This week more than 20 leading winemakers from Serbia’s most dynamic wine region, Vojvodina, are heading to London to show their wines to the UK wine trade and media for the first time.
This northern province of Serbia is home to some of the most progressive, modern winemakers, who have quickly shown they are capable of world-class wines, including the 2023 Decanter Best in Show winner Vinčić Grašac and multiple Decanter gold and platinum medals.
The province of Vojvodina consists of three regions. The Srem region is dominated by Fruška Gora Mountain that rises dramatically from the plains and is only an hour from Belgrade. Overlooking the Danube this is the homeland of the majority of this new wave of family wineries. It's been famous for its wine since Roman times and today is hotspot of innovative wine stories. The peak of the mountain is a national park of dense linden forests with fantastic wildlife and great hiking. Vines range from 90m-270m above sea level, on gently sloping plateaus close to the Danube river to the north and the Sava river to the south.
Further north, Bačka, especially its most important region of Subotica, shares grapes, geography and heritage with the Pannonian plain, while towards the east, Banat has a long wine history and is a real meeting point of cultures that have shaped its wines.
Local grapes
The black Tamjanika grape - one of Serbia's local varieties
There will be an opportunity to taste a range of wines from each of these regions at this week’s tasting as well as discover exciting local Serbian grapes like Probus, Morava, Kadarka, Tamjanika and Sila.
There will also be great examples of the Central European grape Grašac which has found its home in Serbia. Grašac (pronounced ‘Gra-schatz’) is the 19th-century Serbian name for the great central European grape Welschriesling (Graševina, Olaszrizling, Laški Rizling). Grašac is the most planted grape variety in Serbia and has lots of body, texture and typical notes of ripe apple, poached pear and lemon. It is now being used to make high quality low yield wines.
You can also see what Serbia is doing with international grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Blanc – all of which are benchmarking Serbia’s great terroir. Styles range from fine fizz to classic reds and whites, plus orange wines and luscious sweeties.
Caroline Gilby MW says: “Vojvodina is home to a dynamic and experimental winemaking scene as producers rediscover their past and build on this for a bright wine future. This tasting will be the first ever chance in the UK to discover what wines from Serbia’s northern landscape of Vojvodina are all about. It will truly be a voyage of wine discovery.”
The Wines of Vojvodina in London
When: October 30, 1pm-5pm
Where: Great Scotland Yard Hotel, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN.
Register: Click here.
