On 8 October, 2024, during the presentation of the Czech National Pavilion at the MSV International Engineering Fair in Brno, a partnership was officially established between THAYA Winery and the Czech participation at EXPO 2025. The agreement was signed by THAYA owner Josef Trávníček and Tomáš Akerman, Partnership Manager of the Czech EXPO team, representing Czech Commissioner General Ondřej Soška. Awarded “Winery of the Year 2023,” THAYA Winery will offer its wines to pavilion visitors, featured for example in the exclusive business lounge menu. The lounge will serve as a venue for business meetings, networking events, and presentations by companies from Czechia, Japan, and other Indo-Pacific countries.
Beyond its recent accolade, THAYA Winery frequently ranks among the finalists in Czech wine competitions such as “Winery of the Year” and “Winemaker of the Year.” In 2020, its Pinot Blanc 2018 won the prestigious Czech wine competition, the Wine Salon. THAYA wines also receive recognition in international contests, with the winery placing a strong emphasis on exports. Through this partnership with Czechia’s EXPO 2025 team, the winery hopes to enter the Japanese wine market, one of the world’s top five wine importers.
“We’re thrilled to become a partner of the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka,” said THAYA owner Josef Trávníček. “We have a strong foothold in Asia, especially in South Korea. Our goal is not just to enter but to succeed in the Japanese market by finding a suitable importer for our wines. We believe that the exposure from EXPO 2025 will help elevate the THAYA brand, not only in Japan but also back home in Czechia.”
“We recently introduced THAYA wines to a group of Japanese journalists whom we hosted in September as part of our preparations for EXPO 2025, and they were very well received. Japan’s market is full of opportunities, but customers there have very high standards. The food and agricultural sector, however, is particularly promising for Czech companies,” said Czech Commissioner General Ondřej Soška. “Participation in EXPO is highly regarded within Japan’s business community, and I am confident this partnership will bring significant benefits to THAYA.”
The Czech National Pavilion will feature spaces such as a multifunctional auditorium, business lounge, and meeting room to support networking and foster business connections. Partners can utilize these venues over the 26-week EXPO period for various business and industry events, including workshops and gatherings for current and potential clients. The full Business Events Calendar is available here. Companies interested in participating in EXPO 2025 can also express their interest through a questionnaire on the Czech participation website or by contacting partnership@expo2025czechia.com.
About THAYA Winery THAYA, one of the most modern wineries in the Znojmo region, opened a new wine complex in the village of Havraníky in 2022. With a philosophy of respect for nature and the region, the winery takes its name from the Dyje River (Thaya in English), near which it is located. THAYA produces up to 200,000 bottles annually, working across 105 hectares of vineyards in renowned Znojmo villages, including Hnanice, Šatov, Havraníky, Vrbovec, and Dyjákovičky. Dedicated to innovation, THAYA combines traditional winemaking methods with cutting-edge technology. Their wines are distinctively crafted, often aged in various types of oak barrels. In recent years, THAYA has focused on producing sparkling wines using the traditional bottle-aging method.
About Czechia at EXPO 2025 This will be the sixth time Czechia participates independently in the World Expo. Since September 2022, Ondřej Soška has served as Commissioner General, leading with his concept, “Talent and Creativity for Life.” Czechia aims to present not only well-known cultural treasures like Czech glass and classical music, but also innovations in nanotechnology, promising startups, and regional talents that have the potential to make a significant impact in Japan.
