Tradition goes on the day of Saint Vincent of Saragossa (celebrated by the Catholic Church on January 22nd) that winemakers and vinegrowers should visit their vineyards and perform the first pruning of the vine so that the harvest would be successful and the vineyards produce quality grapes. Saint Vincent is respected by the people as the patron of winemakers and vinegrowers, glassmakers and sailors.

In continental Croatia, St. Vincent's Day is called Vinkovo, Vincekovo, Vincekuša, Vinceška, depending on the region. The main customs associated with this holiday include a visit to the vineyard to ritually start pruning, whilst raising a toast and praying for a successful harvest. The shoot is placed somewhere in the house by the window and observed because bud burst indicates that the year will be good in the vineyards. . Pruned vines are ritually sprinkled with wine and then sausages and cured meat are hung on the vines, which also symbolizes plentiful harvest. According to the folk tradition, singing and music are an integral part of the customs, followed by a feast until late at night with local gastronomic delicacies (depending on the region, these could be grilled bacon, smoked carp, venison stew, beans, etc.).

This year, Pinkert Winery from Suza (Baranja) celebrated Vinceška with friends of the winery, and the new director of the winery, Zoltan Horvat, announced ambitious plans for the coming period.

Zoltan Horvat, winery director

This year, Pinkert Winery will do a complete redesign of the labels and rebranding of the winery with an improved structure of wine portfolio to offer wines in all price categories. Current sale of bulk wine in plastic packaging will be replaced by bag-in-box packaging. The flagship wine of the winery will be Graševina as a typical grape variety of Baranja region, which will be offered in several price ranges. As far as red wines are concerned, Zoltan Horvat emphasizes that the stylistic focus will be on fruitiness, without excessive influence of oak.

The winery is also working on a new tasting room that could accommodate about 100 visitors and creating food & wine offer predominantly focused on regional delicacies such as fish (from the fish pond owned by the winery) and goose meat. The new director of the winery wants to take advantage of the winery's favorable position near the regional road and in the immediate vicinity of the border with Hungary and Serbia, which may also attract tourists from those countries.

Endre Kubik, oenologue

So, Vinceška in the village of Suza passed with good wishes, high expectations from this year's harvest, good wishes for further development of Pinkert winery because, as the Šokac song says, "one would be crazy if he didn't drink Baranja wine".

ALAJ' FINO TO BARANJSKO VINO

Alaj fino to baranjsko vino,  to baranjsko vino,

alaj fino, lane moje, to baranjsko vino.

Lud bi bio ko ga ne bi pio, ko ga ne bi pio.

Lud bi bio, lane moje ko ga ne bi pio.

Pijem vina i crna i bijela, i crna i bijela.

Pijem vina lane moje, i crna i bijela.

Bijela boca a crveno vino, a crveno vino.

Bijela boca, lane moje, a crveno vino.

Ajde Šokci da se veselimo, da se veselimo.

Ajde Šokci, lane moje, da se veselimo.

 

 

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