Wine Route in Serbia

 Wine Route in Serbia

Viticulture in Serbia goes back over 1000 years and Serbian rulers treated grape growing as an exceptionally significant activity.  The modern development of viticulture and  wine production relates to the time when the Obrenovic dynasty ruled in the 19^th century, only to have the tradition continued by the karadjordjevic Royal rulers. Today, growing vines is a developed branch of agriculture and the majority of small producers who have preserved the good old recipes combine them with  the latest  pieces of technologies related to wine production.

 Numerous bright and lovely celebrations, festivals and fairs,  during the autumn, are also connected with grape picking and wine.

 Serbia offers tourists a chance to taste  exceptional wines. Walks in vineyards and tours of wine cellars offer in depth knowledge of winemaking by the winemakers.

Palic

Location: The region of Palić occupies sandy terrain left over after the retreat of the prehistorically Panonian Sea.

Destination: app 200 km from Belgrade, and 100km from Novi Sad

Climate: Continental and with sandy terrain it enables growth of the first-class vine that in return gives famous wines.

 History: The tradition of wine-growing in this area is over 2000 years old. It flourished after pest phylloxera had destroyed the viticulture of Europe.

Famous wine producers: Vinery Čoka (founded in 1903 and is among the rare luxurious monuments of viticulture) and Wine-cellar Palić.

Famous sorts of wine: – white: Burgundy White, Italian Riesling, ‘Ezerjo’, ‘Muscat otone’l,’ Semion’, and the red ones:  ‘Muscat Cocran’ , Merlot, ‘Frankoff’,  Black Burgundy and Cabernet.

Wine-cellar Palić offers a variety of first-class quality wines among which we can count: Merlot, Pinot Gri, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc.  There is also a sparkling wine called French Kiss made of the autochthonous sort of vine called “Kevedinka”.

Tour of Palić:

Palić is the name of the lake, spa and the city and is one of the most popular tourist localities in Serbia.

It is a fashionable resort characterized by beautiful nature. Baroque Park, monuments of the secessionist architecture and a symbol of comfort as well. Within a circle of a kilometer there are numerous hotels, restaurants of national and international cuisine, beaches, tennis courts, casino and a Zoo.

The tour also includes a visit to a special natural resort, a number of large rural estates, a farm of ostriches, and visit to Zobatnica stud with over 200 years old tradition.

Sremski Karlovci

History: Srem is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Europe. The first vine was planted here by the Roman Emperor Probus 1700 years ago.  Wine-growing had been the center of life for many generations of people while the wine itself sparkled throughout Europe, with dignity and elegance, as one of the best on the market.

Author and member of Academy of Science in Vienna, Zaharije Orfelin, published “Experienced vintner” in 1783. It represents one of the oldest works on the subject of viticulture in our language.

Special characteristic: Due to geographic position, vicinity of Danube, microclimate and the sun reflection off the Danube’s surface, here the grapes  ripen faster and have 1-2% more sugar than the ones in the rest winegrowing regions in Vojvodina.

This area’s authentic wine is Bermet, a very special liqueur similar to Italian vermouth produced of 20 different species and herbs.The Viennese Court released wine frowers of Karlovci from compulsory military service, because of the quality of their wines. Bermet was also offered on the wine card of the ill-fated  Titanic ship.

The restaurants in Sremski Karlovci will serve you bermot with local sweet pie.

Recommended vines of this region are: Italian and Rhine Riesling, Traminac, Sauvignon, Neoplanta, Sirmium, Zupljanka

 Festival: called “The Grape-ball” is held every year in late September.

Excursion includes visit to Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad:

 Sremski Karlovci represents a rare gem of Serbian culture and spirituality. Fascinating buildings, exceptionally well preserved are of historic and cultural interest so this town-museum was put on the list of famous European cities. The panorama of Sremski Karlovci is dominated with church spires, among them those of Orthodox cathedral, the Catholic church, the Orthodox Upper and Lower Church, from the first decades of the 18^th century.

 Vrsac

History: Some historical sources place the beginning of wine growing in this area back in the times of Roman rule. The first written document speaks of the purchase of Vrsac wine for the court of Vladislav II.

Location: Vineyards of Vrsac are spread over mountainous terrain surrounding Vrsac.

Destination:  80 km from Belgrade

 Climate:  continental and with fertile ground makes this area one of the most important wine-growing ones in Serbia, with more than 1.700ha of vineyards.

 With capacity of 3400 wagons of wine it is the third largest wine-cellar under one roof in Europe.

 Top quality wines of this region are: Muscat otonel, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Rhine and Italian Riesling etc.

 Dominating sorts of wine:  white wines while the red ones are practically very rare.

 The Vrsac wine-cellar is architectonic attraction within its own right, with five galleries; one of them is under ground.

 Vrsac offers great restaurants with specialties of the region: game, grilled meat, ham, headcheese, croissants with cheese etc.

 Tour to Vrsac includes the following sights:

•  14^th century Tower of Vrsac
• 18^th century The House of the Magistrate
• The Bishop’s Court with rich treasury dating from the 18^th century.
• 16^th century Mesic monastery
• Old pharmacy on the Steps from the 18^th century with a visit to the permanent exhibition of the Museum of St Nicholas Cathedral from 1785,
• Roman Catholic Church dating from 1863. and
• The Chapel of the Holy Cross dating from 1720.

 Part of the excursion is a car ride through the vineyards, and tasting of wine in one of the wine-cellars.

 Road of wine is a one-day excursion. For those who want to see more, arrangements can be made for a sleepover: hotel booking, transportation etc.

 Oplenac

History : On the mountainous terrain of Kosmaj, Rudnik and Vencac, people have grown vine since the ancient times. The area was famous to its wine even in the middle Ages. The first records of wine growing dated back from 1432.

In 1903 when in the village of Banje a wine-cellar of the Serbian Kings Petar and Aleksandar Karadjordjevic was founded, the fame of wine expanded from Oplenac throughout Europe.

The members of co-operative society with the help of technology experts from France started producing wine, cognac and even champagne.

Distance:  80km from Belgrade

Climate: Mild continental, configuration and the texture of the soil favored the growth of autochthonous sorts of vine such as Prokupac and Vranac .

 The recipe for making the best wine of the king’s cellar was sent to the wine-cellar Aleksandrovic. And The Triumph was born again. It is a mixture of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling and is considered one of the best Serbian wines.

 Besides very tasty wines, there are other things deserved to be seen in Topola place:

• St George’s Church – Church Mausoleum where the members of the Serbian kings’ dynasty Karadjordjevic are berried
• Peter’s house – a gallery with personal affects of the kings Petar and Aleksandar.
• The Town of Karadjordje – built in 1811-1813 where one can see the personal belongings of Karadjordje – Leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Turks, together with authentic weaponry from that period.
• Vine growing house with the gallery.
• King’s cellar – still under reconstruction, boasts two cellars under ground with 99 casks that were last filled 20 years ago.

 Restaurants offer excellent kinds of wines and typical cuisine of Sumadija.

 Taste wine and enjoy wonderful little town of Topola with its historical monuments and exhibitions.

 Smederevo

History: The history of Smederevo reaches far back to the rule of Roman Emperor Probes.  Despot Stefan Lazarevic and Djuradj Brankovic spread the vineyards to this area in the 15^th century only to be followed by Milos Obrenovic who planted 36 ha of vineyards on Zlatni breg (Golden Hill) which still give excellent wines.

Location: The terrain is surrounded by the river Danube on one side and the river Velika Morava on the other. Relief, climate and fertile soil make it an ideal area for vine growing.

Destination: 50 km far from Belgrade

The leading sort of grapes in these vineyards is ‘Smederevka’ named after the city on whose hills it grows. It is used for production of table wines which have pleasant and refreshing taste. Other quality wines include Italian Riesling, Sauvignon, Semion, Traminac.

 Smederevka is a white wine, whose fragrance is not accentuated and agrees well with local cheese pie, Serbian ‘gibanica’ (cheese pie), pork served with home-made bread etc.

A must-see in this tour is the small wine-cellar Radovanovic   whose Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling and Cabernet sauvignon are among the best Serbian wines.

 Smederevo city was a capital of medieval Serbia and is rich with historical buildings:

• 19^th century St George’s Church
• The Fortress of Smederevo, built in 15^th century in the shape of irregular triangle with towers.

 Festival: “The Autumn of Smederevo”, dedicated to grapes and wine is held every year late in September. There is a procession of medieval knights and abundance of grapes and wine.

 Negotinska Krajina

Location: Negotinska Krajina occupies a valley surrounded by mountains (Miroc, Crni Vrh and Deli Jovan) on one side and rivers (Danube and Timok) on the other.

Climate: harsh continental

History: This region was growing vine even in Roman times. When phylloxera swept through Europe in the 70s of 19^th century, the vine in Krajina survived due to its live sand soil on the banks of Danube and even started the export to France, Germany and other European countries..

 Dominating sorts of wine today are: Italian Riesling, Sauvignon and Semion.

The best wines coming from this region are produced of  ‘Prokupac’, Red Burgundy and ‘Gamet’. Red wines intensive red color, pleasant taste and bouquet.

Famous white wines are: “Bagrina”, Semion, Italian Risling, Sauvignon and “Smederevka”.

Wine cellars: called “Rajacke pimnice” are unique architectural complex with 270 of them, constructed since 18^th century until 30s of 20^th century.

Today there are no new ‘pimnicas’ though some of the old are renovated and given new purpose: as a place where wine can be tasted and bought. Among them there is the restaurant, unique to its ambience, where everyone who comes can feel  the tradition and customs of Serbian hospitality. Here, tourist can help themselves to national cuisine and delicious wines.

The tour includes the following sights:

• Church the Birth of Mother of God (Rodjenje presvete Bogorodice) built in 1803 is the oldest cultural monument in Negotin.
• Old city core is quite attractive. Oldest preserved house in Negotin, built in 19^th century is called now The Museum of Hajduk Veljko.
• Bukovo monastery, founded by king Milutin, renovated in 19^th century.
• Vratna Monastery built in 15^th century together with the above mentioned represent gems of Serbian architecture.
• Sarkamen is a locality dating from the third century AD, 13 km outside Negotin.
• Hunting grounds Vratna and Alija occupy the surface of about 300ha, while hunting ground Deli Jovan 500 ha. It is a natural habitat of fallow deer, and boar.

Aleksandrovac

 The history: The beginning of wine growing tradition in Župa had started at about 3000 years ago.

 Wine has always been a symbol of power and wealth. It was drunk by Celtic warriors, Roman legions, Serbian Emperors, bishops, even the Turks.

 The climate of this region, the experts say, is very similar to the one in Bordeaux, France.

Wine cellar ‘Vino Zupa’, in Aleksandrovac, was established in 1956 when nine vintners jointed under one name.

 Surface of Vineyards of Zupa is 2.500 ha where the most authentic of Serbian sorts of grape are grown: ‘Tamjanika’ originally from France and ‘Prokupac’ over 1000 years old.

There are other sorts of wine as well: Smederevka, Semion, Neoplanta, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Italian Riesling, Zupljanka.

 Traditional festival called “Zupska berba” is the oldest among manifestations dedicated to wine where the best wine of the year is awarded by the medal. It is held every year at the time of the harvest when wine flows freely out of a fountain placed for this occasion.

 Aleksandrovac is 230 km South-East from Belgrade, near the Kopaonik mountain and Vrnjacka Banja (Spa), only 44 km from both (see Mountains and Spas).

 All details and schedule of excursion can be arranged to satisfy your requests including visit to:

• Medieval city of Koznik, 10 km outside Aleksandrovac
• Remains of Drenca monastery from the 14^th century
• Rudenica monastery from the beginning of the 15^th century

KNJAZEVAC

History: Wine growing has been known in Knjazevac since the Roman times. On the nearby archeological site of Timacum Minus a statue of Dionysus, Roman God of wine, was found.

The oldest location of vineyards in Knjazevac is a hill above the city called “Dzervinovo Brdo”.

The wine cellar Dzervin, named after the hill, has been the center of wine production in the area.

 Vineyards are favored by nature which apart from fertile soil and its vicinity to the river basin offers a moderate continental climate with over 300 sunny days a year.

 Dominating sorts of red wines are: Burgundy, ‘Prokupac’ and ‘Plovdin’ and among white: ‘Smederevka’ and Italian Risling.

 The excursion to Knjazevac includes the following sights:

• Within the national park there’s a Museum of wine production, old country school and lapidaries.
• numerous cultural monuments
• hot mineral water springs with medical attributes
• Timacum Minus – archeological remains of an ancient Roman town.
• Ravna – nearby village with many monuments and epitaphs with carvings of grapes dating from the Roman times.
• The unique museum in the whole world – Museum of Socks with a collection of more than 1000 unique pair of knitted woolen socks. Some of the samples are more than 200 years old.
• The 14^th century Church of Mother of God

and that’s not all you can see, if you decide to pay a visit to Knjazevac.

Knjazevac is a beautiful city. Traditional intertwined with the modern, ancient with the new, with abundance of vegetation, rivers, streams and hills will make you want to prolong your stay.

 *** Let us deal with details while you enjoy the beauties of Serbia: cultural and historic monuments, excellent national restaurants and first-class wine.***

 More details can be obtained at: office@carpediem-travel.rs