Popelářka

Did the grapes grown here centuries ago taste as sweet as today’s? Here at Popelářka, whispers of the past mingle with the aroma of freshly pressed wine. Popelářka isn’t just a vineyard. It’s a living testament to Prague’s rich agricultural history, a story etched in stone and soil. The name “Popelářka” itself echoes back to the 16th century, to a man named Jakub Popelář, the first documented owner of this land. He cultivated these very slopes, nurturing vines that bore witness to the reign of Emperors and the passage of seasons. Imagine the scene in the 17th century: the first wine press creaking under the weight of ripe grapes, the air thick with the sweet scent of fermentation. By 1755, a small manor house graced the property. Popelářka wasn’t just a place of labor, it was a home. The manor house offered respite to the vineyard’s caretaker, a refuge from the sun and a warm hearth in the winter. Fast forward to 1816. The sale records of Popelářka offer a glimpse into daily life: “a press with a press house, barrels, a building, 2 cows, 1 goat, and 1 pig with two piglets.” A humble inventory, perhaps, but evidence of a thriving agricultural enterprise. In 1825, Anna Kubová took ownership of Popelářka. A detailed description from the property transfer paints a vivid picture. The house, facing south, offered a “pleasant view.” It was built of stone and mortar, roofed with shingles, and boasted a front garden, three small gardens with flowerbeds, and an orchard filled with apples, pears, cherries, and plums. The vineyard itself was renowned for its Burgundy grapes. Popelářka continued to evolve, changing hands and purposes. In the 1860s, it became home to the Pomological Institute, relocated from Vinohrady. Classrooms, a dormitory, and apartments for teachers and gardeners were added, transforming Popelářka into a center of learning and innovation. The institute’s director, Karel Němec, son of the renowned writer Božena Němcová, played a key role in its establishment. Even into the 20th century, the pomological gardens flourished. Later, Popelářka housed an aircraft factory and then the Electrotechnical Testing Institute. Today, Popelářka has returned to its roots. Restored and revitalized, it is once again a vineyard, producing exquisite wines that carry on the legacy of Jakub Popelář and all those who have tended these vines over the centuries.