VRANAC - autohtona crnogorska sorta

VRANAC is autochthonous Montenegrin variety of grapes and brand of wine. It is protected as an intellectual property and Montenegrin geographical indication of origin since 1977. It has also adopted in neighboring countries like Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, but under different name.

Vranac is considered the most important variety of grape in Montenegro and Crmnica wine,  Vranac, was presented at the expo of Balkan states held in London in 1907 where it won several top awards. As it is a local specialty and due to its localized geography, it produces a dry red wine of a unique taste and character that is synonymous with the Balkans. Vranac berries are large and deeply colored, with its dark berries growing on moderately vigorous and very productive vines. The fruit is harvested by hand. Depending on the area, this harvest can begin from mid-September and continue into October.

Young Vranac wines have a bright purple hue and a nose full of red berries and fruit jams. Its firm tannin structure provides crispness and richness, with medium to high levels of extraction and acidity. After a year or two of aging, the purple develops into an intense dark ruby and the nose develops a more complex aroma that can include hints of cinnamon, chocolate, liquorice, flowers, black fruits, herbs and even woods such as oak. The taste is subtle, round, and full. It loses its sharpness and develops a longer and smoother finish.

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VRANAC je autohtona crnogorska sorta grožđa koja se gaji takodje u Srbiji i Republici Makedoniji. Smatra se najznačajnijom sortom grožđa u Crnoj Gori, a Crmnica njogovom postojbinom.
Kultura gajenja vinove loze u Crnoj Gori datira još iz predromanskog perioda, a kasnije je unapređuju Rimljani. Organizovaniji rad na vinogradarstvu počeo je u vrijeme vladavine Kralja Nikole (1860–1918). Upravo on je uveo zakon prema kome je svaki mladoženja morao dokazati da je prije stupanja u brak – ako je bio iz nekog od vinogradarskih područja Crne Gore – zasadio od sto do hiljadu čokota vinove loze.
Crmničko vino Vranac dobilo je na izložbi balkanskih zemalja u Londonu 1907. godine nekoliko prvih nagrada za kvalitet, a na izložbi u Beogradu 1928. svrstano je u red šest najboljih vina u tadašnjoj državi.
Od ove sorte se proizvode suva vina jedinstvenog ukusa i karaktera, koja su sinonim za Balkan. Zrna su velika i tamno obojena, a loza umjereno snažna i vrlo izdašna. Grožđe se bere ručno i u zavisnosti od područja berba počinje od polovine septembra i tokom oktobra.
Mlada vina proizvedena od Vranca imaju svijetlu purpurnu boju i miris na džem od voća. Snažna taninska struktura pruža svježinu i srednje do visok nivo kisjelina. Posle godinu ili dvije dana starenja, purpurna boja se razvija u intenzivnu tamnu rubinsku boju, a na mirisu se javljaju komleksnije arome koje nagovještavaju cimet, čokoladu, sladić, cvijeće, tamno voće, biljke, i čak drvo kao što je hrast.
Ukus je suptilan i pun, gubi oštrinu i razvija duži i uglađeniji finiš. Vranac izuzetno dobro podnosi hrast i starenje u boci, što je često neophodno da bi se ukrotila njegova snažna mješavina tanina i kisjelina. Zahvaljujući svojoj harmoničnoj prirodi dobro se kombinuje sa drugim sortama gožđa, kao što su Cabernet Sauvignon i Merlot. Preporučuje se da se posluži na sobnoj temperaturi i izuzetno se dobro slaže sa dimnjenim, konzerviranim ili grilovanim mesom, salatama i starim sirevima snažnih ukusa.

About grape varieties MARSELAN & PETIT VERDOT

First of all, I have to say that we have also these 2 grape sorts planted in our vineyard, and we're the only family winery in Montenegro which grows 6 different grape sorts in own vineyard. (Vranac, Marselan, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Kratoshija).

Marselan is a red French wine grape variety that is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. It was first bred in 1961 by Paul Truel near the French town of Marseillan. The vine is grown mostly in the Languedoc wine region with some plantings in the Northern Coast of California. The grape usually produces a medium body red wine.
Along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Marselan is one of the grapes planted in the Sino-French Demonstration Vineyard, a collaboration project between the Chinese and French government intended to generate interest in grape winemaking in China by demonstrating French grapes and winemaking techniques.
The name "Marselan" is taken from the French coastal town of Marseillan located between Béziers and Montpellier where the phylloxera-safe vine collection of Domaine de Vassal is located. Operated by the INRA, Domaine de Vassal provided Marselan's parent Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache vines which Truel used in his breeding.
Marselan tends to produce large clusters of small berries that are mid-late ripening. It has strong disease resistance to botrytis bunch rot and powdery mildew as well as to coulure and mites.


Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the blend. It has attracted attention among winemakers in the New World, where it ripens more reliably and has been made into single varietal wine. It is also useful in 'stiffening' the mid palate of Cabernet Sauvignon blends.
When young its aromas have been likened to banana and pencil shavings. Strong tones of violet and leather develop as it matures. The leaves have 3-5 lobes with a distinctively elongated central lobe. The small, cylindrical bunches are winged, with small black berries.
The name Petit Verdot ('small green') refers to one of the main problems with the grape, that often the berries fail to develop properly without the right weather during flowering. It also refers to the late ripening which usually comes too late for the Bordeaux climate. Petit Verdot also has a peculiar characteristic in that it produces more than two clusters per shoot.