellar...

The next generation of Otepka winemakers?

Me and Danes.

Petr and his lovely and very cool daughter Barbora.

Me and Mike thoroughly wined.

Zdena and her daughter Gabriela

The Otepka Boys.

Our Grandpa Rudy with his cousin Rudy (Gariela's grandfather) in the very same wine cellar
some 20 or 30 years ago.

After the festivities in the cellar, everyone went home and Mike and I to our hotel room at Hotel Junior, but before we called it a night, Mike and I decided to wander through town a bit. 

Cemetery above neighboring wine cellar.  Thanks for the memories family!

Well that about ends our epic CZ Rep travels. It was an amazing experience and one that I hope to duplicate with the rest of the Otepka brothers and our dad someday. To my family over there, thank you for your warm welcome and generosity during our stay. I would like to return the favor anytime -- either in Luxembourg or the U.S.A.

If I have the energy, I'll blog about our last day/night in Prague, but it would be somewhat anticlimactic.