EIGHT REPUBLIKA SRPSKA-BASED WINERIES AND SIX DISTILLERIES AT WINE VISION OF THE OPEN BALKAN FAIR

BELGRADE, NOVEMBER 22 /SRNA/ – Eight wineries and six distilleries from Republika Srpska are participating in the international fair “Wine Vision of the Open Balkan,” including “Vukoje” wines from Herzegovina and “Djedova rakija” from Laktaši, as well as products from smaller producers such as “Potkozarje” from Prijedor.

The head of the Association of Winemakers of Republika Srpska and BiH, Radovan Vukoje, says this is the most prominent regional fair that gathers winemakers from around the world, thus he is proud that winemakers from Herzegovina have been part of it from the very beginning. “‘Vukoje’ cellars are present with their wines, which have won more than 1,000 different awards at the world’s largest fairs. We also exhibited wines that were rated the best in the region this year, such as the Imperial Wine/Carski vino, which received the highest score,” Vukoje told the press from Republika Srpska. Visitors were also presented with the olive oils of “Vukoje” cellars, which won two gold medals in New York earlier this year, as well as grape distillates and the tourism potential of Republika Srpska through the Herzegovina Wine Route. Vukoje is confident that their stand will once again attract a large number of visitors from across the world. The brand “Djedova rakija” from Laktaši is present at the Wine Vision of the Open Balkan fair for the third year in a row. This year, “Djedova šljivovica,” “Djedova viljamovka,” and “Djedova jabuka,” along with various liqueurs, are being showcased. Sales director Dejan Šikanja believes that participating in the fair increases brand recognition as well as sales growth. “We are the leading brand of premium rakija in Republika Srpska and BiH, and the best-selling too. We export to Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Germany, as well as to Australia and China, and we are in negotiations for the U.S. and Canada,” Šikanja explained. Several wineries and distilleries from Republika Srpska presented their products at the fair with the support of the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce, including “Old Herzegovinian House – Gifts of Herzegovina,” which represents the wineries “Đordan,” “Dostić,” and “Berak” from the Trebinje area. Davorin Danilović from “Old Herzegovinian House” said these wineries presented a variety of wine varieties - from the native Žilavka, which “requires sun, stone, and water,” to Vranac and Merlot, as well as French wine varieties. Srđan Zrilić from the “Jungić” winery in Čelinac believes every winery should appear at this fair. “We are the leading winery in the northern part of BiH, in Republika Srpska, and we are here to show what the Banja Luka region can offer in both international and native varieties,” Zrilić said. Participating for the first time is the family distillery “Potkozarje,” which representative Nataša Bukelja is confident that for such a small distillery, attending a global event of this scale is a springboard for gaining market presence. They presented the brand “Belijer,” which, Bukelja says, is produced from nine native apple varieties from the Potkozarje region, where the final product is obtained through double distillation and aging in oak barrels, packaged in modern bottles with labels designed by students of the University of Banja Luka. Also featured at the fair were the Tvrdoš Monastery Cellar, wineries “Vera” from Trebinje and “Pajić” from Brčko, as well as distilleries “Nibla” from Laktaši, “Štrbac” from Banja Luka, “Epoha” from Lopare, and “Paljanka.”