Wine trails of Crmnica

On this tour we visit 2 traditional wine producers located in the traditional old villages in Crmnica area. Each of them has something different to offer. Apart from wine testing we have interesting sightseeing of this area.

We start from Budva driving along the coast and make a short panoramic stop at the famous St Stefan hotel island. The original village from 17th c. which had been built for protection was turned into a luxurious hotel at the mid 20th century, keeping entirely the original village look.

We are driving up the panoramic hill road which provides the fabulous sea and coastal views.

Close to the first winery there are two monasteries of St Nicola and female monastery dedicated to the Shroud of the Virgin Mary with its own story and origin, built in 15th and 18th c. by members of Balsic and Petrovic family, connecting the ruling families of both Montenegrin states: Zeta and Montenegro.

The Kopitovic Winery  is placed in an 300 year old stone house of typical construction for this area, low ceiling with archivolts. This is a family run winery,  which developed the wine production to a high level by introducing the modern technologies. Their wine editions and labels are limited in order to keep the wine quality. We are testing 3 wines -  premium white wine,  superb red wine with specific bouquet of oak barrels, and another red wine of  lighter notes, followed by canapes made of traditional ingredients.   You will be explained about the tradition of wine growing, variety of wine sorts and other characteristic of the local wines.

We drive further to Virpazar, former trade centre of the lake and start point of all the tours, boat rides and visits. It is well visited in the summer months, but also in the winter due to numerous festivals, such as “Wine and Bleak festival”, “Skadar Lake Days”, “Folk Fair” and similar. Among organised various activities on the lake like: hiking, boat rides, sport fishing and cycling, there is a always a local fair where the visitors have opportunity to buy local ecological products: wines, organic fruit and vegetable, local cheese, honey and fish (dried and fresh grilled).

Close to Virpazar is our next Djurišić Winery. Fantastic atmosphere in rustically stylized wine cellar, where every detail speaks of the wine and tradition. The winery produces 3 wines, 2 red wines of the ingenious sort Vranac: Classic and barrique, and one white wine of the variety Krstač, as well as an array of fruit and herbal brandies: grape, quince, etc. You have the possibility to taste all the wines and brandies, with traditional snack of smoked ham, local cheese and olives.

After all these nice flavours, scents and impressions we take a ride to the coast in the afternoon.