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Our first stop to the Balkans four years ago was Serbia. We started our three-month romp through the peninsula in Serbia. Back then, our expectations of Serbian wines were low. The high quality of the wines instantly impressed us.

The possibilities for Serbian wines are endless thanks to its wealth of microclimates. For now, top producers focus on rich, red wines (thanks to the demands of the domestic market). Couple the mild continental climate with local demand ensures the surprisingly high quality of red Serbian wines.

Big Red Serbian Wines

In my opinion, the best red Serbian wines are made from Bordeaux varieties or are ‘Super Serbian’ blends of Bordeaux grapes and Prokupac. There are some gorgeous, medium-bodied varietal Prokupac wines. However, most examples lack subtleties and layers to be truly great (although they make for phenomenal everyday wines). Several producers are giving Syrah a go with pleasant results.

The regions I prefer for red Serbian wines are Negotin, Šumadija, and Beograd for Bordeaux blends. The Župa Valley is located within the Tri Morave region and is the spiritual home of Prokupac and ‘Super Serbian’ blends. In the north, the hill of Fruška Gora in Srem starting to churn out some delicious reds (it’s traditionally a white wine region). At the border with Hungary, Subotica has a number of producers working with the unique red grape Kadarka.

 

Red Serbian Wines Blind Tasted

Igor Luković, editor-in-chief of Vino & Fino put together a tasting of top-flight red Serbian wines. The eleven wines were all served blind. It gave me an opportunity to taste the latest vintages and get back up to speed with what’s happening in Serbia. Below are my favorite wines from the tasting.

 

 

Wine Recommendations

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Janko, Bifora 2016 – Beograd

The Janko, Bifora is a brand new wine in the portfolio. It’s made from Syrah grown just east of Belgrade in the village of Smederevo. There’s a lot of oak here but it works well with the dense fruit. Notes of blackberry, bacon fat, pepper, and oak. The tannins are fierce now but should soften and integrate well with time. Score: 89/100

• Bjelica, Graffiti 2017 – Srem (Fruška Gora)

The Bjelica, Graffiti was the biggest surprise to me. It is a blend of Merlot and Marselan from Fruška Gora. I haven’t been a big fan of past vintages, this is a big step up. The nose is pretty and refined with notes of violet, oak, red plum, and white pepper. It’s full-bodied with plenty of plush fruit upfront. I’d like a tad more complexity but that should develop with bottle age. Long finish with fine tannins. Score: 90/100

• Janko, Crveni Zapis Testament 2016 – Beograd

This vintage of Janko, Crveni Zapis Testament is made from 100% Merlot. I had this from the barrel years ago and am glad to see it’s showing well from the bottle. This wine shows development so enjoy it now. Tomato leaf, blackberry, earth, and cedar notes. It’s full, with rich black fruit and tangy acidity. Firm tannins just beg for food. Score: 90/100

• Radovanović, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2016 – Šumadija

The Radovanović, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is only made in good vintages. This is a relative value in the world of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s an earthy Cab with notes of capsicum, tobacco, black currant, and earth. The wine has a silky mouthfeel and feels very refined. Savory and long finish with fine tannin. Score: 91/100

• Matalj, ‘Kremen Kamen’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 – Negotin

Find and buy Matalj wines here.

I’ve had every vintage of the Matalj, Kremen Kamen which is always enjoyable. Charine and I tasted this at the Balkans International Wine Competition in May 2019 and it showed great again blind. There’s a lot of wood here but also a lot of tobacco, black olive, black cherry, and plum. Intense fruit with fine-grained tannins and a long finish. This wine has a future in the cellar. Score: 93/100

• Temet, Tri Morave Crveno Reserva 2016 – Tri Morave

The Temet, Tri Morave Crveno Reserva is a brand new release from the winery. This wine received a gold medal in the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s made from Cabernet Franc and Prokupac. The wine is rich and savory with notes of blackberry, soy sauce, plum, and white pepper. There are many layers of complexity on the palate and the tannins are grippy. It would be interesting to see how this develops in the bottle over a few years. Score: 91+/100

Other wines tasted: Erdevik ‘Stifler’s Mom’ Shiraz 2016, Vinis Merlot 2015, Tri Oraha NV, Braca Rajković ’33’ 2016

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com, and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You Might Also Enjoy:

Serbian Wine Articles

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Red Serbian Wines Revisited appeared first on Wine Travel.

Do you like wines with a touch of bottle age?

Croatia is a fascinating country with plenty of quality wines made from both indigenous and international varieties. Thanks to the high volume of tourists and a voracious local market, the best producers sell out of their production every vintage. This is a great thing for wineries but the flip side is that aged Croatian wine can be difficult to track down.

That’s why the masterclass series of the Vinart Grand Tasting is so exciting. The Vinart Grand Tasting is the premier tasting in the Croatian wine industry. It happens annually in the early spring and the weekend event is preceded by two weeks of masterclasses.

The Vinart Grand Tasting Masterclasses

During this edition of the Vinart Grand Tasting, Charine and I attended twenty masterclasses. The majority of the classes were either vertical tastings or included rare archive wines. Tastings like this are incredibly rare since Croatian wines are purchased and consumed young. If you are in Croatia in late February, this event and the masterclasses are not to be missed.

Unfortunately, most of the aged wines in this article are not available for sale (producers have very few archive wines in the cellar). While the country (and surrounding regions) has a long history of producing wine, the modern era in Croatian wine is relatively young. Tastings like this show that there is a high level of competency in winegrowing and production. We feel honored to witness this story unfolding in front of our very eyes.

Here are some highlights from the Vinart Grand Tasting Masterclasses including a fine white Slovenian wine and a red Serbian wine.

Wine Recommendations:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

White Croatian Wine

• Korta Katarina Pošip 2017 – Dalmatia

This is the first vertical tasting Korta Katarina has done on a large scale as they sell out of their wines on a regular basis. This is another excellent vintage of the Korta Katarina Pošip. There is an explosive nose of pineapple and kefir lime with some sage. Round palate because some of the wine is barrel-aged. Round mouthfeel and a crisp bite of fruit at the end. Score: 91+/100

• Iločki Podrumi, ‘Arhivsko Vino’ Graševina 2008 – Slavonia & The Danube

The Iločki Podrumi, ‘Arhivsko Vino’ Graševina is made from late-harvested fruit and it has a touch of residual sugar in it. This has started to develop some honey notes along with melon, grass, and white pepper. It’s full-bodied and still has lots of fruit and freshness, it has resisted aging. Long finish. Score: 92/100

• Matošević, Grimalda White 2016 – Istria & Kvarner

The Matošević, Grimalda White was the first Croatian white wine we fell in love with many years ago. It’s a blend of Chardonnay, Malvazija Istarska, and Sauvignon Blanc. Part of the cuvée is barrel-aged. This may be the finest vintage we’ve tasted. Notes of white peach, kiwi, grass, and white flower. Tight acidity stretches out the finish, this has a bright future in the cellar. Score: 91+/100

• Vina Laguna, ‘Festigia Vižinada’ Malvazija Riserva 2011 – Istria & Kvarner

This is Vina Laguna’s premier Malvazija from the Vižinada vineyard that faces Motovun. During a vertical tasting of this wine, this was the most impressive. It’s in a great place now with notes of apricot, white peach, yogurt, and a touch of natural gas. It’s full and round on the palate. Score: 90/100

• Šember, Qvevri 2015 – The Uplands

The Šember, Qvevri is an orange wine made of Riesling fermented and macerated in Georgian qvevri (amphora). It has haunting aromas of burnt rubber, apricot, smoke, and fall leaves. It’s full-bodied and packed with high acidity and chewy tannins. Score: 91/100

• Damjanić, Malvazija 2012 – Istria & Kvarner

During a vertical tasting of the Damjanić, Malvazija the 2012 stood out. It is a fresh white wine that is made to be consumed fresh and not aged. This has come along great and still has plenty of life ahead of it. It’s got a nose of yogurt, lavender, white peach, and natural gas. The bottle age has put weight on the wine. Long finish. Score: 92/100

• Kutjevo, Graševina arhivsko vino 1963 – Slavonia & the Danube

It was the third time I tasted the Kutjevo, Graševina arhivsko vino 1963. The third time proved to be a charm. This has aged well and is very Fino Sherry-like. Notes of almond, white peach, white apricot, and fall leaves. The high acid has kept this alive. The wine has residual sugar but the acidity keeps the wine feeling dry. Score: 92/100

White Slovenian Wine

• Jakončič, Carolina Bela 2013 – Goriška Brda, Slovenia

The Carolina Bela is the signature white wine from Jakončič, one of our favorite estates in Slovenia. This is a blend of Chardonnay, Rebula (Ribolla Gialla), and Sauvignon Blanc. This is an archive wine that is still incredibly young. Notes of melon, yogurt, white peach, and other stone fruits. It’s full of fruit and subtle power on the back end. The barrel aging adds structure and a long finish, this has a long future ahead of it. Score: 93/100

Red Croatian Wine

• Degrassi, Terre Bianche Cuvée Rouge Riserva 2008 – Istria & Kvarner

During the vertical tasting of Degrassi wines, the Terre Bianche Cuvée Rouge Riserva 2008 stood out. This is a gorgeous wine that tastes like a fine Super Tuscan. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc has flavors of black fruit, tobacco, black olive, and sweet cedar. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins and a tangerine peel-like acidity. This still has a lot of life left in the cellar. Score: 93/100

• Jakob, Cuvée 2008 – Slavonia & the Danube

The Jakob, Cuvée is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The fruit is grown in Slavonia. This is at it’s drinking peak now. There are notes of tobacco, black cherry, leather, smoke, and pepper. There is a spike of intense fruit on the palate and the tannins are developed. Better yet, this has the potential to age further in the bottle. Score: 90+/100

A Few Current Releases

• Tomaz, ‘Barbarossa’ Teran 2017 – Istria & Kvarner

Tomaz is a producer to watch in Istria as they continue to improve with every vintage. The Tomaz ‘Barbarossa’ Teran is beautiful this vintage. It has notes of flint, crushed rock, sour cherry, and red raspberry. It’s round and refined from barrel age. The acidity is under control for this variety. Score: 90/100

• Crvik, Vilin Ples 2016 – Dalmatia

Crvik is a producer in the Konavle Valley. It’s in Croatia’s deep south, near the border with Montenegro. The Crvik, Vilin Ples is sort of a “Super Dalmatia”. It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Plavac Mali. It’s a big, ripe Mediterranean red with notes of red cherry, garrigue, and tar. This is full of fruit with firm tannins. This wine is a current release. Score: 89/100

• Krauthaker, Pinot Crni 2017 – Slavonia & the Danube

This vintage of Krauthaker Pinot Crni (Noir) is sensational. In a masterclass, I tasted it next to two red Burgundies (Vosne-Romanée and Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru) and the Krauthaker showed very well. It’s a big, structured Pinot Noir with notes of cherry, fall leaves, pepper, and cinnamon. This is very young and the wood is a tad heavy now but the mouthfeel and structure and phenomenal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this blossom into a showstopper. Score: 92/100

Red Serbian Wine

• Temet, Ergo Crveno 2017 – Šumadija, Serbia

Temet is a producer we’ve liked since we first visited them back in 2016. Their Ergo Crveno was originally a Bordeaux blend but in 2016 Temet changed the blend. The wine now has 50% Prokupac along with Bordeaux varieties. This vintage has notes of dark cherry, graphite, capsicum, and pepper. There’s a good mix of fruit and green notes and firm tannins. It’s big, ripe wine with a long future ahead of it. Score: 91+/100

The finest selection of

wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com, and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Vinart provided complimentary admission to their workshops. The cover photo is courtesy of Vinart. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Vinart Grand Tasting: Croatian Wine from the Archive appeared first on Wine Travel.

We had a fantastic time at the (Facebook) #winelover’s See You In Serbia trip. Having spent nearly six months in the country, we consider ourselves rather familiar with Serbian wines. Because of that, we oscillated between “Let’s go. I’m excited!” and “Meh. I’m not sure if we will see, taste, or learn anything new.” In the end, we committed to the trip because “Of course there’s always something new to learn and experience.” But the ultimate determinant was the friendships: to show support for an initiative that our friends work so hard for and take the opportunity to know the #winelover community.  And we’re glad we participated as we were rewarded in more ways than one.

Tomislav Ivanović, Mirjana Maksimović, Igor Luković, and Dušan Jelić did a remarkable job of organizing the trip for a large group of discerning wine lovers. Over the course of five days, #winelovers from all around the world got to taste Serbian wines from nearly 50 producers.
 

BYOB Dinner

All #winelover trips usually start off with a BYOB dinner, and this trip was no exception. The dinner was held at Steak & Wine with Dejan Živkoski, President of SERSA – Serbian Sommelier Association, as the host. All attendees brought at least one bottle of wine to the dinner. For us, it was almost a civic responsibility to share Croatian wines. We chose a Tomac Amfora 2008 and a Križ Plavac Mali 2015 to share with the group.

There were many outstanding wines that night, but the highlights were the many bottles of Hungarian Furmint and Tokaj wines that Daniel Ercsey, Koltai Piroska and Sue Tolson from WineSofa shared with us. And the “wine of the night” for us was a Paolo Bea Sagrantino from Montefalco Secco Pagliaro 2009 that Rowena Dumlao Giardina from Apron and Sneakers brought (photo below).

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 18, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

Negotin Region

East Serbia is home to what we believe is  Serbia’s best area for red wine. The journey to Negotin from Belgrade is tediously long. We started the day in Belgrade at 7:30 AM and came back at 1:30 AM. While many people grumbled about the long bus ride—having been to the region—we felt it was vital for the group to visit Negotin.

You can mouse over the picture below and play the video.

 

On the Aquastar Maxim ferry that took us through the Iron Gates gorge on the Danube River. Romania on one side, Serbia on the other, and wine lovers from all over the world on board.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 18, 2017 at 2:18pm PDT

The day started with a cruise ride through The Iron Gates, a gorge on the Danube River. The Iron Gates acts as a border between Romania and Serbia. At 2,860 meters, the Danube River is Europe’s second longest river and flows through 10 countries. During the ride, we passed through the narrowest point of the river. Here’s a look at that point.

The gorge is also home to a sculpture of Decebalus. As the last king of Dacia, he fought against the Roman emperors to preserve the kingdom’s independence. At over 40 meters in height, the sculpture is the tallest rock sculpture in Europe.

After the boat ride, we arrived at Matalj Winery. The proprietor Nikola Mladenović Matalj hosted 10 wineries from East and Southeast Serbia at his winery. The #winelover attendees all had their list of favorites, and many from the group walked away impressed with the quality, if not potential, of Serbian wines. We took personal delight in the fact that the Matalj Kremen Kamen impressed many wine lovers.

 

Excellent example of Vranac and a common favorite among the #winelover people at the tasting. Lots of oak influence but well integrated into the wine: it was fruit first, then secondary profile, and only a sign of tertiary notes in this 6-year-old wine. With its high acidity and tannins, this is a candidate for longer aging. Even with 15% alcohol, it has enough fruit and extract to go some distance.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 19, 2017 at 3:57am PDT

Our surprise of the day was the fresh Chardonnay by Bukovo Monastery; the wine had a floral-accented profile along with fruit power. Their wines are made by superstar-winemaker Radovan Djordjević (owner of Podrum Čokot). Many people from the group also enjoyed the Vinarija Raj Game (Gamay) and the Aleksić Armanet (Vranac).

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 13, 2017 at 3:48pm PDT

The night ended with a trek up to the old cellars of Rajac. While not everyone appreciated the one-kilometer, uphill hike, we got a chance to taste some romača (homemade) rakija and wine, which softened the four-hour bus ride back to Belgrade.

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 13, 2017 at 3:49pm PDT

Prokupac Day

September 14 is International Prokupac Day. Our trip included passes to the annual Prokupac Conference organized by Wine Identity. The conference consisted of four workshops that were delivered at a breakneck, yet efficient manner. The conference was headlined by Master of Wine Caroline Gilby.

 

90-people strong class on #ProkupacDay.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 14, 2017 at 8:25pm PDT

The class on the aging potential of Prokupac by Tomislav Ivanović caused a stir among the crowd. Tomislav presented several labels and vintages from Vino Budimir, including Budimir Triada, Budimir Svb Rosa, and Budimir Boje Lila. As the workshop showed, while there might not be examples of Prokupac (yet) that show enough fruit power to undergo decades of aging, those wines can definitely develop well in the short and medium term.

Two wines that also impressed us were the Čokot Radovan 100% Prokupac 2015 and the latest 2015 vintage of Ivanović No 1/2 (50% Prokupac, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot). It’s no surprise since these two producers, along with Budimir, are among the top wineries in the Župa Valley—the spiritual home of Prokupac.

One example that caught our attention was a white wine made from Prokupac. The Milanov Vinarija Prokupac Belo (White) showed that this grape might be capable of making pleasant Blanc de Noirs wine. Other new producers of red Prokupac that stood out to us included Vinarija Grabak and Vinarija Yotta.

The Exotic Wine Travel team has always been fond of Prokupac, and we believe that it has the potential to shine on the international platform; so it was exciting to witness the reactions from the #winelover group. The remarks were mostly positive. However, there was a clear divide between people who think that Prokupac wines should be blended with international grapes and others who like it as a varietal wine. Regardless, many concurred that the grape is capable of making good wines.

Wines From Šumadija and Vojvodina

The third day included a field trip to Šumadija, a wine region in Central Serbia. The first stop was Aleksandrović Winery, one of the first three privatized wineries that appeared in Serbia after the Soviet period and also one of the biggest producers in Serbia.  The rest of the afternoon saw us making stops at The Kings Cellar in Oplenac and Despotika Winery.

We enjoyed tasting with the #winelover group, which consisted of wine professionals, winemakers, wine importers,  writers, bloggers, and staunch wine lovers. It’s always eye-opening and humbling to taste wine with people with extensive and varied experience. Here’s a snap of the group at Aleksandrović. Thank you Sharon Parsons from Spaswinefood for the photo.

Our stop at The King’s Cellar provided a look at the history and lives of King Alexander and Queen Maria. While we’ve never found pleasure in drinking their wine, the visit offered a brief look into the history of Yugoslavia and the Šumadija region. We followed up with a visit to Despotika Winery, where eight wineries from Central Serbia presented their wines.

 

The Church of Saint George in Oplenac offers a stunning interior of 3500-square-meter mosaics. The Jesus on the ceiling is the largest piece.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 19, 2017 at 12:49am PDT

Many people found the wines from Virtus agreeable with their palates; the newest vintage of its Marselan was a popular favorite with its full body, deep color, high level of extract, and excellent price-quality ratio. Several of the whites from Despotika also impressed the group, including an off-dry Morava with piercing acidity. The Janko Zavet Stari (Bordeaux Blend) and Radovanović Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve also received a fair share of votes. While there were many excellent producers present, we were disappointed that the wines from Cilić weren’t there.

Here’s a shot of Despotika‘s vineyards at sunset.

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Oct 15, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT

The group headed back to Belgrade and we concluded the day with a gala dinner at The Square in downtown Belgrade. The restaurant is located in Square 9 Hotel, and it’s often touted to be one of the best dining spots in the city. The wines of Vojvodina (North Serbia) were showcased, and the Bijelica Saga 2016 stood out to many people. Indeed, we think this blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon is perhaps the best fresh white wine in Serbia right now.

Biodynamic and Orange Serbian Wines

We finished the trip with a morning tasting of biodynamic and amber wine / orange wine from Serbia. Even though the modern wine industry is fairly young in Serbia, there is a progressive movement for minimal-intervention wine. There were five producers present at the tasting Bikicki, Dukay-Sagmeister, Imperator, Kovačevic, and Maurer.

Several people enjoyed this tasting the most out of all the ones in our program.

Oskar Maurer is probably Serbia’s most well-known producer as his wines are available at at least 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.

Oskar also helps make the wine at Bikicki, a new producer that crafts a light and delicious macerated Pinot Grigio and a late-harvest Traminer among others.

The newest vintage of Riesling from Imperator drew many positive responses as well.

Dukay-Sagmeister stole the show that morning. The dry Furmint received rave reviews in addition to his elegant red made from Kadarka. Many people bought several bottles of Dukay-Sagmeister‘s wines.

Kovačevic was somewhat neglected at the tasting. Perhaps it was because there was no one from the winery to represent their wines, or maybe it was because their wines do not follow minimal-intervention farming.

 

Furmintis because it’s botrytis Furmint. 😂😂😂 Absolutely stunning Serbian dry Furmint and the best discovery from last night’s Wine Jam event. The noble rot flavors, such as honey and cotton candy, are present on the palate and show only the slightest presence on the nose. What’s stunning is those flavors are mere ‘afterthoughts’–so light-footed that they, in fact, highlight the varietal characteristics: the Furmint’s primary flavors and acidity march out straight from the textbook. Overall, it’s a really nuanced wine. We have to re-taste and probably enjoy a whole bottle to fully comprehend this wine. Yea, thankfully, we managed to buy a bottle!

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The People of #Winelover

Romania was never high up on our priority list of “exotic wine places” to explore because of the lack of an active motivation or an experiential hook. Recently, one of my best friends had a swindler-related, near-violent experience there. The limited Romanian wines we tasted also failed to impress us (although we are certain that there are excellent Romanian wines).

More than 10 Romanians attended the #winelover trip, and they offered us a window into a place that we were unfamiliar with. They were warm, funny, and enthusiastic, and we bonded during the five-day trip. Now it looks like we might have to make a trip to Romania in 2018!

Special thanks to Alexandra Sabotnicu Serban, Silviu Serban, Serban Sincai, and Simona Sincai for making us love Romania even before we’ve met it.

 

Today marks the end of the #winelover trip in Belgrade. We are so lucky to meet so many new friends during this trip, and some of them have left us hooks to visit their countries.

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Another wonderful person we met was Manuella Webber-Witt, a Brazilian making wine in Germany. On the last day, we got the chance to taste her Riesling from Pfalz. It’s a Qualitätswein with brilliant acidity and crystalline fruit flavors. All the best to Manuela as she works on making her wine a commercial product!

Everyone else on the trip touched us in one way or the other. There were a lot of laughs on this trip including Giannas Krassaki who overslept and missed the entire first day of the trip (he is not in our group photo below). Thanks to everyone who made this trip so special for us. The enthusiasm and passion that the #winelover group displayed are what make these trips so special. Thank you Luiz Alberto of The Wine Hub for the photo below.

We look forward to meeting all of you, current and future members of #winelovers, on the next trip!

 
 
You May Also Enjoy
Articles: Serbian Wine
Videos: Serbian Wine – YouTube Playlist
More photos and updates about the #winelover trip in Serbia can be found on our Facebook and Instagram.

Check Out the Websites of Our #Winelover Members
Carol Lopez-Bethel’s Swirl Wine Consulting
Christina Portz’s Just the Bottle
Dušan Jelić’s Wines of Balkans
Mirjana Maksimović’s Žena i Vino (in Serbian)
Piroska Koltai’s Wine a’More Travel
Razvan Stoenescu’s Povești cu vin (in Romanian)
Sarah May Grunwald’s Taste Georgia
Tomislav Ivanović’s Vinopedia

The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post See You in Serbia #Winelover Trip appeared first on Wine Travel.

Our first trip to Serbia in 2016 brought plenty of surprises. We drove through the country, visiting cellars and tasting wines. The wines blew past our expectations and one grape stood out above the rest, Serbian Prokupac.

Serbian Prokupac In The Past

To the outside world, the grape is somewhat of a mystery. Many signs point to the fact that Prokupac may be over 500 years old and that it has a parent-offspring relationship with Kadarka. Its spiritual home is the Župa Valley in the Tri Morave region of South Serbia. In Župa there are endless swathes of Prokupac Goblet (bush) vines, some of them over one hundred years old.

Sources like Jancis Robinson’s Wine Grapes, Wine-Searcher, and Wikipedia have limited information on Serbian Prokupac. But all three sources state that Prokupac is used to make dark colored rosé wines. That isn’t 100% true according to Serbian wine expert Tomislav Ivanović. Tomislav, the author of the online portal Vinopedia.rs, shed some light on the grape.

Prokupac has evolved a lot since the period of Yugoslavia. In those days when quantity was all that mattered, Prokupac was vinified either as Ružica (a traditional style of dark rosé wine) or red wine. Those wines often suffered from low concentration, unripe tannins, low acidity, all of these coming as result of industrial mass production in state-owned cooperatives. On the other hand, local winemakers in Župa continued making Prokupac wine for their households, traditionally, as they learned from their grandfathers.   It was no surprise that these local wines occasionally shined and showed hints of Prokupac’s actual potential. The benefits of modern winemaking continues to push the grape to further heights.  

Serbian Prokupac Today

The rest of Serbia is catching on and producers are planting Prokupac throughout the country. When made into wine, Prokupac gives off forest berries, earth, and white pepper notes. Most of Prokupac wines are medium bodied and can clock in below 13% ABV. All of this tallies up to food-friendly red wines with a high amount of drinkability.

Almost all wines labeled as Prokupac in Serbia will have some international grapes blended into them. Most producers use a small percentage (<15%) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Syrah to round out the flavors of their wines. Other producers have found that Serbian Prokupac shows promise blended with larger amounts of other varieties. A few of these Serbian Prokupac blends we tasted are excellent.

During our time in Serbia, we consistently saw three different styles of this wine:

1. Serbian Prokupac made from younger vines grown on a trellis and wire (Modern)
2. Serbian Prokupac made from old bush vines in Župa (Traditional)
3. Serbian Prokupac blended with a larger proportion of other red grapes (Blends)

Here are our favorite examples of all three styles.

Modern Serbian Prokupac

• Janko Baš Prokupac 2015

Janko winery has made a name for themselves with a big Bordeaux blend named Zavet Stari. This Baš Prokupac 2015 is the winery’s first attempt at Prokupac and it turned out to be a success. It’s a medium-bodied wine that is juicy and dangerously easy to drink. Most of the quantities of this wine were exported, making it hard to find on the local Serbian market.

• Doja Prokupac 2015

A new winery on the scene. This wine won a trophy at the Balkan International Wine Competition for “Best Indigenous Red Variety”. Many local winemakers have praised this rendition of Prokupac. It’s fruit-forward with enough white pepper, clove, and sweet spice flavors to even out the taste. Read more about this wine and other offerings from Doja in Charine’s feature.

• Toplički Podrumi Tribus Villa Prokupac 2015

Toplički Podrumi is a large project in southern Serbia. Their winery is built to utilize gravity, minimizing the use of pumps. This smells and tastes a lot like a lower alcohol Grenache. Strawberry, earth, white pepper, and a touch of vanilla from the barrel. Medium in body, elegant, and very easy to drink. It’s the type of wine that is finished before you even realize it.

Traditional (Župa) Serbian Prokupac

• Budimir Triada 2006

Search or buy Budimir wines here.

The Triada is the entry-level wine from Budimir and it delivers a lot of value for the price. Budimir matures many of their wines before they see the market, the current Triada available is 2009. All Triada wines are a blend of 90% Prokupac and 10% Merlot. This 2006 vintage has raspberry, sour cherry, black herb, white pepper – a little reminiscent of Sangiovese. Beautiful notes of forest floor, leather, rubber, mushroom.

It is the most full-bodied Triada out of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 vintages. This producer also makes an excellent, single-vineyard version of Prokupac named Budimir Prokupac boje Lila.

• Čokot Experiment 2015 

Radovan Đorđević is a Ph.D. in Agronomy and produces small batches of wines in the garage of his home. The Čokot winery is in the village of Starci, above the town of Aleksandrović. These vineyards are the highest in the region and allow the Prokupac to retain higher levels of acidity. Radovan blends a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon into his Experiment Prokupac.

The wine is full of blackberry, capsicum, flowers, game, and spice. Experiment Prokupac is tangy and acidic with wonderful length – a superb effort with a unique grape. This vintage recently scored 91 points and won a Silver medal at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards.

• Ivanović Prokupac 2015

Dragoslav (Gaga) Ivanović is a local legend on the Serbian wine scene. His flagship red is a blend of 85% Prokupac, 7.5% Merlot, and 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is dark purple in color with red plum, cherry, violets, white pepper, and brown spice on the nose. The palate is rich with flavors of earth and dark fruit while staying tangy with a small tannic tug. The Ivanovicć Prokupac is beautiful now but worthy of aging – we’ve had vintages back to 2007 and they all still drink wonderfully.

Prokupac Blends

• Budimir Svb Rosa 2007

Search and buy Budimir wines here.

Budimir is one of the few wineries in Serbia that are reviewed by Robert Parker. The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) gave this vintage of Svb Rosa a lofty score of 91 pts. This is the current release on the market. A blend of 60% Prokupac and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in multiple sizes of oak barrels. Dark cherry, soy sauce, violets, and dark color. Medium bodied wine with a nice mid-palate spike of intensity. Fine-grained, chewy tannins enhance the drinking experience. This is still young with a lot of life left ahead of it, really classy stuff.

• Braća Rajković 33 2010 

Braća Rajković is a producer in the Župa valley with a track record of producing quality wines. The 33 is a blend of Prokupac, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Žaćinak. This is the Cru wine from Braća Rajković and is dark and dense. It’s aged 24 months in Serbian oak and 24 months in bottle before release. The Braća Rajković 33 has a rich texture and is full of sour berries, dried plum, tobacco, and cedar. The wood is integrated well and the finish is long. A very well made, structured, and delicious wine.

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

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************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You may also enjoy:

Matalj Kremen Kamen: A Vertical Tasting 
Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon Impressions
Serbian Grand Cru On The Slopes Of The Danube
Prokupac From South Central Serbia 
Dušan Jelić: A Perspective On Balkan Wine
Fruška Gora The Innovative Serbian Wine Region

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 

The post Serbian Prokupac: Eight Wines To Try appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk By Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature wines that are worth noting. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Budimir Prokupac boje Lila 2009

Buy or search here.

I’ll admit when I am wrong.

The very first time we drank this wine in March 2016, I thought it was very nice but not great. We’ve since had the Budimir Prokupac boje Lila several more times. It gets better and better every time we re-taste, my initial assessment was wrong.

We feel like Prokupac is a grape that can put Serbia on the international wine map. It’s an ancient grape with unknown lineage. It hails from South Serbia and is a late ripening grape that can be very terroir driven. It produces wines with forest fruits and earthy notes that can come in under 13% in alcohol by volume.

There are already some excellent examples of Prokupac on the market including those from Botunjac, Čokot, and Ivanović. However, the Budimir Prokupac boje Lila is the first commercial wine that is 100% Prokupac and not blended with any other varieties. Budimir is one of the few wineries in Serbia to have been rated by Robert Parker (more on Budimir in a future article).

Budimir’s vineyards are located in the Župa Valley in South Serbia. Officially in the Serbian wine region of Tri Morava, Župa feels like a place lost in time. Prokupac and Tamjanika are the main grapes there, but the usual suspects such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are grown there as well as Riesling.

The fruit for the Budimir Prokupac boje Lila 2009 is from vines over 100 years of age. The wine is aged for 18 months in 225L barriques, 36 months in large oak casks and then at least one year in the bottle. It clocks in at 12.5% ABV.

It’s earthy, herbal, vegetal, and wrapped up in forest fruit. Think Cabernet Franc with Grenache and Syrah-like flavors without the high alcohol. It has soft tannins and a long finish. This wine needs contemplation and rewards those who are patient.

This is the kind of stuff makes scoring and evaluating wine so difficult. There are so many subtleties and nuances in this Prokupac that cannot be absorbed in one 150 mL tasting pour. The Budimir Prokupac boje Lila 2009 is delicious and intriguing juice, it’s the kind of stuff wine nerds dream of.

4.3/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 

The post Budimir Prokupac boje Lila 2009 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Budimir rests its laurels on these two local varieties. They do have small plantings of international varieties but their focus goes to Prokupac and Tamjanika. They are one of the few wineries in Serbia that have had wines scored by the American press. The loftiest of those was a 91 point score for their 2007 Svb Rosa – a wine that we like very much.

Prokupac and Tamjanika

Prokupac is a red variety that has the ability to make some noise on the world wine scene. Serbian producers are aware of this and it is now planted throughout the country. It’s spiritual home, however, is in the Župa Valley trained on bush vines.

Tamjanika is Serbia’s name for Muscat Blanc Petits à Grains although some producers claim it is slightly different grape altogether. Many white wines in Serbia made from Tamjanika can be insipid and uninspiring. Producers are experimenting with barrel fermentation with mixed results. Our favorite examples are ones that are made in stainless steel and left in the bottle for a few years.

The Budimir Triada Red is 90% Prokupac and 10% Merlot while the Budimir Tamjanika is 100% Tamjanika. They are both part of the entry-level line of wines from Budimir. Although there is also a Triada White in the Budimir portfolio. The Triada wines are aged in the barrel and the bottle before being released on the market.

We always find joy in tasting entry level wine with some age. It tells us something about a producer. If they care enough to put work into their basic wines, their reserve wines are good more often than not. Did Budimir pass this test? Here are our observations.

Budimir Triada Red

• Budimir Triada Red 2009 

Around 20% of this wine was made with Carbonic Maceration –  a technique made famous in Beaujolais to get lighter, fruitier wines. It makes a difference here as the 2009 vintage is completely different than the 2006, 2007, and 2008. 

This is the current vintage on the market and it has Pinot Noir-like color. Full of strawberry, white flower, earth, herbs, and a touch of oak. Very light bodied and sour red fruit on the palate, easy going tannins with a touch of smoke at the end. Nice finish for an entry-level wine, it’s not long but pleasant.   4.1/5

• Budimir Triada Red 2008

This received a score of 88 points from Robert Parker. Spicy and savory with hints of rubber, soy sauce, blackberry, and raspberry. Medium bodied with nice layers of flavors, really dirty finish with a black tea note. The medium finish that keeps this wine from reaching another level but it’s still good stuff.   3.9/5

• Budimir Triada Red 2007 

This is a jammier version of Prokupac but is still very good. There are notes of black raspberry, cherry, a bit of jammy blackberry and smooth tannins. This has significant aging notes and beautiful brown herbs and violet notes. Silky tannins, rich texture, and nice finish.  A really enjoyable wine with a high level of drinkability.  4.0/5

• Budimir Triada 2006 

The crème-de-la-crème of this line. Raspberry, sour cherry, black herb, and white pepper flavors. It has hints of Sangiovese on the palate. Beautiful aged notes of forest floor, leather, rubber, mushroom. The most full-bodied Triada out of 2006-2009. Really good stuff and the wine feels like it is at its peak. This is not available on the market.   4.3/5

Budimir Tamjanika

• Budimir Tamjanika 2015

This vintage needs a year or more in the bottle to be to our liking. Notes of yellow flower, peach, really saline. Nice tanginess with juicy acidity and a bitter flower finish.   3.7/5

• Budimir Tamjanika 2013 

A touch of petrol and white flower, sweet basil, and ripe stone fruit. The wine has a nice mineral water feel on the palate with some tanginess and a beautiful bitter flower finish. Really nice weight for a fresh white wine from the time in the bottle.   4.2/5

• Budimir Tamjanika 2011

This received a score of 89 points by Robert Parker. This wine has dandelion, peach, apricot, lychee, and crushed rock flavors. It’s good and delicious white wine that has some Gewürtztraminer characteristics.  3.8/5

• Budimir Tamjanika 2010

It’s amazing to taste older white wines that were not meant to be aged. This wine still in popping and has a lot of life left in it. Nose of dandelion, petrol, pumpkin spice, with a touch of peach. This has a lot of spice and orange peel on the finish and more northern Rhône in style.   4.2/5

• Budimir Tamjanika Vera NV

Tamjanika from old vines and a blend of vintages. Full of tea, herbal, honey, lemon, and apricot flavors. Rich and full, tangy and herbal. Fans of white wines done in an oxidative style will love this – think Chateau Musar White or Condrieu from the Rhône. This is unique, meaty, and delicious. Buyer beware, you should know your palate, this isn’t for everyone.   4.3/5

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 

The post Vertical Tasting Of Budimir Triada & Tamjanika appeared first on Wine Travel.

Third time’s the charm; the proverb rings true in this case. I first tasted the Doja Prokupac at Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon in November 2016 and a second time at Salon Vina Kragujevac in April 2017. It wasn’t until a month ago, when I finally had the pleasure of enjoying a whole bottle with Matt and Mileta Popovic (our friend who runs the website Serbian Wine Guide), that I finally felt an affinity for this wine.

With imploding enthusiasm, I made a post on Instagram and Facebook about this vinous seducer. The post caught the attention of Vinarija Doja, and Milica from the team invited us to a tasting of the entire portfolio. It was a treat to finally meet the brains and hands behind this relatively new winery.  2014 was the first vintage of Doja, with the release of Doja Belo and Doja Rose. The first vintage of Doja Prokupac was 2015.

It seems timely that I’m finally putting the tasting notes together in an article as Doja Prokupac 2015 has just been crowned “Best Indigenous Red Variety” at The Balkans International Wine Competition (BIWC) 2017.

Vinarija Doja (Winery Doja) in Toplica, Serbia

The Doja’s winery and vineyards are near the Prokuplje town, in Serbia’s Toplica wine-growing region. The total estate size is 60 hectares and 40 percent is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Prokupac, Shiraz, and Tamjanika. The current annual production is 100,000 bottles. All the wines are made from estate grapes that are hand-harvested from south-facing vineyards, planted between 400-500 meters above sea level. The vineyards are surrounded by mountains on all sides.

The management and winemaking team come with experience. The proprietor Goran Todić has been in the wine-importing business for decades. His wife, Slavica Todić, is a Head of Department of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade. The oenologist is Dr. Marko Malićanin, a PhD in chemistry and biochemistry.

Vinarija Doja’s Wines

Photo Credit: Doja Winery

Vinarija Doja Belo 2015

The Vinarija Doja Belo 2015 is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Grigio. The Serbian white wine production is dominated by varietal wines of Tamjanika and Chardonnay, so a blend of this sort definitely catches my attention immediately. Fermentation was done in Inox (50% of the Chardonnay was in the barrels) and left on the lees for three months. This medium-bodied white wine is round on the palate with refreshing acidity. The flavors are of ripe peach, lemon, yogurt, and mineral.

Verdict: The combination of its mineral backbone, white-fleshed fruit flavor, and popping acidity transports me back to the white wine wonderland of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The Doja Belo 2015 is such a crowd-pleaser that you can feel confident about bringing it to a family gathering of non-wine-drinking relatives or an afternoon barbecue with your wine geek friends.

Vinarija Doja Rose 2015

The Vinarija Doja Rose 2015 is made from 100% Prokupac grapes. If you enjoy a bigger-bodied, savory-style rosé with deep color and modest acidity, then this is for you. An oxymoron but true to its taste, this wine possesses mature freshness. It has just a bit of residual sugar that lends the body some weight and roundness. The flavors are of red berries, earth, and the quintessential peppery spice of Prokupac. A gentle tug from the tannin offers muscle to the structure and end-palate.

Verdict: A carpe diem rosé! I was up alone one night and finished the entire bottle all by myself. This rosé feels closer to sunset than sunrise and more appropriate for dinner than brunch. Just don’t insult it by taking it to the pool.

Vinarija Doja Prokupac 2015

This is the wine that won the regional title of “Best Indigenous Red Variety” at BIWC 2017.

Fermented in Inox, then aged in the barrels for eight months. This wine has settled down and grown up healthily since the first and second time I tasted it. The oaky-doaky is gone. The aggressive cherryade and vanilla flavors have faded. With just the slightest boost (~10%) from Syrah and Merlot, this Prokupac wine exhibits a comparatively big frame. Floral accent on the nose, mostly of dried rose petal and violet. Stunning front loading of cherry flavor; hints of spice and grass on the mid-palate; and a tart finish supported by gently chewy tannins. A fruit-forward wine yet with enough white pepper, clove, and sweet spice notes to even out the taste. This is a more modern interpretation of Prokupac; it isn’t as spicy and earthy as those from the Župa wine region but delicious when taken on its own merits.

Verdict: This reminds me of an entry-level Californian Pinot Noir (and not without a touch of Petite Sirah or Syrah) that has undergone whole-cluster fermentation. It’s neither a sit-under-the-linden-tree-and-introspect kind of wine nor one that demands meticulous examination. But if given the chance to make a first impression as the representative of Serbian red wine, this would impress many drinkers and win a handful of brand ambassadors. I’ll be sure to take a sip or ten of this wine every time I’m in Serbia.

Get to Know Prokupac

Prokupac is an indigenous red wine grape of Serbia. It produces wine with medium body, high acidity, and flavors of red fruit and pepper spice. I often find the well-made Prokupac wine to be redolent of a mix of Gamay and Blaufränkisch. Regardless, Prokupac has its own unique set of sensory attributes and these comparisons are only useful as a nascent framework for those who have not had the opportunity to taste it. To learn more about Prokupac, you can take a look at these two articles that Matt wrote: Serbian Prokupac: Eight Wines to Try and Prokupac from South-Central Serbia.

 
Updates:

Exotic Wine Trave’s Prokupac Harvest 2017 with Vinarija Doja

In October 2017, we were invited to join the Doja team at their Prokupac harvest. Besides the expected learning outcomes and the fun of post-harvest celebration, what was truly valuable to us was getting to know the people at Vinarija Doja on a personal level. That day, we learned about Goran’s aspiration to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the people living in his village of birth. We observed the joy in his eyes as he pointed at the places that held memories of his childhood. We saw a small plot of bush vines that he revived for no better reason than nostalgic attachment. We had a glimpse of his vision and his inclusive leadership style.

Often, it seems easier for us wine lovers to fall in love with the romantic ideas of farmers who have their hands in the soil than to connect with a trader who is profit-driven but simultaneously committed to social responsibility. I believe socialism, environmentalism, and capitalism do not have to be mutually exclusive, and there is always a middle ground or sweet spot that we can achieve. Vinarija Doja and the team that Goran has nurtured seemed rightly placed at a vantage point to progress further and in a sustainable manner.

During our visit, we also tasted some new bottlings. I’ve added the tasting notes below.
 

Vinarija Doja Belo 2016

Compared to Vinarija Doja Belo 2015, this shows significantly more high-toned and sweeter aromas. On the palate, the fruit notes are fleshier and more ripe than 2015’s. The mineral backbone and refreshing acidity are as good as the previous year. Overall, the quality level is consistent with 2015, but it’s youthfully edgy right now. I’d give this wine at least a few more months to stretch out.

 

Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2016

Slated for release in early 2018, we tasted this pre-blended. So Matt and I decided to do some blending experiments. He preferred a blend with more Cabernet Sauvignon than Merlot, while I preferred the opposite.

Both wines show good varietal characteristics. The Cabernet Sauvignon has a delineated and pliable structure, with soft and chalky tannins. The Merlot offers sufficient lushness on the palate with a rather pronounced acidic strength and tanginess. There are no rough edges, but I think the final blend can benefit from more cling and more dimensions. It would, in fact, be interesting to move away from the typical Bordeaux style and have a bit of Syrah added for the extra oomph. The Bordeaux-style blends in Serbia tend to be lithe, which allows for early consumption. I would love to see a blend that’s more brooding and intense in character.

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy:
Matalj Kremen Kamen: A Vertical Tasting
Serbian Grand Cru on the Slopes of Danube

Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Vinarija Doja: Serbia’s New Vinous Star appeared first on Wine Travel.

We’ve spent three months of 2016-2017 in Serbia visiting wine producers and walking away thoroughly impressed (more articles on Serbian wine will be released soon). Over the course of three months, we traveled to the far corners of the country and with that sort of coverage—naturally—we felt confident about our knowledge of all the important wine regions in Serbia. Well, it’s nice to be wrong sometimes.

Beograd © Vlada Marinković

On the far eastern part of the Beogradski Rejon (Belgrade Region) lies the small town of Smederevo. It’s an hour drive southeast of Belgrade. The ride is fuss-free and scenic, through the bucolic hills on the south side of the Danube River. Vineyards, fruit orchards, and holiday villas flank the riverbank.

We are heading to the area because of a dinner invitation. The ever-helpful Dušan Jelić from Wines of Balkans has invited us to join him and Frank Dietrich from Blue Danube Wine for a dinner and tasting at Janko Winery. It seems like a great opportunity to get away from Belgrade for a weekend and taste through an area we haven’t visited.

Arriving in Smederevka, we check into a charming guesthouse facing the river. Our host doesn’t speak English but somehow is able to figure out that we are in the area to taste wine. He quickly runs down to his cellar and pours us a sample of his homemade wine. It’s light ruby in color, low in alcohol, and delightfully refreshing. A pleasant surprise and an enjoyable beverage compared to other homemade wines we’ve drunk during our wine jaunts around the world.

Besides wine grapes, Smederevo is also known for other fruit production. It’s evident as we walk through the vineyards; most of the vineyard plots are tucked between fruit orchards.

“This area was the first region in Serbia to produce high-quality apricots and cherries,” says Slavoljub Jeremić, owner of Jeremić Winery.

Vinarija Jeremić is one of the five commercial wineries located in this wine region. Smederevo is home to countless family cellars that are producing wine for personal use, but few modern wineries exist here. The area is ripe with untapped potential. Currently, the two most acclaimed wineries in the area are the aforementioned Jeremić and Janko. Both wineries boast equally impressive cellars, modern winemaking equipment, and elegant tasting rooms.

Vinarija Jeremić

Mr Jeremić walks us through his northwest-facing vineyards. The aspect of the vineyard allows light to reflect off the Danube, which helps to ripen the grapes. This is his best plot and where he sources fruit for his top white and red wines.

The Jeremić cellar feels like a sanctuary, which fits the calm demeanor of Mr Jeremić, but his wines are quite the opposite. He loves New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and California Cabernet Sauvignon and that’s the kind of wine he wants to emulate. The consultant winemaker is from Macedonia (FYROM), where full-bodied and fruity reds are the norm.

The Jeremić wines are big with explosive and intense flavors, but not at the expense of balance. These flamboyant wines are made for a specific palate that appreciates aromatic, rich, and full-bodied wines. Every wine in the portfolio is named after a classical music title, which is constantly playing through the speakers in the barrel room while the wine rests. For a winery that’s only five years old, Jeremić is already doing a fantastic job at crafting a distinct personality and memorable portfolio.

Podrum Janko

A few kilometers down the road from Vinarija Jeremić is Podrum Janko. The proprietor is Mr Dragan Vasić Janko and he’s producing some of the most critically acclaimed wines of Serbia. His portfolio includes a wine that clinched the 2014 Decanter’s Regional Trophy for Best Central and Eastern European Red Wine Over 15 Pounds.

Podrum Janko was founded in 2006 when Dragan set his mind on making high-quality white wine with the local grape Smederevka and the production slowly expanded from there. Dragan has a big personality but funny enough—just as it is the case for Mr Jeremić—his wines are the opposite of his high-spirited presence; they are relatively gentle and show a lot of restraint. The Janko cellar is spotlessly clean; it may be the tidiest cellar we’ve seen and the only other winery that comes close to this level of meticulousness is Brewer-Clifton in Santa Barbara, California. Perhaps the commonality between his personality and his wine and what’s invisible to the naked eye is this pride taken in being particular.

Dragan believes strongly in the potential of Serbian oak and Merlot. He uses only Serbian oak barrels in the cellar. “This area in Serbia can produce the best Merlot,” he says while pouring us a sample of his unbottled Merlot Reserve from 2016. The wine will stay in the barrels for another year before release.

The Janko Merlot Reserve 2016 is already a beautiful wine with plush flavors, multiple layers of texture, and agreeable tannins.  The only thing we’d like is a slightly longer finish.

 

Good fun last week when we visited @podrumjanko with @bluedanubewine and @winesofbalkans and tasted through the entire Janko portfolio.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Mar 29, 2017 at 2:06pm PDT

Dragan has whipped up several delicious dishes for us to pair with his wines. We’ve tasted his reds prior to this visit and have fond impressions of them. But tonight, it’s the white wine that’s taking us by surprise. All the whites have a sense of clarity about them; they show precise varietal characteristics and a sense of place.

The grape Smederevka was known in the past to make insipid, quaffing wine. However, Janko’s flagship white wine made from Smederevka grapes tells a different story. It shows appealing flavors of stone fruit and mineral, which make for a delightful starter to the evening. The Traminac (Gewürtztraminer), Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay are all well-made. Dragan has worked hard to develop export markets so these wines are available in several countries around the world, including Western Europe, America, and Australia.
 

Sipping Serbia, Burgeoning Belgrade

Serbia’s wine industry continues to grow in quality and quantity. It’s been exactly a year since our first visit to Serbia’s wine regions and the changes we’ve noticed are encouraging. New wineries and young guns are popping up on the scene rapidly. Belgrade is a thirsty market and makes up the majority of sales for all the Serbian wineries. With a wonderful wine region like Smederevo that’s merely a one-hour drive away from the capital city, winemaking seems like a logical choice—whether it’s for commercial or cultural reasons. Like many other wine countries in this part of the world, there is a long history of grape-growing in Serbia but due to past political difficulties, the country faces a gap in its vinous timeline. Only time will tell how the future unfolds. We have high hopes for the Serbian wines to continue gaining traction in the international market. Both the Jeremić and Janko wines show much promise and we hope more wine lovers will get the chance to experience them soon.
 

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.

• Janko Misija Chardonnay 2016

Charine absolutely adores this wine. Most of this is kept in stainless steel but 20% is barrel fermented to give the wine some complexity and round up the texture. An uncomplicated but stunning Chardonnay. 12.8% ABV with a touch of residual sugar and high acidity. Flavors of wet stone, calamansi juice, melon, and tropical fruit, perked up by a saline, minerally backbone. This is the “date next door” for Chardonnay.   4.0/5

• Janko Adut Traminac 2011

A gorgeous, aged example of Traminac (Gewürtztraminer). Bouquet of lychee, yellow flower, and petroleum. On the palate, it’s slightly oily with flavors of rose, sweet basil, and bitter almond delivered with great intensity. Relatively acidic for this variety. Finish is long. This can be aged for even longer.   4.2/5

• Janko Prokupac Baš 2015

We love the Serbian red grape Prokupac. Flavors of raspberry, cranberry, white pepper, and grass. The expressive aroma is paired with nice acidity that lifts up the fresh and fruity palate. Light and nimble at 12.5 % ABV, this is not the most complex red wine by any standard but it’s delicious and fun to drink.   3.9/5

• Janko Zavet Stari 2011

Many local wine writers believe this is the greatest red wine of  Serbia’s modern winemaking era; it’s even won a Decanter Regional Trophy. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, this was aged for 24 months in Serbian oak. An inviting bouquet of chalk, lilac, violet, and dark fruit. On the palate, the fruit flavors are more intense with notes of black cherry, plum, earth, and a kiss of vanilla.  The texture is plush, the structure is firm, and the long end palate is delivered with fine-grained tannins. This wine is certainly a notch above its siblings from 2012 and 2013.   4.4/5

• Jeremić Sonata Icone 2016

The Jeremić’s Sonata line consists of two wines: Sonata made from Sauvignon Blanc in stainless steel and Sonata Icone which is the barrel-fermented version; both wines are equally likable. The Jeremić’s Sonata Icone 2016 is a tank sample that has been fermented and aged in new French oak barrels. Notes of baked apple, peach, lemon, vanilla, and a touch of spice from the wood. Good acidity. Judicious use of oak with a long finish.   4.0/5

• Jeremić Kanon Superior 2012

A blend of mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon; this spent 24 months in oak. An immersive aroma of black truffle and hints of dried shrimp, goji berry, paprika powder, and tomato leaf. A broad palate with welcoming flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, graphite, and capsicum. This is a big wine with grippy tannins.   4.0/5

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Related
Check out our interview with Dušan Jelić from Wines of Balkans.
Based in USA, Blue Danube Wine imports and distributes wine from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, and Turkey.
Prokupac From South-Central Serbia
Serbian Grand Cru On The Slopes Of Danube

Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Fine Serbian Wine On Belgrade’s Doorstep appeared first on Wine Travel.

After a whirlwind, two-month period launching our book Uncorking the Caucasus in Georgia and Armenia, we decided it was time to leave the region. Winter was starting in Tbilisi and the cold weather came quickly, so we jumped on a plane and headed to the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), or Macedonia for short. We had reason to go back to this tiny Balkan country; there was a special event taking place.

Downtown Skopje, Macedonia, the site of Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon 2016.

Our friend Ivana Simjanovska was instrumental in putting together the first Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon. We wanted to show Ivana support for all of the hard work that she put into making this idea a reality. The Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon was a well-organized tasting of nearly 20 Macedonian wineries, in addition to several other wineries from Serbia, Slovenia, and Italy. The Wine Salon was held on the weekend of November 11 & 12, 2016 at the Mariott Hotel in downtown Skopje.

The main room at the Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon.

It was a small but fantastic show. We had traveled through Macedonia earlier in 2016 so most of the wines were familiar to us. At the Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon, we got a chance to taste some new vintages and discover a few wines that we previously missed. The main ballroom was bustling but small enough to taste at every booth without much hassle.

Saša Špiranec and Igor Lukovic leading the workshop on Balkan indigenous varieties.

Master classes were conducted on the same floor during the event. They were the highlight of the Vinodonia Skopje Salon for us.
 

Indigenous Balkan Grape Varieties

This was a highly educational workshop about Stanušina from Macedonia, Prokupac from Serbia, and Plavac Mali from Croatia. Each grape was presented by a renowned wine writer of the same country of origin as the grape. Ivana Simjanovska presented two Stanušina wines, Igor Luković had four examples of Prokupac, and Saša Špiranec showed three wines made from Plavac Mali.

The first two glasses in the upper left are Stanušina. The next four moving left to right are Prokupac, and the final three on the lower right are Plavac Mali (one glass of Plavac Mali is cut off). Note the color differences between the wines, especially the much darker Plavac Mali.

Stanušina is a Macedonian variety with a clouded history. It produces lightly colored and low in tannins wine with medium-level alcohol, which reminds us of a much softer version of Grenache. There are only two producers making Stanušina wine commercially at the point of writing. Hopefully, this grape gains more traction as a worthy variety that produces elegant, lighter red wines; this would be a good contrast to most of the reds coming from Macedonia, which are ripe and massive.

Prokupac hails from southern Serbia. It is an ancient grape variety with some ties to the grape Kadarka. It is Charine’s favorite grape from Serbia and it’s capable of making serious wine. The best examples we tasted were from the Župa valley where fruit is sourced from old bush vines. We’ve had many different styles of wine made from this variety. When done well, it can taste like an imaginary cross between Rhône Syrah and Pinot Noir. It is a grape that wine nerds should definitely seek out.

Plavac Mali is Croatia’s flagship red grape. It is the offspring of the original Zinfandel (Tribidrag/Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatian) and another local grape called Dobričič. We know this grape very well. At its best, the wine can have luscious notes of red fruit, perfume, and earthiness. At its worst, it can taste moldy, overripe, and rustic. The wine has the potential to make incredible wines but you have to sift through a lot of uninspiring examples in Croatia to come across the great ones.

EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL’S PICKS

• Brušani Stanushina 2013

Light brick red in color with a nose of ripe cherry pie, clay, and cranberry juice. Flavors of red cherry, dirt, minerals can be felt on the palate with some light tannins. It is very complex for such a light red wine with tight tannins. The production is tiny and the winemaker finds his inspiration from Chateau Musar, so expect to find some volatile acidity and dirtiness in this wine. Still, the minerality of the wine is undeniably appealing. 

• Ivanović Prokupac 2015

Dragoslav “Gaga” Ivanović is a legend in South Serbia. When we were traveling through the country, someone referred to Gaga as a “Zen Master”. This is a blend of 85% Prokupac, 7.5% Merlot, and 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is dark purple in color with dark plum, blue fruit, and brown spice notes on the nose. The palate is rich with flavors of earth and dark fruit while staying tangy and acidic, with some tannic tug. A wine that is pleasurable now but is definitely worthy of aging. 

• Budimir Prokupac Boje Lila 2009 

Find at wineandmore.com

This is the third time we’re tasting this wine. The first time we tasted it, our initial impressions were very good but not exceptional. However, this time it really impresses us. Budimir is the only winery in Serbia to have their wines scored by Robert Parker.

This is 100% Prokupac, aged for five years before release. The dominant flavors are of earth, perfume, flower, and herb held together by a blackberry core. Good texture and a silky smooth finish.

• Miloš Stagnum 2007

Find Miloš Stagnum here.

One of Croatia’s cult wines, made from 100% Plavac Mali. Frano Miloš makes a range of varietal wines from Plavac Mali. He farms organically, employs natural yeasts, utilizes spontaneous fermentation, and believes in long aging. The 2007 is the current release. It has a nose of dried cherry, leather, rubber, mineral, and earth. On the palate, flavors of tangy cherry, leather, tar, and rubber emerge with nice acidity. The wine has rich flavors and is a throwback to the old-school style of winemaking.

Vertical Tasting of Chateau Kamnik Ten Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon 2004-2015

We visited Chateau Kamnik in April 2016 and tasted through their entire portfolio. A link to the article based on our initial visit is at the bottom of the page.

The Ten Barrels line from Chateau Kamnik consists of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah; the Syrah range is excellent as well. As the name suggests, there are only ten barrels of each wine made in a good year.

Macedonia receives nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. The country is at the confluence of Mediterranean and Continental climates which bodes well for grape growing. The thriving red grape is Vranec, but there is potential for many other red grapes to do well.

Eight vintages of Chateau Kamnik Ten Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon. spanning from 2004-2015.

With the high amount of sunny days paired with long, dry autumns in Macedonia, it’s not surprising to see many wineries with plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon. In this vertical tasting, we got a chance to taste eight vintages: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015.

The early vintages were balanced and had developed nicely. After 2009, the alcohol levels started rising and the wines showed riper fruit flavors and more oak. The wines of 2011 and 2013 were too ripe and big for us—that’s not to say that they are bad wines, it’s just a matter of preference. The 2015 vintage was a barrel sample and it showed a surprising amount of balance despite clocking in at 15.3 % ABV. The 2015 could shape out to be the best wine of the flight in the years ahead.

EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL’S PICKS

Find Chateau Kamnik wines at wineandmore.com

• Chateau Kamnik Cabernet Sauvignon Ten Barrels 2006

Clocking in at 14.1 ABV, this wine is an absolute beauty. The wine has bright cherry, tomato leaf, sweet tobacco, and rubber. The notes on the nose are very focused. The palate is full of sour cherry, sweet tobacco, and mint. It is wonderfully balanced, refined, structured, and delicious. This is great wine, period.

• Chateau Kamnik Cabernet Sauvignon Ten Barrels 2007

At first, Matt detested this nose but it kept revealing more secrets as it opened up. Charine loved this from the start. The nose is full of sweet tobacco, crushed flowers, black licorice, and potpourri. The palate is dark and complex with black licorice, incense, potpourri, and black fruit. It is nice in a different way than you would expect from Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage has developed more tertiary (aging) notes than the 2006 vintage, which is interesting. 

• Chateau Kamnik Cabernet Sauvignon Ten Barrels 2009

A higher alcohol wine at 14.7 ABV and has vanilla on the nose at first but opens with rubber, cherry juice, and brown sugar. The palate is full of black cherry, pencil lead, spice, and smooth tannins but the body is big and strong. This is big and fruit-forward but not overly bruising. 

At this point in the tasting, we could sense the new vintage was becoming bigger and the alcohol level rising.

Stobi Winery Private Reserve Wines

The last masterclass of the salon was by Stobi. This winery is relaunching their top wines under the label Private Reserve. Stobi produces close to 4.5 million liters of wine each year; all are bottled wine. The winery is in central Macedonia, next to the ancient Roman city of Stobi, a well-preserved site. The peacock on the Stobi label is taken from a mosaic found in the ancient city.

The Stobi Private Reserve Line.

We visited the winery and superb restaurant in the Spring of 2016. Anyone who visits Macedonia should eat at the Stobi restaurant! The wines of Stobi are very impressive, especially for such a big-production winery. All of their wines, including the basic one-liter bottles, are of good quality. The top wines are well made and of screaming values. The Vranec Veritas 2011 has received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and is listed on Wine-Searcher at 17.99 USD.

The Stobi Private Reserve Line.

The problems that plague many Macedonian wines include flavors that are too ripe, over-extraction, and poor oak management. These are not problems at Stobi. Balance is displayed in these Stobi Private Reserve wines—a rarity in a country where wines routinely reach 15-17% ABV. There are no blockbusters in the Stobi portfolio (yet) but all of their wines are very good at fair prices.

EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL’S PICKS

• Stobi Acacia 2013

Made from 100% Chardonnay. This wine is aged for eight months in Acacia and French oak. It has a nice dandelion color and the nose is very pleasant with yellow flower, pear, melon, and crushed white flowers. The palate is similar to the nose with a touch of pineapple. This is crisp and delicious for a wine aged in wood. Easy to understand and satisfying.

• Stobi Axios 2013

Made of 100% Merlot. The wine is aged 18 months in oak and is full of chocolate, pencil lead, and plum. The palate adds flavors of earth, pepper, capsicum, and slate. It tastes a lot like a lean, right bank Bordeaux. A well made and easy to drink wine.

• Stobi Aminta 2013

A blend of 34% Vranec, 33% Merlot, and 33% Cabernet Sauvignon. This spends 24 months in oak and has a nose full of chalk, red fruit, chocolate, and herbs. The palate is tangy with red and black fruit, blueberry, mineral, and a nice mid-palate spike. The wine is delicious, unique, yet strangely familiar. 

Thanks to Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon

We would like to extend a special thank you to Ivana Simjanovska and the team at Vinodonia. They provided us passes to the event and workshops. It was a fun event and we hope to make it to another one in the coming years.

We interviewed Ivana Simjanovska about Macedonian wine on our website in a previous article. You can learn more about Vinodonia on their website. We’ve also written an in-depth piece about the wines of Chateau Kamnik.

The finest selection of

Croatian, Macedonian

and Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian, Macedonian or Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian, Macedonian or Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy: 
Barovo Tikveš: World Class Wine from Macedonia
10 Plavac Mali Wines to Try (Besides Dingač And Postup)

Disclosure: We were given complimentary passes to the Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon. However, the ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and not associated with any other sponsors or business promotions.

The post Vinodonia Skopje Wine Salon Impressions appeared first on Wine Travel.

When we commenced our ex-Yugoslavia trip, we chose to start with Serbia, end with Croatia, and sandwich the other countries in between. There was no outside information on Serbia wine and our expectations for it could not be any lower. We were completely shocked by what we tasted.

Serbia’s wine industry consists of all boutique producers; there are no big boys on the block. The landscape of south-central Serbia looks very much like Tuscany (which is at the same latitude). There are small villages, which seem to have been lost in time. It was a common sight to see locals coming into town with horse and buggy. The countryside consists of undulating hills covered in vines. This is most evident in a small valley tucked away in the hills, where they grow an ancient variety.

The Župa Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in the area, it was somewhat left alone during communism; people were permitted to make wine in an artisanal way. Winemaking is very important in this part of Serbia, this valley and the areas around it exported a large amount of its production to France during the phylloxera crisis. It is viewed as a sort of a “hicksville” in Serbia, even though they have perhaps the oldest winemaking traditions in the country. It is here that the ancient variety Prokupac grows in abundance on swathes of bush vines.

The valley is home to Vino Budimir, the only Serbian winery that has been reviewed by Robert Parker, but there are many other talented winemakers in the area. We spent time with excellent winemakers like Dragoslav “Gaga” Ivanović the owner of Vinarija Ivanović, who is somewhat of a legend in Župa, crafting excellent Prokupac year after year. Kosta Botunjac of Vinogradi Botunjac, famous for crafting excellent Pinot Noir, also makes a stellar example of Prokupac.

Kosta and Gaga are old guards in the valley, but there is a new kid on the block…

Radovan the winemaker of Podrum Ćokot

Radovan Djordević owns a PhD in Oenology from the University of Belgrade. He began making wine under his own label only four years before we met him. Radovan met us at our hotel and led us up a single track dirt road to his village, Starci. The tiny village consisted only of a handful of houses on a hill, 500 meters above the valley. Our rental car, a Chevrolet Spark, barely made the journey up the small bumpy road. In his home, Radovan makes extremely small batches of excellent Prokupac and Tamjanika (a Serbian mutation of Muscat). His winery, Podrum Ćokot, is very much a garage winery and currently produces less than 10,000 bottles annually – the wines were outstanding.

Our experience with Radovan was a good representation of our time in Serbia. The country blew us away with the diversity and quality of wines available. The winery visits were incredibly personal and intimate. Walking into these wineries, or in many cases, the homes of these wonderful people made for special experiences. Often, wines flowed freely for hours and hours on end. Wines were often paired with the Serbia preserved meats, which are amongst the finest we have tasted in the world–along with Spain and Italy.

EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL’S PICKS

We shot a video face-off between all three of these wines. It can be viewed on our YouTube Channel.

• Podrum Ćokot, Experiment 2012

This wine is 100% Prokupac and when this grape is done right it is something very special. This wine shows Syrah-like characteristics on the nose with game, pepper, and earth; yet on the palate, it has a subtle Pinot Noir type of elegance dominated by light red fruit and a long finish. This wine is very clean and extremely focused. This wine is something very special and we were glad we got a chance to sample it. Radovan’s vineyards are the highest in the Župa Valley, which explains why we feel more acidity and freshness in his wines than the rest of the area.

• Vinarija Ivanović, Prokupac 2014

This vintage was a tough year throughout Serbia but masters like Gaga churn out good wines year after year. One person in the Serbian wine industry referred to Ivanović as a “Zen Master.” You can check out our video interview with Ivanović here. This Prokupac is a little beefier than Radovan’s and has a very savory nose with earth, beef, and mushroom soup over the blackcurrant and black cherry fruit. The palate has a lot of cherries and ripe raspberries complimented by earth tones. This is wine in denser and is more savory than the other two Prokupac wines featured here.

• Vinogradi Botunjac, Sveti Gral Prokupac 2012

This winemaker is legendary in Serbia as one of the very few producers of Pinot Noir. Kosta also produces a few wonderful white wines out of Welschriesling and the rare grape Jagoda. He is a renaissance man and sketches his own labels. This Prokupac is lighter in color than the other two and has a nose of strawberry, raspberry, mulberry, straw, and dirt. The palate is full of ripe strawberry and earth, finishing with sweet tannins.

Special thanks goes to Aleksander, a talented barrel cooper from Barrique-Djoric, for taking us around the Župa Valley.

The finest selection of

Serbian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Serbian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Serbian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Related
Serbian Grand Cru on the Slopes of Danube
Dušan Jelić: A Perspective On Balkan Wine
Exotic Wine Travel, Episode 54: The Župa Valley of Serbia
Exotic Wine Travel, Episode 56: Goodbye to Wine Travel in Župa Valley of Serbia

Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Prokupac from South-Central Serbia appeared first on Wine Travel.