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Serbian wines are not very well known on the international market, meanwhile, there are more than 70 thousand hectares of vineyards in the country, and the annual grape harvest is at least 425 thousand tons. Most of the wines are produced by households and are not intended for export.
History
The first traces of winemaking in this region date back to the XNUMXth century BC. – the found shards of Greek amphoras testify to the developed culture of drinking. However, the official history of wine production begins with the Roman conquest in the XNUMXst century BC. AD Initially, the inhabitants of the Balkans did not have the right to plant their vineyards, since Emperor Damian monopolized winemaking, concentrating it on the territory of modern Italy, but in the XNUMXrd century the ban was lifted. It is believed that Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus personally planted the first vine on the slope of the Fruska Mountain.
In the 1170th century, the territory was settled by Serbs. They did not have a prominent wine culture, but the Christianization of the Balkans and the influence of Byzantium played a role. Since then, wine has been an integral part of Serbian culture. The development of this area of industry was also facilitated by the Nemanich dynasty, which ruled from 1371 to XNUMX. In Medieval Serbia, as in most other European countries, monasteries were the main suppliers of wine.
In the XNUMXth century, Tsar Dušanov first attempted to introduce some kind of quality standards close to today’s AOC system, publishing them in his Dušanov Zapisnik rule book. However, the Ottoman Empire soon conquered the country, Muslims burned and destroyed vineyards, and wine production stopped.
In the 1880th century, winemaking recovered, but already in the XNUMXs, Europe fell victim to the phylloxera epidemic, and Serbia was no exception.
In the 1990th century, Yugoslavia, which included the territory of modern Serbia, was one of the ten largest world wine producers – however, it was more about quantity than quality. In XNUMX, the country ceased to exist, respectively, in the economy and production there was a long decline, the consequences of which are still visible.
In the 2000s, Serbian winemaking began to revive in a fundamentally new quality – producers began to focus on strict adherence to technology and specialize in brands with unique taste characteristics that meet high standards. Local producers spare no effort to revive varieties and traditions that have almost sunk into oblivion. Along with production, domestic consumption of wine also increased.
Wine regions of Serbia
Most of the vineyards are located in the Timok Valley, 250 km east of Belgrade, in the vicinity of the cities of Vrsac and Subotica on the slopes of the Fruska Gora, in the regions of Šumadija and Zupa.
The classification of the 1970s identifies 9 main wine-growing regions in Serbia, each of which has its own sub-regions.
- Timok:
- Negotin;
- Княжевац.
- Nishava-South Moravia:
- Aleksinac;
- Toplički;
- Nis;
- Nishava;
- Leskovac;
- Crows.
- Western Morava;
- Čačak;
- Kruševac.
- Šumadija-Velika Morava;
- Mlava;
- Berries;
- Belgrade;
- Oplenac.
- Pocernia (vicinities of Mount Cer).
- Srem (near the Frushka mountain).
- Banat (surroundings of Vršac Mountains):
- Southern Banat;
- Northern Banat;
- Subotica-Horgos.
- Kosovo.
In 2008, a reorganization was carried out, after which some subregions received the status of separate regions, and the boundaries were also slightly revised. Today in Serbia there are officially 22 wine-growing zones.
Serbian wine varieties
Serbian wines are made from both indigenous and international varieties. Red wines make up 36% of the total production, whites account for 64%.
Red varieties
Prokupac is the oldest autochthonous variety, unpretentious, tolerates frost well, gives a plentiful harvest, and is distinguished by high sugar content. It produces a medium-bodied wine, rich in tannins, with notes of cherries, red fruits and roses. Often used to produce rose.
Vranac is an autochthonous variety with a high yield. Wines from this variety must be aged in oak barrels, otherwise they are too sour and tannic. The bouquet has cinnamon, chocolate, licorice, dark fruits, spices.
Tamyanka-tsrna – red Tamyanka, an autochthonous variety.
Merlot.
Cabernet Sauvignon.
White varieties
Smederevka is an autochthonous variety known since Roman times, it produces sour wines that are best drunk with soda water. Notes of tropical fruits and citrus can be distinguished in the bouquet.
Tamyanka is an autochthonous variety, a variety of Muscat, however, unlike the more famous “brother”, this variety serves as a raw material for dry, not sweet wines. It has an almost perfumed aroma, notes of grapefruit, mandarin, orange peel are felt in the bouquet.
Krstač is an autochthonous variety that produces aromatic and high-quality dry wines. Bouquet – ripe peaches and pears.
Dinka is an autochthonous variety, also popular in Hungary, a local analogue of Gewürztraminer. It produces full-bodied white wines and rosés with notes of rose, ginger, honey and orange peel, with lychee, grapefruit and peach in the aftertaste.
Chardonnay.
Sauvignon Blanc.
Rin (Rhine, “Italian” Riesling).
Famous brands of Serbian wines
Good Serbian wine is not necessarily expensive – you can find quality samples among budget options:
- Budimir Wine 2015 Tamjanika Zupska – white wine, similar in taste to Pinot Gris;
- Janko Bas 2015 Prokupac – table red wine with rustic flavors in the bouquet, high acidity and rich berry aroma;
- Chichateau 2017 Fabula Mala Bijela Chardonnay – Chardonnay always manifests itself in different ways, depending on the producer, vintage and terroir. This particular wine turned out to be fruity and unusual.
The Serbian dessert wine Bermet, which comes in both red and white varieties, stands out in particular. The peculiarity of the drink is that about 20 different spices and herbs are soaked (macerated) in it, thanks to which the wine acquires a unique aroma. Bermet is produced exclusively in the Fruška Gora region, and its exact recipe is kept secret.
The best wineries are: Aleksandrović (Šumadija), Zvonko Bogdan (Lake Palic), Kovačević (Fruska Gora), Temet Winery (Morava).