Wine history

In the early fifteenth century Despot Stefan Lazarevic often went hunting, and there he found Petlovac wines, of Koracic wines, as they were called at that time. 1903 was crucial, when in the village Banje Vencacka viticultural cooperatives, and wine cellars of kings Peter and Alexander Karadjordjevic we founded. They spread the glory of Oplenac throughout Europe.

Vineyards and enology today

Oplenac area and Vencac Kosmaj vineyards are situated in the mountainous part of Sumadija, in the basin of Great Morava River and its tributaries. Vineyard grounds are mainly in eastern and southern exposure. The climate is characterized by regular temperature fluctuations. Aluminal soil types are alluvial deposits, smonica, clay, parapodzol and others.

Favorable climate, composition and configuration of land, and excellent conditions for growing vines favore the cultivation of indigenous varieties of prokupac and cormorant, and old varieties of smederevka. Variety prokupac gives unusually good quality wines, and wines obtained from prokupac mixed with top wines from varieties are similar to French wines.

The tradition of King’s and Vencac cooperative wine cellars in Oplenac is continued by Aleksandrovic cellars. A few years ago the main winemaker of royal family of Yugoslavia, which migrated to Canada in 1945, became the owner of Aleksandrovic cellars. So the Triumph wine, made by mixing the varieties sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and riesling was reborn.This wine is considered to be one of the best Serbian wines.

What to eat?

Restaurants have choice of local wines that agree with typical Sumadija kitchen very well. With prosciutto, cream, cake and bacon wines of rose variety go well, with pork smederevka, and with Hajducki kebab cormorant and prokupac. Wedding cabbage agrees nicely with white sauvignon, and Triumph is good as well.

What to see?

Cultural and historical monuments: The Foundation of King Peter the First which includes the Church of St. George, burial place of Karadjordje dinasty, a gallery with personal items of King Peter and King Alexander, Karadjordje city built from 1811-1813, with personal objects of Kradjordje, and authentic weapons from the First Serbian Uprising, and vinegrowing house, where a gallery is set.

King's basement in Topola has two underground floors with a constant temperature of 8 degrees. In the basement are sorted 99 barrels, each for 4000 liters of wine. They were filled for the last time more 20 years ago. The basement is under renovation.

Every October Oplenacka harvest is traditionally held in Topola, as well as National Assembly dedicated to the creativity of grapes and wine, which lasts three days.