Product Description
Grape growing in Montenegro dates back to the Illyrians who once grew vines on the banks of Lake Skadar. With the arrival of the Romans in the 2nd century AD grapes started to be used for wine production, and the story of Montenegrin wines began. It was only in the second half of the 19th century that wine-producing was officially recognized and regulated in Montenegro, however. The favourable climatic and geographical conditions in the surroundings of Lake Skadar, within close distance to Adriatic coast, give to the grapes everything they need to be perfect for a wine producing. Between the red and white grape varieties, reds are dominant with more than two halves of all grapevines in Montenegro. The most common autochthonous varieties are “Vranac” used for the red wine, and “Krstač” used for the white wine. Vranac – an intense, deeply coloured varietal wine – has put Montenegro on the map. This local wine rivals the better-known wines of southern France, and, owing to the cooler altitude of Montenegro, has a fresher acid balance than can be seen across the sea in Puglia. A multitude of other wines are grown in Montenegro as well as this local speciality.
Like many things – and tastes – in Montenegro, the grapes were started to be grown and the wine to be produced two thousands years ago. First grapes were cultivated by Illyrians, than Romans brought the wine and that is how it all begun. Few native species were segregate during the time, but two are recognizable – dark “Vranac” and bright “Krstač”. The same names carry the wines that are produced from this grapes. Grape growing in Montenegro is divided into two regions. One is costal, by Adriatic sea, and the other is the basin of Lake Skadar. Most of the producers have their vineyards close to the capital city of Podgorica and around Lake Skadar, so they are forming smaller territorial units – subregions with specific agro-ecological conditions, which affect the characteristics of the wines that exists together in Montenegro for centuries. During the last decade, many families started to produce the wine from its own vineyards, offering variety of tastes and aromas to the lovers of this divine drink. Nowdays, you can chose between one of some 50 wineries, where you will enjoy excellent wine after your visit to the breath-taking scenaries and beautiful nature, getting to know thousands of years of histories, and eastern and western cultures that exists together in Montenegro for centuries.
