VRANAC
Vranac is a black variety of grapes, native to Serbia, Montenegro, BiH and Macedonia.
Vranac’s name can be translated as ‘strong black’.
It produces dense and deeply-colored red wines with flavors and aromas which range from sour cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant to chocolate, mint and vanilla.
Berries are large and thin-skinned. Vranac is vigorous and high-yielding. This variety is sensitive to frost and botrytis.
Ripeness: mid-September – early October
PROKUPAC
Prokupac is a red wine grape variety indigenous to Serbia and Macedonia.
Prokupac can be used to produce rosé wines and in blends.
Prokupac rosé wines have deep ruby color, much darker than traditional pink or blush rosés.
Prokupac rose wines have aromas of rose petals and strawberries. The red wines of Prokupac have also deep ruby color and they tend to show red fruit flavors.
Prokupac is often blended with more international grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Synonyms include: Crnka, Darchin, Kamenicarka, Majski Cornii, Prokupka, Zarcin.
Ripeness: Early October
CABERNE SAUVIGNON
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most famous red wine grape variety.
This variety was developed in Bordeaux in France. Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every wine growing country in the world.
Cabernet Sauvignon developed by natural crossing of varieties Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Cabernet Sauvignon wines always have common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Ripeness: end of September
MERLOT
Merlot is a red wine grape variety from Bordeaux, France.
Merlot is an early maturing grape variety which can ripen fully even in cooler climates.
Merlo has less tannin content than Cabernet Sauvignon, and it can be used for aging and blending.
The grain-cluster is medium to large and cylindrical shaped. Grains are medium large and round with blue color.
Wine from Merlot is nicely colored, harmonious and very refreshing. It has a taste and smell of berries, cherries and plums.
Merlot wine is dark red.
Ripeness: end of September
PINOT NOIR
Pinot Noir is the most dominant red wine grape of Burgundy (France) and now it was adopted in wine regions all over the world.
The grain-clusters are small, dense with cylindrical shape.
Grain is small to medium sized. The skin of grape is black-purple and thin. The flesh is juicy and sweet.
The essence of Pinot Noir wine is aroma of strawberris and cherries.
Synonyms include: Pinot Nero, Pinot Negro, Spätburgunder, Blauburgunder, Crni Burgundac
Ripeness: early September
BLACK TAMJANIKA
Tamjanika is wine grape variety indigenous to Serbia.
It is found in Rajac and Negotinska Krajina (Serbia). Climate is there a lot of sunny weather with sandy soil.
Tamjanika has a very special smell and taste which can be detected a few meters away from the mature grapes.
Tamjanika has characteristic Muscat notes of cinnamon, basil, pineapple and strawberry. Grapes have a dark purple color and berries are small, yellow, almost perfect balls.
The Black Tamjanika is a rare, smooth wine of particularly harmonized and strong taste.
Ripeness: early September
CABERNET FRANC
Cabernet Franc is a black-skinned French wine grape variety which is growing in most wine producing nations.
Cabernet Franc mostly appears in blended red wines, where it adds herbaceous accents of tobacco and dark spice.
Cabernet Franc wine is light to medium bodied and often shows herbal characteristics, in particular green bell peppers. This can cause that wine drinkers incorrectly identify Cabernet Franc as unripe Cabernet Sauvignon.
The clusters are medium sized with weight from 90-120g. The grains are medium sized with oval shape and the skin is blue in color and thin.
Grape contains 20–22% of sugar. The wine is dark red, with a lovely aroma and pleasant taste.
Ripeness: mid-September.
FRANCONIA (FRANKOVKA)
Franconia variety was developed in Germany.
The grain-clusters are medium to very large size, with pyramidal shape.
The grain is medium and round shaped. The skin is very thick and solid with dark blue color. The flesh is juicy, with neutral flavor, with a low sugar content which is resulting in a distinct acidic expression .
This variety is suitable for growing in a variety of soil types and conditions.
Wine is red in color and medium quality.
Ripeness: end of September.
SYRAH / SHIRAZ
Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape: Syrah is the French term for this varity while Australians call it Shiraz.
Syrah wines are produced in moderate and hot climates. The skin is thick and it requires a very big dose of sun to allow to ripen.
Syrah / Shiraz wines tend to be deeply colored, with medium-high tannin and medium acidity levels.
Syrah can be used as a single variety or as a blend. Wines are normally full-bodied, with black fruits flavoure. In moderate climates, you may taste peppery spice, herbaceousness and smokey characteristics.
In regions were is hotter, grapes can be more riper, even jammy, fruit flavours with sweet spice (liquorice) and dark chocolate shining through.
PROBUS
The Probus variety was created by crossing the Skadarka and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties at the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Sremski Karlovci. The authors are Milisavljevic, Lazic and Kovac. The variety was recognized in 1983.
It was named after the Roman statesman Probus, who restored viticulture in Fruška Gora in the 3rd century.
Vine body is strong. The cluster is medium-sized, cylindrical, compact. The berries are round and dark blue in color, containing colored juice.
The variety is of good fertility, matures late, requires long pruning.
It builds up sugar well with a relatively high acid content. It’s sensitive to frost and in rainy seasons the grapes are prone to rot.
The wine made from Probus is full of color, rich, harmonious taste and with pleasant aroma. Anthocyanins are an integral part of the wine and while the famous varieties have up to 600 ml per liter, Probus also has over 1000 ml per liter.
Ripeness: early September.
DIONIS
Dionis originated in Serbia by crossing Cabernet franc E11 and Panonia. The variety was recognized in 2017.
This variety is characterized by medium lushness, forming a sparse, airy and tidy gauntlet. The leaf is medium in size, distinctly five-lobed.
The cluster is loose, the berries are small, dark blue and juicy. It is of medium fertility, maturing late, at a time when the Cabernet Franc.
The sugar content of the spread is over 20%. The wine is of high quality, harmonious, beautiful ruby red color, in the type of Cabernet franc wine.
Dionis variety is resistant to low winter temperatures and fungal diseases.
*** It is suitable for organic production. ***
Ripeness: early October.
Copyright 2020 – Kalem Đorđević