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Have you ever imagined sitting on a terrace above a vineyard, with a valley stretching to the horizon in the background and a glass of excellent wine in your hand? Złota Wieś Vineyard can make that dream come true and offer much more besides. Join me on a visit to this Ponidzie vineyard, discover its history, meet the owners, and above all, get to know its wines!
Location and access
Złota Wieś Vineyard is located in the village of Złota in the Ponidzie region. It lies about 60 kilometers from Kielce and around 20 kilometers from both Pińczów and Busko-Zdrój. The place Google Maps will take you to is actually the winery—the site where the wines are produced and where the cellar is located. This is where your wine journey begins, and from here you then head to the vineyard itself, where the vines grow and where the tasting area awaits you.
The Winery
Often, the vineyard and the winery are located right next to each other, with the winemaker living somewhere nearby as well. In the case of Złota Wieś Vineyard, they are situated a little apart from one another. If you choose to take part in a tasting, you will most likely just like we did start at the winery, located at Łąkowa 21 in Złota.
Here, a small relaxation area awaits you, with benches and a swing, and just beyond the fence you’ll spot goats grazing peacefully. Their milk is used to produce cheeses that later accompany the wine tasting.
This is where the wines are made, and your first stop will be the cellar, where the wines gain their character and truly become wine. This is also where you’ll taste your first “samples.” In our case, it was a red wine – a blend of Leon Millot and Cabernet Cortis. Over a glass of good wine, the staff test your palate and sense of smell, talk about the vineyard and the production process, and happily answer any questions related to wine—and even a few not entirely related as well 🙂
The Vineyard
Złota Wieś Vineyard – actually vineyards, as there are two of them, is located just a few minutes’ drive from the winery. We arrived for the tour and tasting in our own car and then headed to the vineyard, following our host who was driving a classic “Maluch” (the iconic Fiat 126p). Along the way, we passed the first of the two vineyards, but we stopped at the second one, which offers excellent infrastructure for visitors. Altogether, Złota Wieś Vineyard covers more than 2 hectares of vines, with seven grape varieties cultivated.
Standing by the road, you can immediately see the vineyard, topped by a small house overlooking the vines. On the walk up, the vineyard staff explain what we’re seeing—vine pruning, cultivation styles and methods, and many other interesting details. At the top, you can enjoy tastings of more wines, goat cheeses, and homemade bread served with cold-pressed walnut oil from Olejarnia Zagłoby. Guests can relax on terraces offering stunning views of the vineyard and the surrounding countryside. There is also a fire pit and a small playground for children. The vineyard is open to various events, such as corporate tastings, group tours, and more—something interesting can be arranged for everyone.
The idea for the vineyard was born in 2016, and the first plantings took place two years later, in 2018. The initial grape varieties were Muscaris, Riesling, Hibernal, and Cabernet Cortis. Złota Wieś Vineyard lies on a south-facing slope at an altitude of around 300 meters, on very fertile soil that supports abundant yields. In 2019, three additional varieties were introduced: Solaris, Seyval Blanc, and Leon Millot.
In 2020 came the long-awaited moment for the winemakers—the bottling of their first own wine. Since then, the vineyard has continued to grow, and its original area has doubled.
Today, Złota Wieś Vineyard is a perfect place for small corporate meetings, family celebrations, other events, or individual visits. If you wish, you can even pitch a tent on the vineyard grounds and wake up to views of a grape-covered paradise! 🍇
Wines
You already know that Złota Wieś Vineyard grows seven grape varieties, but that doesn’t mean you’ll taste only seven wines. During our visit, we had the opportunity to try four wines: one red, two whites, and one rosé.
We tasted the red wine first, still in the cellar. It was delicate, with no noticeable “heaviness,” semi-dry, and full of flavors of blackberries, sweet cherries, and sour cherries.
At the vineyard itself, we started with a Riesling which, despite its typical Riesling character, was gentle and will certainly appeal to Polish wine lovers. The next two wines we tried were pure aromatic magic. Their flavors were just as impressive, but it was the aroma that made an enormous first impression.
Seyval Blanc was an explosion of fruity flavors, with mango taking center stage. I would compare it to a great multivitamin juice—the wine was bursting with flavor! The vintage we tasted (and later bought to take home) was 2020. The other wine was the rosé Rozo, made from the Leon Millot grape. If you’ve ever tasted your grandmother’s best strawberry compote, you’ll easily recognize those notes here as well. Its aroma also reminded me of Muscat-scented oils we used to buy years ago in Crimea—one of the most beautiful scents I still remember.
Złota Wieś Vineyard sells its wines on-site, but they are also starting to appear in other locations. My own adventure with wines from this vineyard began at Ferment Neo Bistro in Kielce, where you can still find them today. Shipping to any location is also possible via their online shop.
Is it worth visiting?
Złota Wieś Vineyard is, in my opinion, a place that sets the direction both in terms of wine tourism and its approach to guests, while also impressing with the wines it serves. Openness, a high-quality product, and an engaging marketing concept make this a destination that is definitely worth visiting.
The owners of this remarkable place, Złota Wieś Vineyard, are Ewelina and Marcin Ptak. We had the chance to meet Ewelina during our visit—she is very open and attentive to detail. Together with her husband, they have a clear vision for the vineyard and are successfully bringing it to life. They are also supported by family members, including Kacper, who was our host and guide during the tour, tasting, and wine-related stories.
I have visited many Polish vineyards, and I believe that Złota Wieś Vineyard does what it does exceptionally well. There is nothing to criticize—neither in terms of building their own brand nor (most importantly!) the wines themselves, which are truly impressive. I can confidently say that this is a TOP 3 vineyard among those I have visited in Poland, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.
