The Botunjac vineyards and winery are located in Aleksandrovačka Župa in the village of D. Zleginja, some 200 km south of Belgrade. The winery in its current form has been in existence since 1999, when we went to the Novi Sad Fair for the first time with one of our wines: “Pinot Noir” and won a medal for quality, and since then our wine quality has been well known in country and abroad.
As a small, family winery, we are primarily focused on the quality of our selected number of labels. And often the work within the winery and vineyard keeps us away from activities at a large number of wine fairs and gatherings, and marketing exposure is also selected. Although this does not mean that we do not try to invest in the development of winemaking and viticulture in Serbia. In 2014, we participated in the Wine Mosaic in Montreux, Switzerland, where we presented to the world and submitted for further genetic analysis the Serbian autochthonous variety Jagoda, which was announced at this event as the biggest secret of today’s wine world. And now we can proudly say that Jagoda is restored in Serbia. And we had the honor to be the first and now most recognized producers of this variety with the same label name: “Jagoda”. We have spread this noble variety to our winemaking friends all over Serbia.
However, what drives us is the rich tradition of winemaking and viticulture that was established by our great-grandfathers, as well as their dedication, which is how we come to possession of recipe for our “Sveti Gral” that arrived during the Second World War from the Auschwitz camp on a back of a postcard.
The winery also owns 2.5 hectares of its own vineyards located on the family property with the same address. At about 300m above sea level. The vineyards are oriented north-south with a slightly towards the north. From these vineyards we are making selective harvest where quantity is reduced significantly in favor of quality. All our wines are made in the closest possible relationship with nature because, as the owner Kosta Botunjac likes to say: “Every little ant and bug in the vineyard has its role.” And the natural yeasts are refined by the nearby rose plantations. Wines are without artificial yeasts and enzymes. The famous French newspaper la Liberation also wrote about our approach to winemaking and viticulture.
Certainly, we also believe that the fact that the vineyards are located in the Župa climate, which in itself offers a large number of sunny days during the year, contributes to our (slightly idyllic) approach to winemaking and viticulture. warm and the nights are cold, while there is usually a gentle breeze at the location itself. The yields we have are about 5-6 thousand kilograms per hectare with vines that are between 15 and 25 years old, but due to our extremely selective method of processing and production, the total annual production is about 15 thousand bottles.
And for the end here is our gastronomic advice.
The winemaker’s recommendation is that you choose the food that best matches your taste with the wine. And to always and unwaveringly trust only your palate! At the Botunjac Winery, we believe that there is no mistake in one’s own taste, at least when it comes to pairing food and wine. And that individual taste is what should be the focus of everyone who is looking for true pleasure in wine.
