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News / 12/05/2016 / 1116

VINOPEDIA TOP 10 IN 2016

December is coming again... It's a period to bring the year to a close, recapitulate impressions and enter all noteworthy events into Serbia's wine yearbook. As we usually do, we have picked 10 events that marked the year 2016 if we speak about Serbian wines. The ranking order is not determined by the importance of events, because all events are equally important for promotion of a positive image of Serbian wines.

1. #ProkupacDay. Definitely, what prokupac as our indigenous variety has been awaiting ... and finally the day has come. October 14th is the official World Prokupac Day, and we celebrate it wherever Prokupac is poured into glasses: in Serbia and beyond ... Prokupac lovers and all winemakers, wine merchants, restaurants and wine bars have shown this year the most beautiful way to promote Prokupac and a positive image of Serbia.

2. Participation of Serbian wineries at Vinitaly Fair in Verona. With much effort and with support of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, 5 wineries presented Serbian wine scene at the common stand and broke the long-term absence of Serbian winemakers at the major European wine events.

3. The General Assembly of ASI in Belgrade. Our national sommelier association SERSA successfully organized the General Assembly of the International Sommelier Association ASI. Thus, the global sommelier elite appreciated Serbia's winemakers and efforts made by local sommeliers with the aim of expanding wine culture and empowering Serbian wine sector.

4. Imperator Winery has been certified organic in Serbia starting from this year. So far, only Francuska Vinarija from Negotin region has been producing organic wines in Serbia. Now, Imperator Winery has become their peer. Organic wine production in Serbia is gaining more and more admirers among the wine loving crowd. Adherence to principles of organic production at all stages is supervised by Ekocert.

5. WSET in Serbia. As for the wine culture and education, WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) school in London is one of the most widely accepted globally, and there are accredited centers worldwide that provide WSET courses for wine lovers and professionals from the wine industry. Until recently, in Serbia we had no opportunity to attend WSET courses, but this year two WSET program providers started courses: one in Belgrade and one in Sremski Karlovci that offer courses levels 1 and 2.

6. The Winemakers' Association of Belgrade - Beside Vienna, Belgrade is one of the most important capitals of Europe which has registered vineyards on its territory. This year, wineries from Belgrade made a breakthrough owing to joint exhibition and promotion activities on the market and significantly improved quality of wines. They have shown that Belgrade has its own identity and a bright future ahead.

7. Natural wine movement of Fruška Gora - Definitely Fruška Gora region becomes the most exciting wine region of Serbia. A large number of new wineries, amazing things that are happening on Fruška Gora in the segment of natural, organic, biodynamic, orange wines will certainly draw attention to wineries from Fruška Gora in the coming period.

8. Millesima Blog Award 2016 - Vinopedia.rs website placed Serbia on the global wine map this year owing to wine blogger award Millesima Blog Award. The award is given to the best European wine blog dealing with food and wine pairing. Thus, Serbia became the first country from Central and Eastern Europe which won this award.

9. Šumadija at the World Museum of wine (La Cité du Vin) in Bordeaux. Wines from 9 wineries of Šumadija are part of the permanent collection of the Museum La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. 10. And finally, quite personal selection... I have chosen a story that reveals little-known history of Serbian wine ... The story of Smederevo Malaga which until World War II was the most admired wine of Smederevo region, and then in the second half of the twentieth century completely disappeared. Today we know that Smederevska Malaga was actually Muscat of Alexandria, and it was used for production of sweet wines. I am glad there are enthusiasts around us who understand the need to preserve vines from old vineyards so we will be able to enjoy Malaga wines from Serbia again in the future.

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Tomislav Ivanović

Awarded wine writer, wine critic and contributor to selected wine magazines. WSET3-certified author and editor-in-chief of www.vinopedia.rs. Member of Vojvodina Sommelier Association. Juror in national and international wine competitions. Lecturing about wines of Serbia and the Balkans. Local partner of Wine Mosaic organization. Co-founder of International Prokupac Day.

VINOPEDIA TOP 10 IN 2016

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