Serbia boasts a long and storied history of winemaking, dating back thousands of years. The Roman conquest in the first century A.D. brought wine cultivation to the Balkans, particularly in Upper Moesia, located in present-day Serbia. But researchers have reason to believe that the area’s winemaking heritage dates back even further.
“Some evidence suggests that wine was initially introduced to the region in the late fifth century B.C.,” says Dr. Aleksandar Fotić, a respected Serbian historian. “Although conclusive proof of local cultivation at that time remains elusive.”
Winemaking flourished during Roman and later Byzantine rule. When the first Serbian state emerged in the mid-10th century, and especially later under the rule of the Nemanjić Dynasty (1166-1371), its wine culture progressed even further under the guidance of monks.
There have since been ups and downs, including setbacks from Ottoman rule, phylloxera in the late 1800s and degradation of vineyards during post World War II communist rule, which prioritized quantity over quality.
Yet, over the course of millennia, Serbian wine culture has managed to preserve. Today, thanks to a new wave of innovative winemakers, the country’s reputation is being transformed on the international scene before our eyes.
Here’s a primer on everything you need to know.
