History

Traces of viticulture and enology in the Pannonian Plain are vessels from the Bronze Age, from about 200 BC, and those from Iron Age, about 400 BC, from people of that time which probably drank wine.

During the archaeological excavations of Sirmium and other ancient sites in Serbia, a large number of amphorae were found, which document the transportation of wine. It is known that the Roman Emperor Domitian (69 - 96) introduced a legal monopoly, which allowed only italian tenants to plant quality vine. The monopoly was in force until the appearance of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus, born in Srem, a Roman imperial city of Sirmium in 232. Probus planted the vine on the slopes of Alma Mons (Fruska Gora) around Sirmium, and his name was linked with the beginning of viniculture in our country.

History of Serbian wine production is more than thousand years old. Development took place from the inception of the Serbian state in the VIII and IX century, and especially during the rule of Nemanjic dynasty from the XI to the end of the fourteenth century. Serbian rulers specially nurtured culture of growing vine. At the time of Emperor Dusan a law was passed relating to wine making and its quality, as is found in "Charter of Stefan I".Emperor Dusan owned large vineyards and court wine cellars near Prizren. During his time wine was send to the basement of the imperial capital of Prizren via ceramic wine duct 25 kilometers long.

In medival Serbia a cup of wine was a dialogue, agreement, oath, warning, promise, law and custom. When the southern Serbian areas were captured by Turks, Serbs migrated to north even during the time of Prince Lazar, in the second half of the fourteenth century. Krusevac and its surroundings became the center of viniculture. Orfelin Zacharias, one of the most prominent Serbs of the eighteenth century, mentioned in his ‘experienced winemaker’ from 1783, that our monastery wines are the best, Karlovac monastery wine the most, and especially black and Schiller, and that they were the best in the age of three to four years.

During the Turkish rule, a destruction of large parts of the vineyards took place, because the consumption of alcohol by Muslims is prohibited. Things change for the better after the liberation from the Turks, when there an intensive development of viticulture starts in Serbia, which became the most important economic sector. In 1848, during the Habsburg rule, Navip basement is established, and organized wine production in Serbia begun. At a time when the phylloxera devastated vineyards of France, Serbia appears as a manufacturer and exporter of wine (1890 to 1895).
Serbian rulers were responsible for the development of the Serbian viticulture and enology in modern times, especially the King Peter of Yugoslavia and his son Alexander. At the beginning of the twentieth century, they raised tens of hectares of vineyards and cellars in central Serbia, on the hill Oplenac near Topola. There they produced top quality wines. There was Vencac viticultural cooperative near the king’s cellars, known for producing sparkling wines, and it was one of the largest wineries in the Balkans. The basement of the cooperatives was visited by approximately 50 thousand tourists annually. It is recorded that wine from Negotin was drank in Vienna. Since the seventies of the nineteenth century, quality wines are exported from Krajina to France, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Romania, and other countries. Wine was exported through the port in Radujevac, and then taken to Bordeaux by ships.

Viticulture and enology of Srem is one of the oldest, and most important in this part of Europe. Karlovci gained its fame primarily through their vineyards and wines that are drunk all over Europe. Wine cellars in Sremski Karlovci and Irig are a real experience for guests of today. After the First World War they were raised in the form of dungeons with wooden arches. For fermentation and storage of wines only wooden barrels with wooden or metal rings were used. And today you can find a number of cellars with wooden vessels, although there are more and more metal ones. People of Karlovac who were famous for their special wines ausbruh and bermet, resumed their production in the nineties. Technology of the creation is kept and passed on as a secret of the Karlovac families.

A large number of males and presses the grapes were found in Serbia, as well as vessels for wine from different historical periods. Also, numerous monuments contain vines, grapes and vintage.

Viticulture in Serbia today

Diversity of the Serbian climate reflects in the types of wines. Most of the vineyards are located along the three rivers - the South, West and the Great Morava Rivers in central Serbia, and along the river Sava, Tisa and Danube in Vojvodina
Today, the largest wine company is ‘Vrsac vineyards’, with approximately 1700 hectares. ‘Navip’ from Belgrade, and ‘Rubin’ from Krusevac have 700-800 acres of vineyards, followed by: Negotin area, Aleksandrovac parish, Sremski Karlovci, Smederevo, Palic and ‘Džervin’ from Knjazevac. In Serbia, 83% of lots under the vine are in private ownership.
A large amount of very good consumer wines are produced in Serbia, as well as wines of the finest quality. Serbian wines usually carry the names of the areas they come from.

In Vojvodina, private winemakers grow noble vine varieties that produce high quality varietal white wines of northern types, and in central Serbia are grown noble red grape varieties.White wine region of Serbia, depending on variety, is characterized by bright greenish to bright yellow. They are lighter, medium to moderately alcoholic, mostlyof dry taste.

To improve the structure and varietal grapes obtained for the production of top quality wines, new plantations with the highest quality white grape varieties suitable for all wine regions are raised: Burgundy, white and gray, Italian and Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the variety suitable for all wine zones, unlike the red varieties: Burgundy Black, Frankovka, black game, caberne Sauvignon or Merlot, that grow better in the south of Serbia.

Serbia is adorned by Timok’s, Nis-South-Morav’s, West-Morav’s, Sumadija-Great Morav’s, and Pocer’s vineyards with those of Fruska Gora and Srem, Banat district, and county of Subotica-Horgos sands. Although our wines are rich in variety, their good image goes over the border. However, we still have to reach all the objectives, and achieve all desires. Sunlighted and sweet Serbian vineyards, and grape growing for thousands of years talk about the long and honorable history of wine-growers and winemakers who paved the roads for their descendants that today are trying put tradition into the twenty-first century.

Events in Serbia dedicated to wine

Many viticultural areas organize festivals dedicated to wine during the harvest. There, the glory of grapes and wines is offerred with numerous specialties of Serbian cuisine.
With that in mind, for Vojvodina’s domestic ham, white wines like smederevka, plemenka, zupljanka or light riesling, pink and with light buke are the best. With cream and white cheese, strong white wines such as italian riesling, parishioner, zilavka or white burgundy are the best. Ham from Uzice, peppers, smoked sudzuk sausages and other delicatessen products from Serbia best agree with some pink or lighter red wines, and if you try them with cheese and cream, then a good choice is a very cold dry white wine.
With Serbian pie called ‘gibanica’, white wines of the light buke are the best - smederevka, plemenka, parishioner or lighter riesling. With the pie with meat, which is served as a strong starter, you should drink only the strong red wine, game, merlot or red burgundy. Unavoidable roasted pork is best combined with wines like plemenka, smederevka and italian riesling and lighter aromatic red wines. With roasted lamb we recommend white wines of fuller taste - italian riesling, dry burgundy, chardonnay, rhine riesling and strong red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon.
One thing is certain – you will not make mistake if choose the local wine for the local or regional Serbian cuisine, because the wine and food over time found a common language.

Events that celebrate wines and viticulture

-Days of Wine (Irig, village Rivica - February).
-Wine and brandy fair (Knjazevac - February): exhibition of wines, brandies, ham and cheese.
-Blessing of the vineyard ‘St. Trifun’ (Irig - February).
-Young wines fair (Vrdnik - March).
-Bacchus, International Wine Festival (Novi Sad-April): brings together wineries, wine distributors, and manufacturers of related equipment, as well as specialized media.
-IN WINE, International Wine Festival (Belgrade-May): gathers domestic manufacturers and importers of wines, winemakers associations, national and international tourist organizations and agencies involved in wine tourism.
-Grozdjenbal (vine ball) (Apatin-September): traditional local wine festival.
-Vintage (Vrsac - September): held every third weekend in September. It gathers thousands of people who celebrate the harvest of grapes, taste great wine, and rejoice with good music. Traditionally fireworks, concerts, performances of the tambourine players, throwing grapes from the plane - a unique prize game in the world are organized, and there are good spirits in huge quantities.
-Vintage Days (Palic-September): the feast of grapes and wine, a day of wine culture and wine songs. Traditional, held in late September in honor of the new harvest. It is a two-day event with rich and attractive program for both tourists and lovers of wine, and for tenants.The program includes Vintage parade, an exhibition of fruits, grapes, wine, dance and musical points. Vintage train is organized, as well as Vintage parades, ceremonies and consul knights of the wine order, wine tasting, wine tunnel.
-Zupa vintage (Aleksandrovac-September): when a wine street and fountains of wine are made. The event of the growers of Zupa, and winemakers who are celebrating in Aleksandrovac since 1963. can not be imagined without Fountains that are unique in the world of wine, raised in the city center, where there is free wine for three days. When joking, Zupa’s people say "Wine Street we have once a year, but the wine mudlark all the time.
-Karlovac vintage (Sremski Karlovci - September): A three-day cultural and tourist event, with exhibition of grapes and Karlovac’s wine, and declaration of the best Karlovac winemakers.
-Pudarski days (Irig - September): Irig’s wines with tambourine players, masquerade, lord of the Pudar’s days, exhibition of antiques and local handicrafts.
-Smederevo autumn (September-Smederevo): tourist event dedicated to grape and wine, with a parade of medieval knights, and the finest selection of wine.
-Wine Autumn (Knjazevac, Village Wine - September).
-Oplenac vintage (Poplar - October): Traditional event dedicated to the harvest of grapes and wine, with the National Council of creativity.

-Wine Fest (Belgrade, Hotel Intercontinental - October).
-World of wines (Belgrade Fair-November).