Wine Vision by Open Balkan

While first things that come to mind when speaking of rakija tasting are small, cylindrical glasses with solid bottom - this could not be further from the truth. As with wines, and any other beverage for that matter - your rakija glass shape will depend on the type of rakija you are having. 🥃✨

There is only one general rule: the older rakija gets, the shorter and winder the glass goes. But afterwards, when things get a little more complicated - follow our special video guide on our YouTube channel going into the etiquette and details of proper rakija tasting.👌

Newly discovered fossil grape seeds, dating back 19 to 60 million years, provide fresh clues about the origins of the modern world’s love affair with wine. These fossils, found in Colombia, Panama, and Peru, are the oldest examples of the grape family in the Western Hemisphere. ⌛️🍇

Researchers suggest that after the dinosaurs’ extinction, grapes began to spread and thrive, with vines growing undisturbed in forests.🌳

This discovery underscores the resilience and adaptability of grapes through millions of years. From ancient forests to your dinner table, grapes have an incredible journey worth toasting to! 🥂

🍷Red and white wines differ in more than just grape type and color. Red wines, made from red grapes, are fermented with skins and seeds, giving them rich, velvety flavors and added health benefits from the grape skins.

🥂White wines, made from white grapes, are fermented without skins and seeds, resulting in zesty acidity, floral aromas, and pure fruit notes. Winemaking methods also play a role: red wines are often aged in oak barrels to enhance richness, while white wines are typically aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve their fresh, fruity characteristics.

Understanding these differences can enhance your wine appreciation and enjoyment. Cheers to discovering the unique qualities of both!🍇👌

The quality of wine is determined by its appearance, aroma, and taste, along with several key factors:

🔸Balance - The perfect harmony of fruit, tannins, alcohol, sugar, and acidity. When all elements work smoothly together, the wine is balanced.

🔸Complexity - Wine with various primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas. This includes fruity and floral notes, as well as flavors from oak aging or bottle aging.

🔸Length - The duration the flavor lingers after swallowing. Length describes how long the taste of the wine remains on your palate and whether it is pleasant or harsh.

🔸Intensity and Expressiveness - The aromatic strength of the wine, evident in both its aroma and taste.

When a wine possesses balance, complexity, length, intensity, and expressiveness, you can be sure it is of high quality! If it also matches your personal taste, you have found the perfect wine.🍷👌 Voila!✨

Wines that reach unimaginably high prices at auctions have more similarities than you might think, whether they are old or relatively young ones.🍾💰

These wines come from well-known varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling. They typically mature in oak, which enhances their quality. They are produced only in exceptional years and come from prestigious vineyards.🌱

The finest examples, especially from Burgundy, often come from biodynamic vineyards. 🍇

When all these characteristics combine, the result is a wine that not only reflects superior quality and tradition but also tells the story of the land, climate, and the winemaker’s skill. This is why the wealthiest collectors around the world spare no expense to have these liquid gems in their collections. 🍷

Do you know what ullage (in Serbian, aledž) is❓

Ullage refers to the space between the wine level and the cork. Experienced sellers of vintage wines use this detail to draw important conclusions about the quality and storage of the wine. If the liquid level is below the middle of the bottle’s shoulder, there is a higher risk of the wine spoiling. Christie’s auction house uses ullage to assess the risk of purchasing a wine. Experts can determine the age of the wine based on the ullage level - for a 15-year-old claret, the wine level should be at the “top of the shoulder,” while the middle of the shoulder indicates a wine that is three to four decades old.🍾📈

It is important to check other factors such as sediment, the condition of the cork, and color loss before making a final decision.🍇

The conclusion is clear: ullage is not just an empty space in the bottle, but an important guide through the age and quality of each wine. 🍷🔍

August - where lazy days and warm nights capture the essence of summer’s final glow.✨

Cool down with your favorite wines while we prepare this year’s Wine Vision, which will take place in November, and in the meantime, save the dates for some fantastic wine events coming up in August. 🗓️🍇🍾

See you there, where the wine glasses are clinking!🥂

From rich reds that enhance hearty stews to crisp whites that perfect seafood dishes, adding wine can transform your meals into gourmet delights. The same components that shape how wine tastes—its acidity, tannins, alcohol, and sometimes sugar—are also instrumental in how wine behaves when cooked. Sweetness and acidity become more concentrated, as do bitter tannins.🍇🥘

Cooking a tannic wine with meat or stock lessens its astringency because tannins will bind to proteins in the food. Alcohol’s pungency can be exacerbated in hot foods; it’s important to cook a dish after adding wine to evaporate most of the alcohol. But preserving some alcohol can provide a third medium, beyond water and fat, into which other ingredients can dissolve, yielding richer flavors, colors, and aromas.🍽️

Experiment with different varieties to find the perfect pairing for your favorite recipes.🥂 Cheers to creating delicious masterpieces in your kitchen!🧑‍🍳👌

Serbian Juniors Chefs Club

Discover the ever-evolving world of wine!🌍🍇

Despite recent challenges, the global wine market is thriving, projected to grow by 4.35% from 2024 to 2028, reaching $215.7 billion.💰

With increasing interest in premium and organic wines, the industry is adapting to changing consumer preferences. From the rise of e-commerce, generating over $14 billion in revenue by 2027, to sustainable packaging and the growing demand for red wines, the market is full of exciting opportunities. Innovative technologies like AR are transforming vineyards, making wine more accessible and engaging.📈🍷

Stay informed about these trends and keep up with the latest wine prices to make the best moves for your business.📊💼

Dear potential exhibitors, today is the last day to apply for Wine Vision 2024‼️🗓️🍇 Visit our website and follow a 5-minute procedure to apply for the largest wine gathering in Southeast Europe!🌍

Showcase your best, meet your new business partners, and unlock new markets for your wines and distillates!🥂✨

🔗The link for the application form and official fair catalogue: https://exhibitors.winevision.biz/

The combination of wine and strawberries usually reminds us of May.🥂🍓 There is nothing more refreshing than strawberries paired with a sparkling wine, right?🤔

But here is another association that will stick with you: the Suez Canal. Albeit more well-known for building the Suez Canal, French diplomat Ferdinand, Viscount de Lesseps, made the grape variety Muscat Ferdinand. This variety was introduced in the Župa region of Serbia in the 19th century, where the locals named it Tamjanika Jagodina.🍇

Fully embracing this variety, local wineries today make exquisite wines defined by strawberry aromas. Having won the Decanter 2024 WWA Bronze for this wine, check out Fragaria and their interpretation of this grape variety.🍷👌

Organic vineyards and wines are on the rise!🍇🌿
For years in a row, the number of wineries in the region that produce organic wines has been growing📈

But let’s set some things straight right away:
Wines that are not organic are not of lesser quality, and organic wines are not necessarily more expensive. In this, as with any other selection of wine, the only thing that matters is: Do you like it?🍷

At the peak of the fruit harvesting season, here’s a toast to all the distillers out there working hard to make this liquid treasure an indispensable part of every household.🍐🍑

While not exclusive to Serbia, distillates such as plum rakija are part of its UNESCO intangible heritage due to exceptional fruit properties and preparation methods. In short, it is never just a drink; it is culture, and it has a great history with an even greater future.🥃🇷🇸

Since its inception, the Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair has reflected the region’s wine, rakija, and culinary industries.✨ As such, year after year, it is getting bigger and more exciting, and we are engaging with more and more people.

We cannot wait to welcome you all this November, to catch up with the new stories, and to celebrate successes!🎉
Cheers!🥂

Izgleda da temperatura raste kako se približava krajni rok za prijave. Zato smo rashladili dobra vina da proslavimo konačnu listu učesnika sajma.☀️🍾

Kako bismo svaku prijavu za sajam Vinska vizija pažljivo obradili, produžili smo rok na 22. juli. Zato vam predlažemo da kada se sklonite sa vrućine odvojite malo vremena i kliknete dugme za slanje prijava na našem sajtu.2️⃣2️⃣

Iako proces prijave traje svega 10 minuta, nemojte to ostaviti za poslednji trenutak. Ako vam je potrebna pomoć, pogledajte neki od naših tutorijala za prijavu. Radujemo se što ćemo vas videti u Beogradu!😍🥂

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It might be scorching heat outside, but as we countdown to our application deadlines, we’re getting some wines nicely chilled to celebrate the final list of participants!☀️🍾

As we tend to facilitate each and every application carefully, the extended deadline 22 July is nearing and we might suggest you take your time off the heat to click that Submit button.2️⃣2️⃣

Although the application process takes 10 minutes, let’s not make it a last minute thing. If you need any assistance, check out one of our application tutorial videos and we look forward to seeing you in Belgrade!😍🥂

🔗The link for the application form and official fair catalogue: https://exhibitors.winevision.biz/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0ddV0nSqpEG8i2Pqb5VNige0u_S2X7Bw6XvMP8C0gu-3CSW0qI6q1dhVQ_aem_YqBEAXKd7kSziupsk_uiLA

The biggest dilemma! How long does an open bottle of wine last and does wine go bad?🍾🍇

Most wines last open for only about 3–5 days before they start to go bad. Of course, this greatly depends on the type of wine!🍷

Wines stored after opening can spoil in two main ways. The first way is when acetic acid bacteria consume the alcohol in the wine, converting it into acetic acid and acetaldehyde. This process gives the wine a sharp, vinegar-like smell. Additionally, alcohol can oxidize, resulting in a nutty or bruised fruit flavor, which diminishes the wine's fresh, fruity notes. Both are chemical reactions, so the lower the temperature at which you store the wine, the slower these processes will occur.

Don’t worry though, “spoiled” wine is essentially just vinegar, so it’s not going to harm you.😊🥂

While we prepare for this year’s Wine Vision by Open Balkan in November, we invite you to save the dates for some wine events happening in July and join us there.🗓️💫

Enjoy good wine in good company!🥂👌

🍾 Šampanjac dolazi iz regiona Šampanja u Francuskoj. Samo penušavo vino proizvedeno u ovom regionu može legalno nositi oznaku “Šampanjac”. Šampanjac se obično pravi od mešavine sorti grožđa Pinot Noir, Chardonnay i Pinot Meunier. Proizvodi se koristeći “Méthode Champenoise” ili “Tradicionalnu Metodu”, gde se sekundarna fermentacija odvija u boci, što često rezultira bogatijim ukusom, sa notama brioša, tosta, oraha i voća.🇫🇷

🍾 Prosecco, s druge strane, dolazi iz regiona Veneto i Friuli Venezia Giulia u Italiji i koristi “Charmat Metodu” ili “Tank Metodu”, gde se sekundarna fermentacija odvija u velikim tankovima. Prosecco se pravi prvenstveno od sorte grožđa Glera, uz neke varijacije koje uključuju druge lokalne sorte kao što su Verdiso ili Bianchetta Trevigiana. Prosecco ima lakši, voćniji karakter, sa notama zelenih jabuka, krušaka i cvetnih tonova.🇮🇹

Svaki od njih ima svoje jedinstvene karakteristike i prilike kada najviše dolazi do izražaja, zato probajte da i sami uporedite Šampanjac i Prosecco!🥂🍇

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🍾Campagne comes from the Champagne region in France. Only sparkling wine produced in this region can legally be labeled “Champagne.” Champagne is typically made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. It’s produced using the “Méthode Champenoise” or “Traditional Method,” where the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, and it often has a more complex flavor profile, with notes of brioche, toast, nuts, and subtle fruit.🇫🇷

🍾Prosecco, on the other hand, comes from the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions in Italy and uses the “Charmat Method” or “Tank Method,” where the secondary fermentation occurs in large tanks. Prosecco is made primarily from the Glera grape, with some variations that include other local varieties like Verdiso or Bianchetta Trevigiana. Prosecco tends to have a lighter, fruitier profile, with notes of green apple, pear, and floral hints.🇮🇹

Each has its own unique characteristics and occasions where it shines best, so be sure to compare Champagne and Prosecco yourself! 🥂

Klimatske promene predstavljaju ozbiljnu pretnju globalnoj proizvodnji vina. Nova studija pokazuje da, ako globalno zagrevanje premaši 2°C, do 70% svetskih vinogradarskih regija može postati nepogodno za uzgoj grožđa. Ikonske regije u Kaliforniji, Francuskoj, Španiji, Italiji i Grčkoj su među onima koje su u riziku. 🌍☀️💦

Istraživači upozoravaju da bi skoro polovina postojećih vinogradarskih regija mogla da se suoči sa ekstremnim uslovima, što bi uticalo na proizvodnju vrhunskih vina, dok će budućnost druge polovine zavisiti od mera prilagođavanja.

Uprkos izazovima koje donose klimatske promene, postoji svetla tačka: neke hladnije vinogradarske regije mogle bi imati koristi od umerenog zagrevanja, nudeći nove mogućnosti za uzgoj grožđa. 🌱🍇

Prošle godine smo u našem podcastu razgovarali o klimatskim promenama i koje lokalne sorte grožđa, kao i koje vrste uzgoja grožđa će se pokazati otpornim, sa profesorkom Slavicom Todić iz Vinarija Doja.

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Climate change poses a serious threat to global wine production. A new study finds that if global warming exceeds 2°C, up to 70% of the world’s wine regions could become unsuitable for grape growing. Iconic regions in California, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece are among those at risk. 🌍☀️💦

Researchers warn that nearly half of existing wine regions could face extreme conditions, impacting premium wine production, while the other half’s future depends on adaptation measures.

Despite the challenges posed by climate change, there’s a silver lining: some cooler wine regions could benefit from moderate warming, offering new opportunities for grape growing.🌱🍇

Dugoočekivane Decanter Awards su stigle. Vinari iz Srbije osvojili su četiri zlatne medalje, a ukupno 116 nagrada - 45 srebrnih i 67 bronzanih.🥇🥈🥉

Zlatom i sa 95 poena su nagrađena vina:
Breg Prokupac 2020 Vinarija Doja; Eclater Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut 2019 Vinarija Zvonko Bogdan;
Atila Chardonnay 2022 Atelje vina Šapat - Šapat Wine Atelier; Vožd Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Vinarija Aleksandrovic.🍇

Svima čestitamo na izuzetnom uspehu i posvećenosti. Radujemo se što ćemo uz ova izuzetna vina nazdraviti zajedno u novembru. Živeli!🥂

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The long awaited Decanter Awards have arrived. Winemakers from Serbia won four gold medals, and a total of 116 awards - 45 silver and 67 bronze.🥇🥈🥉

The following wines were awarded with gold and 95 points: Breg Prokupac 2020 Doja Winery; Eclater Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut 2019 Zvonko Bogdan; Atila Chardonnay 2022 Atelje Vina Šapat; Vožd Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Aleksandrovic Winery.🍇

We congratulate everyone on their exceptional success and dedication.👏 We look forward to toasting to these exceptional wines together in November. Cheers!🥂