Learn - A crash course in Herzegovina wine regions, history, varietals, characteristics, and styles
Experience - Taste the wide range of wine, theme by theme, at our tasting cellars
Drink - A curated selection of fine, carefully-chosen wine
Eat - A cold selection of local artisan cheese and ham—to accompany your tasting
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is a historical and geographical region in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, once called Humska land, Zahumlje or Hum. The total surface is about 10 000 km². According to the population census from 1991, Herzegovina numbered 437 000 inhabitants. As a natural region, it consists of two micro regions: low (coastal and Adriatic) and high (upper and mountainous) Herzegovina. The high Herzegovina comprehends the upper and middle Neretva basin, a large part of the Dinaric region, mount Velež, Volujak, Prenj, Čvrsnica and Crvanj, and the well-known Nevesinjsko and Gatačako karst plains. The low or Adriatic Herzegovina spreads around the lower course of the Neretva River and in the Bregava and Trebižat river basins. It comprehends the big Popovo plain, Mostarsko plain and valley, and Trebinjsko plain. With its sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean climate, Herzegovina is a region where Mediterranean fruit and vegetables thrive. Many think of it as the “California” of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grape vine, fig, peach, tangerine, apple, pomegranate, olive and other varieties, as well as medicinal herbs such as sage, heather, immortelle, etc., grow here. It’s exactly because of this mild climate that Herzegovina is the biggest and single grapes and wine producer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two autochthonous varieties, Žilavka and Blatina, have long ago acclimated to the region and yield crops and quality like nowhere else.
History of wine-growing
Wine has been drunk here for 2200 years
Bosnia and Herzegovina inherits the culture of wine growing and producing from the Illyrian period, and the Thracians were the first ones to bring the grapevine seedlings to the Balkans.
When talking about the history of wine growing in BiH, it’s important to mention that its borders occupied a much broader area than today. Namely, the Medieval Bosnia was once, without the later adjoined southern part (Hum), a distinguished wine-growing and producing
country. In the Middle Ages, almost every aristocratic family had their own vineyards. This is clearly evident in the first detailed cadastral records dating from the 15th and 16th century.
With the arrival of the Turks, and the islamization process of Bosnia, this type of production gradually extinguished, and finally perished. There are many reasons for the disappearance of the grapevine in Bosnia, the biggest one being the result of war as grapevine culture requires a high degree of human engagement.
Žilavka
It is very difficult to give an exact answer about the origin of the name Žilavka, but it can be logically assumed that its name symbolizes fine veins, visible in the period of the full maturity of grapes in the berry, through its thick but transparent skin. wines. It bears the impression of Herzegovina.
Blatina
Blatina is an autochthonous variety of Herzegovina. It has a functional female flower (autosterile), and for that reason it is always cultivated in plantations with other varieties such as Allicante bouschet (Kambuša), Merlot, and Trnjak, which at the same time pollinate Blatina. Beware of its strength! It has the sun condensed in it, along with all of the Herzegovina summer heat collected in it.
Stony Vineyards
Herzegovina karst, homeland of thorn-bushes, spruce, heather, wormwood, and horned viper, where the sun ruthlessly heats six months a year and where every lump of soil is the gold worthy homeland of Žilavka too.
Wineries
Vukoje Cellars - Trebinje
Vukoje Trebinje cellars have been dealing for 25 years now with a limited production of high quality wines and spirits. The winery relies on the modern technologies, controlled process of fermentation and traditional methods of aging in the oak-tree barrique barrels.
Tvrdoš Wine - Trebinje
Within the monastery there is the famous Tvrdoški cellar, and in its immediate vicinity the vineyards. It is possible to visit and taste wine in this cellar both for individuals and organized groups throughout the whole year.
Vina Zadro – Stolac (Domanovici)
The company was founded in abandoned and war damaged wine production facilities in Domanovići. The cellar was completely renovated and a winery was build in 1997. High quality and Žilavka sparkling wines are produced, the first and the only Žilavka sparkling wine in B&H. In the cellar there is the biggest wooden barrel in B&H, 16.230 litres of capacity. Iti s longlasting tradition of wine producing is confirmed by numerous domestic and international awards.
Podrumi Andrija – Čitluk
The true beauty of wines in general and of Andrija’s wines can not be discovered by reading their description but only by tasting and moderate drinking. In order to live that experience, come to the family ANDRIJA CELLARS in the vicinity of the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Međugorje. It’s exactly in this family atmosphere of the cellar of Andrija Ćorić that the grapes are turned into wine and high quality wines of these varieties cherished.
Vinarija Čitluk – Čitluk
The Čitluk Winery is the biggest winery in B&H with a keeping and elaboration capacity of 100.000 hl. The winery owns over 300 ha of its own vineyards, consisting mainly of Žilavka and Blatina, recently credited with the plantations of two of the most famous world cultivars, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Monako 2000 – Čitluk
By transmitting and perfecting the knowledge about grapes and wine for generations, the Ostojić family has reached an enviable knowledge and quality in winemaking, therefore currently high quality and famous wine varieties in B&H come from this cellar. The climate in Herzegovina, along with the stone and sun, provides perfect conditions for the growing and elaboration of the best grape varieties, with Brotnjo at the head, where the best Herzegovina vineyards, famous for its grapes and wine for centuries, are situated.
Obiteljski podrum Sušac – Cerno
The family cellar Sušac is situated in the Ljubuški Cerno. It’s surrounded by vineyards on the hilly plateau from which a beautiful view of Međugorje and a bigger part of Herzegovina is provided to the visitor. The serene position and specific soil guarantee an outstanding grapes quality. During the past years, the Sušac family has been investing a lot of effort in enlivening the authentic Herzegovina ambience. By tasting the wines of this cellar, you will feel the harmony of man, sun, grapevine, and stone.
Lufthansa City Center