Did you know that wines from the Teroldego variety are produced in Serbia? That there are pure, varietal spices? How many times have you enjoyed Seduša? And wines from Rumenika? Malagousia? Dionysus? There are also much more well-known varieties, but also wines from them that have long been off the market or have never seen the light of day and presented themselves to consumers. Igor Luković presents rare gems from Serbian vineyards.

From the Decanter World Wine Awards to the Open Balkan Wine Trophy, BIWC, GROW du Monde, Mundus Vini, and other global and regional competitions, wines from the Western Balkans have been collecting significant, relevant awards for years. Among the award-winning wines are true gems, especially those created from indigenous varieties. We enjoy great wines with Caroline Gilby MW.

A variety deeply rooted in Balkan and Mediterranean viticultural tradition, primarily planted in the southern Balkans, Vranac is now the most widespread in the vineyards of North Macedonia and has become a hallmark of the local wine scene. The experienced wine expert Zvonko Herceg leads a journey through powerful, deep, and complex Vranac wines.

How can we effectively position wines from lesser-known regions? What strategies can we employ to brand and introduce them to the market? How should we approach our presence at trade fairs and other events? Might the solution lie in specialized gatherings that highlight varieties, styles, and regions that might otherwise go unnoticed? These questions and more will be explored in a lecture by seasoned educator and wine marketing expert Zsuzha Toronyi, alongside Caroline Gilby MW, a leading authority on wines from our region.

Great wine is made in the vineyard – an old winemaking proverb. Marjan Simčić, an icon of Goriška Brda, has been practicing this principle for decades. Through the famous terroir wines that he is known for worldwide, the audience will have the opportunity to discuss all the secrets of sustainable viticulture and the production of authentic, terroir wines with the renowned winemaker.

What defines good rakija, what gives it character, and how to recognize, serve, and enjoy it, will be explained by creators of well-known website Rakija, uglavnom (Rakija, mostly). Along with tasting several masterpieces from Serbian distilleries, they will discuss fruit varieties, especially plums, production methods, stylistic expressions, and pairing rakija with food.

GROW is an acronym composed of the names Grašac / Graševina, Olaszrizling, and Welschriesling, unique grape varieties widespread throughout Central Europe and the Danube Basin. In recent years, wines made from Grašac have undergone a renaissance, attracting the attention of the international wine community, with increasing popularity in the market and high accolades from relevant competitions. Wines will be presented by Saša Špiranec, one of the founders of the GROW du Monde platform.

Wine packaging in the 21st century is often aligned with sustainable production standards, with special attention given to corks. The company Vinventions, through its cork lines such as Nomacorc Green Line and Blue Line, strives to contribute to high-quality winemaking while also caring for the planet through recycling and minimal carbon footprint. Wine expert Eniko Kiraly will guide participants through the portfolio of this company and its philosophy of sustainable production.