Wines from Serbia arrived in Romania
With over 20,000 hectares* of vines and 200 grape varieties, Serbia is one of the countries worth considering when thinking of wine-producing countries. (*Source: Decanter)
Serbian wines have a long history dating back to Roman times. When Serbia was part of Yugoslavia it was in Top 10 grape producers, but it had a decline in both production and export when Yugoslavia split. Today the wine industry in Serbia is growing, the former state wineries have disappeared and in their place have been created around 500 private wineries that produce wines in several styles: from sparkling wines to still wines, white and red wines , as well as natural wines. Most of the wine produced in Serbia is consumed in the country, only 5% is exported.
Serbian wines are new on the Romanian market, and TrueWines is the importer that brings them to Romania. After importing wines from Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, Horațiu Filip, the initiator of TrueWines, also brought wines from Serbia to Romania. As in the other cases, his desire is to bring as many quality wines as possible from local varieties from each country and Serbia is no exception.
He chose the wines of Aleksandrovic Winery, a winery with a story and a history of over 100 years.
The Oplenac hills have been cultivated with vines since ancient times, this being the place of origin of the Aleksandrović family. In the Roman period the place was called Vincea, in the Middle Ages it was called Vinica, and today it is called Vinca.
At the beginning of the 20th century, near Vinca, the Vencac Wine Cooperative was founded, as well as the vineyards and wine cellar of the Serbian and Yugoslav kings Petru I and Alexandru I Karadjordjević (married to Queen Maria Mignon of the Royal House of Romania), who spread the glory of wines of Oplenac throughout Europe.
The Aleksandrović family has been growing vines and producing wines for over a century. From the very beginning, they worked closely with the royal winegrowers and cellarmen and were among the founders of Vencac Winery Cooperative. Their great-grandfather, Milos Aleksandrović, was one of the founders of the Vencac Vineyard Cooperative in 1903, and by the start of World War II, the family had 30,000 vine cuttings. The tradition was continued by their grandparents, Zivota and Aleksandar Aleksandrović.
In 1992, a renowned royal cellar master, Zivan Tadic, who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War, learned that the Aleksandroviç family was reviving the winemaking traditions of the Oplenac region. He sent to Vinca the original recipe of 'Trijumf' (Triumph), the best wine from the royal cellars, which was enjoyed, before the Second World War, at many of the royal courts in Europe. The Aleksandroviç family began to produce new wines based on this manuscript sent by Tadic, combining the experience passed down from generation to generation with scientific results and the latest technological advances.
After the political changes in Serbia, in 2000 begins a new stage in the development of the Aleksandroviç winery when the new winery was completed and new equipment was purchased for the production of the best quality wines.
Currently, the Aleksandrović Family is the most important private winery in Serbia and produces its wines exclusively from grapes grown on its own 75 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are grouped in three locations - Vinca, Jezevac and Bokanja, all located within a few kilometers of the winery, but characterized by different microclimates and soil types. These soils have good water permeability and excellent physical and chemical properties. They are characterized by a low level of humus, which, in combination with a gentle fertilization, obtains a smaller quantity and a better quality of grapes. Jezevac Hill is characterized by a very low humus content, but stony.
The vineyards have southern exposure, benefit from a lot of sun, and the rows were positioned in the north-south direction. The very good aeration of the Oplenac region is particularly beneficial, especially for Pinot Noir and Rhine Riesling. The altitude of the vineyards is between 250 - 350 meters. The area is characterized by a continental climate, the average temperature being 10.4 degrees Celsius, with the warmest month - July 20.3 degrees Celsius, the coldest month - January, -0.9 degrees Celsius. The vineyards benefit from approximately 1800 hours of sunshine annually.
The Aleksandrovic Winery has become a leader among wine producers in this part of Europe, and as a recognition of the quality of its wines, the winery has won several hundred medals at the world's most prestigious wine competitions over the years. Today Aleksandrovic wines are part of the permanent exhibition at La Cite du Vin in Bordeaux, they are present on the wine lists of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants from Japan, China and Russia, to Western Europe and USA.
In addition to wine production, the Aleksandrovic winery has developed wine tourism, currently over 15,000 wine lovers visit the winery annually.
Serbian wines have a long history dating back to Roman times. When Serbia was part of Yugoslavia it was in Top 10 grape producers, but it had a decline in both production and export when Yugoslavia split. Today the wine industry in Serbia is growing, the former state wineries have disappeared and in their place have been created around 500 private wineries that produce wines in several styles: from sparkling wines to still wines, white and red wines , as well as natural wines. Most of the wine produced in Serbia is consumed in the country, only 5% is exported.
Serbian wines are new on the Romanian market, and TrueWines is the importer that brings them to Romania. After importing wines from Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, Horațiu Filip, the initiator of TrueWines, also brought wines from Serbia to Romania. As in the other cases, his desire is to bring as many quality wines as possible from local varieties from each country and Serbia is no exception.
He chose the wines of Aleksandrovic Winery, a winery with a story and a history of over 100 years.
The Oplenac hills have been cultivated with vines since ancient times, this being the place of origin of the Aleksandrović family. In the Roman period the place was called Vincea, in the Middle Ages it was called Vinica, and today it is called Vinca.
At the beginning of the 20th century, near Vinca, the Vencac Wine Cooperative was founded, as well as the vineyards and wine cellar of the Serbian and Yugoslav kings Petru I and Alexandru I Karadjordjević (married to Queen Maria Mignon of the Royal House of Romania), who spread the glory of wines of Oplenac throughout Europe.
The Aleksandrović family has been growing vines and producing wines for over a century. From the very beginning, they worked closely with the royal winegrowers and cellarmen and were among the founders of Vencac Winery Cooperative. Their great-grandfather, Milos Aleksandrović, was one of the founders of the Vencac Vineyard Cooperative in 1903, and by the start of World War II, the family had 30,000 vine cuttings. The tradition was continued by their grandparents, Zivota and Aleksandar Aleksandrović.
In 1992, a renowned royal cellar master, Zivan Tadic, who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War, learned that the Aleksandroviç family was reviving the winemaking traditions of the Oplenac region. He sent to Vinca the original recipe of 'Trijumf' (Triumph), the best wine from the royal cellars, which was enjoyed, before the Second World War, at many of the royal courts in Europe. The Aleksandroviç family began to produce new wines based on this manuscript sent by Tadic, combining the experience passed down from generation to generation with scientific results and the latest technological advances.
After the political changes in Serbia, in 2000 begins a new stage in the development of the Aleksandroviç winery when the new winery was completed and new equipment was purchased for the production of the best quality wines.
Currently, the Aleksandrović Family is the most important private winery in Serbia and produces its wines exclusively from grapes grown on its own 75 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are grouped in three locations - Vinca, Jezevac and Bokanja, all located within a few kilometers of the winery, but characterized by different microclimates and soil types. These soils have good water permeability and excellent physical and chemical properties. They are characterized by a low level of humus, which, in combination with a gentle fertilization, obtains a smaller quantity and a better quality of grapes. Jezevac Hill is characterized by a very low humus content, but stony.
The vineyards have southern exposure, benefit from a lot of sun, and the rows were positioned in the north-south direction. The very good aeration of the Oplenac region is particularly beneficial, especially for Pinot Noir and Rhine Riesling. The altitude of the vineyards is between 250 - 350 meters. The area is characterized by a continental climate, the average temperature being 10.4 degrees Celsius, with the warmest month - July 20.3 degrees Celsius, the coldest month - January, -0.9 degrees Celsius. The vineyards benefit from approximately 1800 hours of sunshine annually.
The Aleksandrovic Winery has become a leader among wine producers in this part of Europe, and as a recognition of the quality of its wines, the winery has won several hundred medals at the world's most prestigious wine competitions over the years. Today Aleksandrovic wines are part of the permanent exhibition at La Cite du Vin in Bordeaux, they are present on the wine lists of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants from Japan, China and Russia, to Western Europe and USA.
In addition to wine production, the Aleksandrovic winery has developed wine tourism, currently over 15,000 wine lovers visit the winery annually.
TrueWines is the sole importer of wines from Serbia in Romania, currently the portfolio of wines being represented by Aleksandrovic Winery:
- Aleksandrovic TRIJUMF SELECTION 2022 (85% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Pinot Blanc, 5% Rhine Riesling): wine with a strong and creamy structure, with subtle fruity and mineral character; distinct citrus notes, elderberry, dry grass, apples, tangerines.
- Aleksandrovic OPLEN RIESLING 2020 (100% Rhine Riesling): has an intense floral-fruity aroma, consisting of white flowers, elderflower, lime, apple and peach. The sweetness of the fruit blends beautifully with the acidity. A Rhine Riesling that successfully meets the requirements of sommelier schools for presenting the typicality of this variety.
- Aleksandrovic TRIJUMF GOLD 2022 (Sauvignon Blanc 85%, Pinot Blanc 10%, Rhine Riesling 5%): the wine has an intense greenish yellow color, strong and complex structure, with herbaceous and tomato stalk aromas, but also fresh elegant citrus notes. It is distinguished by minerality and vibrant fruity notes, persistent aftertaste. The wine was matured for 6 months in French barriques and Slavonian oak barrels.
- Aleksandrovic VARIJANTA ROZE 2022 (100% Muscat Hamburg): with an intense pink color the wine tastes like strawberries, wild roses. Refreshing, harmonious, velvety taste, with specific aromas of red forest fruits, long aftertaste.
- Aleksandrovic PROKUPAC 2020 (100% Prokupac - local variety with great potential): dry red wine made from the old Serbian grape variety Prokupac from the Oplenac vineyard, Sumadija, SERBIA. It has a dark ruby color, aromas of overripe sweet cherries, bitter cherries, cloves, cinnamon and elegant vanilla. In taste you will feel black cherries, black currants, as well as fine velvety tannins. The wine was matured for 12 months in French barrique and Slavonian oak barrels.
- Aleksandrovic VIZIJA SELECTION 2020 (Cabernet Franc 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%): stands out with rich aromas of blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries and overripe cherries, with a fresh spicy character - cloves, cinnamon and vanilla. Freshness, black berry notes and elegant tannins are defining. The wine was aged for 12 months in French barriques and Slavonian oak barrels.
- Aleksandrovic REGENT RESERVE 2019 (Cabernet Sauvignon 50% and Merlot 50%): the wine has a ruby color, rich aromas of rose hips, blackberries, black currants and blueberries, fine velvety tannins. The wine was aged for 24 months in French barriques and Slavonian oak barrels. The defining element is the balance between freshness, fruity notes and tannins. Persistent, harmonious and very pleasant aftertaste.
- Aleksandrovic TRIJUMF NOIR 2019 (Pinot Noir 100%) has an intense ruby color, rich fruity aromas of overripe cherries and plums, fresh taste, medium body, with delicately spiced notes, velvety tannins and pleasant acidity. The wine was aged for 12 months in French barriques and Slavonian oak barrels. This Trijumf Noir is one of the most refined Pinot Noirs, having been produced in certain years by Aleksandrovic Winery, namely 2006, 2009, 2012 and this superb 2019. In the years when the Pinot Noir grapes do not live up to the winery's premium winemaking standards, they are used for distillation. An exclusive Pinot Noir, intended especially for Pinot Noir lovers and collectors!
You can find the wines of the Aleksandrovic Winery here, in the TrueWines online shop.