Montenegro is a small country in Southeastern Europe, famous for its natural and cultural heritage as well as the producing authentic wine and brandy.
The history of wine-producing dates back to Illyrian times when they planted the first grapevines on the shores of Skadar lake. When Romans conquered this area, they started to produce wine. For a long history, people in Montenegro used to make wine for their own use. In the 19th century, this useful activity was recognized and regulated by the law.
The area of Skadar lake was the centre of Montenegro in the past. Now it is a national park, a centre of tourist activities, a habitat for many bird species and a kingdom of viticulture. The influences from the Skadar lake, the Adriatic Sea and the mountainous hinterland have created fantastic conditions for the production of wine.
Airport Podgorica or Sarajevo
According to the program
If you are a wine lover/expert and enjoy exploring new wine routes, this wine tour in Montenegro will be a perfect choice for you! You will be accommodated in the stay next to the winery and this 5-day tour will be visiting different types of wineries and wine cellars. Most of them are located in the area of Skadar lake, and also two wineries on the shores of the Adriatic sea and two in the central part of Montenegro.
You will get to know better techniques of grape-growing, learn about autochthonous grape varieties in Montenegro. Also, you will listen about how people treat international grape varieties and produce the wine; which barrels they use, what modern methods they apply. So, you will be able to compare both – the wineries and their production methods and the tastes of all their types of wine. The fact that they are mostly family estates and family wineries contributes to creating an even stronger experience
Arrive at airport Podgorica and transfer by minibus to the eco-resort and winery “Cermeniza”.
The first day of this wine tour is the arrival in the area of the Skadar lake, which is considered a paradise for grape growing because it is located close to the Adriatic sea, surrounded by high mountains and has a Mediterranean climate, with a large number of sunny days.
Your accommodation is located at 200-years old winery, so it will be the first one to visit. You will learn about winemaking traditions from the oldest member of the family Djurisic.
Here you will have the opportunity to taste all types of wine in their impressive wine cellars.
Free time, dinner and overnight.
Included activities:
Airport transfer to Virpazar
Visit Cermeniza winery
Optional activities:
Bike riding to the Virpazar old bridge
Accommodation & Meals:
Accommodation: Virpazar
Accommodation on HB basis in a double room at Eco resort and winery “Cermeniza”
Meals: Dinner at the hotel included. (Drinks NOT included)
This day is reserved for visiting two different wine cellars in the central part of Montenegro, not so far from the capital – Podgorica.
We start the day by driving along the scenic road with a magnificent view of Skadar lake, the first stop of your journey will be Cemovsko polje – the largest and the most beautiful vineyard in Europe, located in the unique region between the Adriatic sea, Skadar lake and high mountains! The wine company “Plantaze” is one the most successful companies in Montenegro, with the 1000-years long Montenegrin tradition of viticulture and winemaking. In comparison with other world’s companies, “Plantaze” is focused to produce wines of autochthonous grape varieties such as Vranac, Kratosija, Krstac! They own a single complex vineyard covering an area of 2300 ha with 16 million sold wine bottles in 40 countries in the world!
During the 4h-long “Experience Plantaze” tour you will visit three wine cellars: Sipcanik, Stari podrum and Ljesko polje and learn about techniques of grape wine-producing. This tour will definitely be an amazing lesson and the shared experience will be very helpful. You will be tasting wines of premium series such as Chardonnay Barrique, Vranac Barrique, Vranac Reserve, Luča, Pro Anima Pinot Blanc, Vladika along with food pairing – traditional Montenegrin dishes included.
(Optional) After the “Experience Plantaze” tour, you have the opportunity to visit Niagara fall–waterfalls at Cijevna river. This place with a picturesque view is definitely perfect for a short break.
Arrive at the Mola winery. A friendly owner will take a walk with you through the vineyard as well as the underground wine cellar and explain what impacts has rocky terrain on grape-growing. This is a relatively new-opened but fast-growing wine company.
They will tell you about their way of producing wine – a combination of tradition and new technologies and methodologies. The interesting fact is that they produce a biodynamic wine, a blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon, the fruits of the varieties from their vineyard. Also, they use a special method of wine ageing – placing the wine bottles in Skadar lake, 35 metres underwater!
After this inspiring tour and tasting wine along with food pairing, you will be on the way to your eco stay in the Skadar lake area!
Included activities:
“Experience Plantaze” tour
“Mola winery” tour
Optional activities:
Duklja, ancient Illyrian site – tour
A shopping tour in Delta city
Skadar lake – boat ride
Accommodation & Meals:
Accommodation: Virpazar
Accommodation on HB basis in a double room at Eco resort and winery “Cermeniza”
Meals: Dinner at the hotel included. (Drinks NOT included)
After a delicious breakfast, we will be on our way to visit the Savina Winery. Today, we will explore one on the shores of the Adriatic sea!
After a 2h-long drive along the road with stunning landscapes by the sea, we will come to the Savina vineyards. They are located at the entrance of the impressive Boka bay, on the estate of the famous monastery Savina from the 11th century. In comparison to the previous day tour, today you will learn about grape-growing and winemaking in the lavish Mediterranean vegetation and woodland surrounding.
The members of the Obradovic family will explain the benefits of wine growing in the coastal area, how they succeed to make light and breezy, summer style of their wines. Also, you will get to learn about one indigenous white varietal, Žižak (zhizhak). All of that, while tasting all types of wine from their cellars!
On the way back to Skadar Lake you also have the opportunity to visit baroque town Perast and the famous islet Lady of the rocks, as well as the old town of Kotor, protected by UNESCO.
Lipovac winery is a secret winemaking gem, located at an altitude of 400m. It will not only impress you by its majestic appearance but also when you hear about their fine methods of producing wines! In addition to the traditional production and storage technology in barrels, stainless steel tanks, oenologists use amphorae as well as kveries.
The method of making wine in kveries has been known since the time of the state of Urartu, that is, approximately from the 8th century BC. Since 2011, this method has been included in the list of intangible cultural UNESCO heritage. Wine tasting is, of course, included.
Back to the resort. Dinner. Overnight.
Included activities:
Savina winery tour
Lipovac winery tour
Optional activities:
Perast and Lady of the rocks tour
Kotor – walking tour
Accommodation & Meals:
Accommodation: Virpazar
Accommodation on HB basis in a double room at Eco resort and winery “Cermeniza”
Meals: Dinner at the hotel included. (Drinks NOT included)
This day tour is reserved for visiting Mrkan, Masanovic and Milovic wineries in order to discover the secrets of their traditional winemaking. Two of them are located in the area of Skadar lake, while one is close to the Adriatic sea.
Mrkan winery is the first one to be visited. It is located in the village Rvasi, a place with a very favourable Mediterranean climate and a lot of sunny days in a year, which is perfect for making top quality craft wines and brandy. The Sofranac family has traditionally grown grapes and produced wine, brandy, and liqueurs, through generations. The quality of these products has historically been recognized, with some of their awards dating back to mid 20th century.
An interesting fact is that the president of Yugoslavia – Josip Broz Tito was impressed by Mrkan wine which he used to drink for more than 20 years! The very hospitable owner and his family will tell you about their techniques and share their decades-long experience. Also, they will host you with different types of wine, paired with traditional food.
On our way to our next interesting winery, we will have a short break at the viewpoint of “Pavlova Strana” and visit Rijeka Crnojevica.
Masanovic family, whose winery and cellars you will explore, has a very long tradition and history and one part of it is related to winemaking. Actually, the tradition over the ten generations long, you can experience by tasting their red wines, made by using modern French technology. The fact that their wine has symbolic names, interesting stories will be told. Except for the wines, the Masanovic family as many other families in this region produces the fruit brandy. Tasting wine is a must.
From this winery, we will continue our wine tour toward the very south, to the sunniest town on the Adriatic coast – Ulcinj, where Milovic winery is located. Bordered by the longest beach in Montenegro, the river Bojana that flows into the Adriatic sea and the mountainous hinterland, the wine of special, authentic taste has been producing in the Milovic cellars. The owners will tell you about grape-growing in the area of the highest insolation, then about the technique of making the flavour of forest fruit, vanilla and burnt oak aromas, then rich and fresh raspberries and sweet cranberries aromas in their wines. Tasting wines while the sun is slowly going down.
Back to the resort. Dinner. Overnight.
Included activities:
Mrkan winery tour
Masanovic winery tour
Milovic winery tour
Optional activities:
River Crnojevica – walking tour
Accommodation & Meals:
Accommodation: Virpazar
Accommodation on HB basis in a double room at Eco resort and winery “Cermeniza”
Meals: Dinner at the hotel included. (Drinks NOT included)
The last day of this wine tour is simply the day of departure without any organized activities.
Transfer to the airport.
We hope you had an unforgettable experience and you are welcome again!
Included activities:
Airport transfer to Podgorica
Optional activities:
Without planned optional activities today (Only on request)
Accommodation & Meals:
Accommodation: Without accommodation today
Meals: Buffet breakfast at the hotel included. (Drinks NOT included)
