Wine Tasting

Our Winery has many different offers for wine tasting.

You can get details or book a tour by our e-mail: vinarijamasanovic@yahoo.com

Also letting you know that our Winery is opened for everybody who wants to visit us.

Everything that we offer to our guests from WINES, RAKIJAS (brandy), LIQUERS, food etc. is homemade. Drinks are made from our own produced fruits from our property.

We do all kind of tours:
- Individual and private tours (from 2 guests)
- Group tours (up to 25 guests)
- Celebrations
- Surprises, Birthdays etc.

Vinarija Mašanović

Tradicija duga više od deset generacija, pretočena je u vrhunska crvena barrique vina, uz pomoć savremene francuske tehnologije. U srcu najpoznatijeg crnogorskog vinskog i vinogradarskog regiona - u Crmnici, uz magistralni put Podgorica–Petrovac, u Virpazaru, a na prostoru nekadašnjeg vinograda i vinskog podruma Kralja Nikole, nalazi se podrum ove vinarije.
Vinograd se nalazi na lokalitetu nekadašnjeg ljetnjikovca Ivana Crnojevića, udaljen 1,5 km od podruma, u netaknutoj prirodi, na 10 m nadmorske visine, u Orahovskom polju.
Od posadjenih 6 sorti vinove loze (Vranac,Kratošija,Marselan,Petit Verdot,Cabernet Sauvignon i Sangiovese) vinarija se bavi proizvodnjom ograničenih količina, isključivo vrhunskih crvenih barrique vina. Vina odležavaju u francuskim hrastovim buradima najboljeg kvaliteta, gdje se vodi računa o starosti bureta – nakon 3 godine upotrebe, bačve se mijenjaju novim, od iskorišćenih nastaje namještaj koji vinariji daje autentičnost i duh tradicije. Boce elegantnog dizajna, visoko kvalitetnog stakla se uvoze iz Italije, dok se plutani čepovi dobavljaju iz Portugalije, sa sertifikatom i garancijom za čuvanje vina.
Samom proizvodnjom i uvrštavanjem vina u vinske kolekcije, vina ove vinarije prošla su testiranja i registraciju vina, posjeduju KPG i sertifikate za puštanje vina u promet od strane MPRR. Neka od vina iz ponude : KRIN – vrhunsko crveno vino; DIONIS – vrhunsko crveno vino; BUĆA – vrhunsko cveno vino; TRE SORELLE - vrhunsko crveno prirodno slatko vino, CRMNIČKI VRANAC... Dobitnici su brojnih priznanja, pehara, zlatnih medalja i povelja za kvalitet vina na Medjunarodnim sajmovima, kao i zvanje „Šampiona kvaliteta“ Novosadskog sajma, izložbi u Parizu, Internacionalnih i domaćih sajmova i izložbi u Budimpešti, Splitu, Mostaru, Novom Sadu, Podgorici, Virpazaru...

Champion of Quality Award - International Fair, Novi Sad

The International Agricultural Fair is the largest agribusiness event in Serbia and one of the largest of that kind in Europe. It has become the trademark of the oldest fair in Serbia – Novi Sad Fair, and Novi Sad, as a prestigious site for presentation and development of agribusiness.
It gathers the most significant companies in agribusiness, agricultural production, and machinery and presents the best in cattle breeding. It is an unavoidable place for agricultural producers from the country and the region.
For Wine competition, our Winery send only one of our wines and that wine was the CHAMPION OF QUALITY, wine DIONIS from 2012., with 92,3 pionts.

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.

Grape varieties CABERNET SAUVIGNON and SANGIOVESE

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
In many aspects, Cabernet Sauvignon can reflect the desires and personality of the winemaker while still presenting familiar flavors that express the typical character of the variety. The most pronounced effects are from the use of oak during production. Typically the first winemaking decision is whether or not to produce a varietal or blended wine.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape itself is very small, with a thick skin, creating a high 1:12 ratio of seed (pip) to fruit (pulp).[14] From these elements the high proportions of phenols and tannins can have a stark influence on the structure and flavor of the wine—especially if the must is subjected to long periods of maceration (skin contact) before fermentation.
One of the most noted traits of Cabernet Sauvignon is its affinity for oak, either during fermentation or in barrel aging. In addition to having a softening effect on the grape's naturally high tannins, the unique wood flavors of vanilla and spice complement the natural grape flavors of blackcurrant and tobacco.
Winemakers can also control the influence of oak by using alternatives to the standard barrique barrels. Larger barrels have a smaller wood-to-wine ratio and therefore less pronounced oak flavors.
The style of Cabernet Sauvignon is strongly influenced by the ripeness of the grapes at harvest. When more on the unripe side, the grapes are high in pyrazines and will exhibit pronounced green bell peppers and vegetal flavors. When harvested overripe the wines can taste jammy and may have aromas of stewed blackcurrants. Some winemakers choose to harvest their grapes at different ripeness levels in order to incorporate these different elements and potentially add some layer of complexity to the wine. When Cabernet Sauvignon is young, the wines typically exhibit strong fruit flavors of black cherries and plum. The aroma of blackcurrants is one of the most distinctive and characteristic element of Cabernet Sauvignon that is present in virtually every style of the wine across the globe. Styles from various regions and producers may also have aromas of eucalyptus, mint and tobacco. As the wines age they can sometimes develop aromas associated with cedar, cigar boxes and pencil shavings. In general New World examples have more pronounced fruity notes while Old World wines can be more austere with heightened earthy notes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a very bold and assertive wine that has potential to overwhelm light and delicate dishes. The wine's high tannin content as well as the oak influences and high alcohol levels associated with many regional styles play important roles in influencing how well the wine matches with different foods. When Cabernet Sauvignon is young, all those elements are at their peak, but as the wine ages it mellows; possibilities for different food pairings open up. In most circumstances, matching the weight (alcohol level and body) of the wine to the heaviness of the food is an important consideration.

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Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin sanguis Jovis. Sangiovese has shown itself to be adaptable to many different types of vineyard soils but seems to thrive in soils with a high concentration of limestone, having the potential to produce elegant wines with forceful aromas.
The grape requires a long growing season, as it buds early and is slow to ripen. The grape requires sufficient warmth to ripen fully, but too much warmth and its flavors can become diluted.
For the best quality, yields need to be kept in check as the vine is notably vigorous and prone to overproduction. In Chianti, most quality conscious producers limit their yields to 3 pounds (1.5 kg) of fruit per vine. Wine made from high-yielding vines tend to produce wines with light color, high acidity, and less alcohol, which are likely to oxidize ("brown") prematurely due to a lower concentration of tannins and anthocyanins (anti-oxidants). Fully developed grapes are typically 19 mm long x 17 mm wide, with an average weight of 3 grams.
Wines made from Sangiovese tend to exhibit the grape's naturally high acidity as well as moderate to high tannin content and light color. Blending can have a pronounced effect on enhancing or tempering the wine's quality. The dominant nature of Cabernet can sometimes have a disproportionate influence on the wine, even overwhelming Sangiovese character with black cherry, black currant, mulberry and plum fruit. Even percentages as low as 4 to 5% of Cabernet Sauvignon can overwhelm the Sangiovese if the fruit quality is not high. As the wine ages, some of these Cabernet dominant flavors can soften and reveal more Sangiovese character.

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.

Wine Tourism

Enotourism, Oenotourism, Wine tourism, or Vinitourism refers to tourism whose purpose is or includes the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine, often at or near the source. Where other types of tourism are often passive in nature, enotourism can consist of visits to wineries, tasting wines, vineyard walks, or even taking an active part in the harvest.

Most visits to the wineries take place at or near the site where the wine is produced. Visitors typically learn the history of the winery, see how the wine is made, and then taste the wines. At some wineries, staying in a small guest house at the winery is also offered. Many visitors buy the wines made by the winery at the premises.

In our winery you can book private tours, taste every our wine, brandy or liquor.

Enology  is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture.

Legends of discovery

There are many etiological myths told about the first cultivation of the grapevine and fermentation of wine.

The Biblical Book of Genesis first mentions the production of wine following the Great Flood, when Noah drunkenly exposes himself to his sons. The resulting Curse of Ham was originally intended as a justification for the Hebrew conquest of Canaan but was later adapted to explain black skin and African slavery.

Greek mythology placed the childhood of Dionysus and his discovery of viticulture at the fictional and variably located Mount Nysa but had him teach the practice to the peoples of central Anatolia. Because of this, he was rewarded to become a god of wine.

In Persian legend, King Jamshid banished a lady of his harem, causing her to become despondent and contemplate suicide. Going to the king's warehouse, the woman sought out a jar marked "poison" containing the remnants of the grapes that had spoiled and were now deemed undrinkable. After drinking the fermented wine, she found her spirits lifted. She took her discovery to the king, who became so enamored of his new drink that he not only accepted the woman back but also decreed that all grapes grown in Persepolis would be devoted to winemaking.

Awards for the best wine made in Crmnica and the best wine on Fair in Montenegro

Hi everyone!I haven't write blog posts since September 2013! Sorry for that, I hope this year I'll be more active. And, let's start with this sneak a peek :

First of all, I have a surprise for you guys (it's not surprise for us at all!) and some news too.I guess many of you heard or have been on Festival of wine and bleak in Virpazar, on Skadar Lake? If you weren't, you must go! It's every year in December, you have opportunity to taste all of wines, brandy, fish, olives and other food from Montenegro, Serbia or Macedonia for two days. Both days we have there famous singers, groups and cultural and educative programs. And also, the competition for best wines and producers. And guess what? Our winery won first places in each category! We've got golden cup for the best wine on Festival in 2013., golden medal for best wine made in Crmnica in 2013. and golden medal for the best wine produced in that year. Of course, all of our wines were tasted and rated by special jury composed of wine experts and tasters. Now we're preparing for some new competitions on International level, but more about it in next posts. I've planed to put some photos of medals, but I realized I don't have any in this computer and you can find more info on our facebook page, I'm more active there. P.S. Don't forget to like and share us! :)

New wine called KRIN

When you're registering your wine, to Ministry of Agriculture, to put the wine in sell and get all the certificates for it, you should give a name to the wine, so people can recognize it. We decided to be KRIN. Here goes the story :

Our relatives from the past and our ancestors are historical well known family Buća. They had their own Palace in Kotor. The Buća Palace is located on Trg od Brasna. It was built for the Buca family, one of the most influential families in the city, whose members included ambassadors and court officials. Much of its original Gothic style was lost after its reconstruction following the 1667 earthquake. Many members of this family were soldiers of King Valov, and for their courage and selfless were given and honored with coat of arms, with symbol of Crin. On Palace you can still see that symbol.

We decided to give the name to our new wine - KRIN. That is the top-level dry wine, sort Vranac - originally from Montenegro, of dark red colour with purple tones. This wine tastes like burned oak-tree and there is a flavor of sweet ripe raspberries and fresh cranberries. From oak trees in most famous French forest, were made barrique vessels, in which this wine is maturing, then kept in bottles under strictly  controlled conditions. It goes good with all red meat, spiced and greasily, with all meats made of wild animals, ham and all fat cheese.

So, come and visit us to enjoy together in this and many other our wines, and get a taste of good life with wine produced on traditional way.

Cheers!

Family Masanovic

Orahovo village and field

Hello everyone! It's wonderful and sunny day today, perfect for walking tour through Orahovo field, discovering nature and stone bridges, and in your case for reading something about this area. But we hope you will visit it some day!

So, I'm writting you today about the biggest field in Crmnica called Orahovo and the same name village. It's situated 2 km from Virpazar. The following text and historical facts are written by the oldest man in Orahovo, also an owner of Winery Mašanović, Mr. Milutin Mašanović.

In Orahovo is situated one of the oldest Orthodox Monastery in Montenegro, Monastery of Saint Nicolas (Manastir Sv. Nikola). It dates from the time of Nemanjici, when Saint Sava Nemanjic (Sv. Sava Nemanjić), sent first bishop Ilarion to build monasteries in Crmnica, in Brceli, Orahovo and Njegalica. Monastery of Saint Nicolas is built in 1233., but in the 15th century Ottomans destroyed it, and in the 17th century Jelena Balsic restored it. Fresco-script in this monastery dates from 17th century, and some frescoes were copy-painted for exhibition in Paris 1955. There are 2 unique frescoes, which you can find only in this religious object and no where else in world.

At the foot of monastery it was room-basement for storing goods. There are 2 legends connected with that basement and I will tell you one of them : One Prince from Orahovo was participant in invastigation of converts to islam, cut the five turkish heads, and in the chase for the last one who tried to save himself in entrance of basement, on doorstep swunged the sword and hit in the stone doorstep. We still can see the traces of that hit. According to the legend, for revenge of this Turk, Ottomans destroyed the Monastery of Saint Mironosica.Monastery of Saint Mironosica in Orahovo had 2 cells, in the first one were situated priests, and in the second one was an old printing 'office'. After Oktoih (first Cyrillic book in the Southern Slavs), new 2 cyrillic books from 1562. and 1566. were printed in this monastery.Ottomans destroyed this monastery and from carved stone was built tower in so-called 'town' Bastać. In the foundations have been found huge amounts of golden coins, of which is built Popovića Most (Bridge of Popovici) and Boljanovo gumno (Boljans threshing floor).

Old three in field

Popovića most / Bridge of Popovici

Natural spring with clean water!

River Orahovštica

Plant-flower called "Zova". People in Montenegro make juice from it.

Babin most / Grandma's bridge

Walking track

Also, through Orahovo field is road which was (in that time) the only way which connected central Montenegro with South part. There is a spring called Garovci and there was planned an assassination of the fake ruler of Montenegro, Šćepan Mali. In one stone was carved recess and put explosive substance with wick. When Šćepan Mali was going to South, he stopped on Garovci to drink water, sit on that stone and lit the fuse. He left without one eye and one arm. That wounded he came in monastery Brčeli and there died.

That stone is now in vineyard of Winery Mašanović, thanks to Milutin Mašanović, and still is visibly crack of the wick. 

In Orahovo is situated also Jakočev krš (Stone of Jakoch) where in summer time people come to swim and relax.

          That's it for this post, I hope you enjoyed!

Untill next post, visit our Facebook page and website!

Virpazar & Skadar Lake

Since spring is here and summer is coming, I decided to post about a place where our Winery is situated, which is best to visit in spring and summer, everything is green, flowers is all around, sun...

Virpazar is a small town in Bar municipality, it is located in the Crmnica region, straddling a river that flows into nearby Skadar lake. Skadar Lake lies on the border of Montenegro with Albania, of which 2/3 is in Montenegro and it's the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. There are additionally some fresh water sources at the lake bottom. Some small islands like Beška, with two churches on it and Grmožur, a former fortress and prison can be found on the southwest side of the lake. The Montenegrin part of the lake and its surrounding area were declared a national park in 1983. Skadar Lake is one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having 270 bird species, among which are some of the last pelicans in Europe, and thus popular with birders. The lake also contains habitats of seagulls and herons and is abundant in fish, especially in crap, bleak and eel. Of the 34 native fish species, 7 are endemic to Skadar Lake. There is a station on the Belgrade - Bar railway and a road leaves the main Podgorica to Bar highway and follows the west shore of the lake towards Albania.

If you decide to take a boat to cruise on lake, the boat host will be more than happy to pick you water lilly and will make you a necklace from it.

That's it for this post. See you soon and next time I'll write about village called Orahovo where our vineyard is situated. 

P.S. If you're using android applications, you can find our wine DIONIS  HERE.

Masanovic winery facebook page

Masanovic winery website