In a Nutshell

Location:  

Banoštor, Vojvodina, Serbia

Suggested duration of visit:  

2 h

Best time to visit: 

summer, autumn, afternoon (sunset)

Transport station nearby:

 bus no. 78,79,81,82,83,84,86 to Novi Sad

Working hours: 

9.00-17.00 h

Address: 

Dunavska 5

Banoštor 

Serbia

Contact for reservations: 

phone: +38121 6613 500, +381 64 8890 023

mail: info@fruvin.com

fruvin.com

year of construction: 

2006

Type of place: 

visit to vineyards, visit to winery, wine tasting, organization of team-building and small celebrations

Must see: 

wine hills, sunset, view of the Danube, other smaller wineries, fortress, chard and ferry ride

History in under a Minute

The cultivation of vines and the production of wine in Srem and Fruška Gora are among the oldest in Europe. The ancient writers Strabo and Dion recorded that the Illyrians cultivated vines in the Pannonian Plain, and therefore also in Srem. Nevertheless, the flourishing of viticulture in these regions, and its beginnings, are associated with the ancient Romans. Emperor Marko Aurelius Probus (232 – 282 AD) abolished the nearly two-century-long ban on wine production in the Roman provinces, and planted the first vines in these areas in the vicinity of the villages of Divoš and Grgurevci, not far from Sirmium (today's Sremska Mitrovica). There are still remains of buildings and cellars in those places. Historical data say that the first vine was brought from the south of the Apennine peninsula, more than 1700 years ago.

During the 7th century, these regions were inhabited by Slavs, they got acquainted with the way of growing vines and enjoyed the benefits of wine production. After the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, and the invasion of the Turks on the Balkan peninsula, the Serbian population began to move to the north. The people, nobility and clergy who settled in Srem also brought their experience in wine production. They are responsible for the change of grape varieties on Fruško Gora. Instead of white, red varieties, brought from the south, soon began to dominate.

Unfortunately, the Turkish conquests of these areas at the beginning of the 16th century led to the stagnation of grape and wine production. A Turkish travel writer, geographer and historian noted that in Sremski Sandčak there are hills covered with fertile vineyards.

With the Peace of Karlovac from 1699, Srem and Banat became part of the Habsburg Monarchy. Viticulture is experiencing a new boom, the area under vineyards is increasing, and the wines from Fruška Gora, especially Bermet and Ausbruh, are becoming appreciated in Europe.

Zaharije Orfelin published a book in Vienna in 1783 under the title "Experienced Cellarer". This kind of encyclopedia of winemaking collected all the knowledge of the time about making Fruška Gora wines, as well as French, Italian and German wines.

The Archimandrite of Rakovac Monastery, Prokopie Bolić, published in Buda, in 1816, the book "Soveršen Vinodeleac", which is considered valuable because it described in detail 35 varieties of grapes, which were then grown on Fruška Gora. For each variety, he defined its folk name, gave a botanical description and economic and technical characteristics. And he systematized his personal experiences and knowledge acquired in the monastery vineyards and cellars.

The appearance of phylloxera, which destroyed vineyards in Europe, did not escape Srem. Phylloxera appeared here in 1881 and by 1890 all the old vineyards of Fruško Gora were destroyed. The renovation and recovery of the vineyard lasted almost 30 years.