Wine in Herzegovina

Wine has been consumed here for 2200 years

The culture of winegrowing and wine production in Bosnia and Herzegovina dates back to the Illyrian period and the Thracians who introduced grapevine seedlings to the Balkans.

When talking about the history of winegrowing in BiH, it is important to mention that its borders used to encompass a much broader area than today. Namely, the Medieval Bosnia was once, without the later adjoined southern part (Hum), a distinguished winegrowing and wine producing region. Almost every aristocratic family had their own vineyards throughout the Middle Ages. This is clearly evident in the first detailed cadastral records dating back to the 15th and 16th century.

With the arrival of the Turks, and the islamization process of Bosnia, this type of production gradually decreased and eventually died out.There are many reasons for the disappearance of the grapevine in Bosnia, the biggest one being the result of war as grapevine culture requires a high degree of human engagement. Presently, the production of wine in the region is limited to river basins of the rivers Neretva and Trebišnjica, corresponding to the Herzegovina winegrowing region including Mostar. Lištica and Jablanica vineyards. Towards the end of the 19th century, with the first wine exports to the Western Europe, wine business becomes a significant source of income in Herzegovina, and this trend continues with market conquering all over the world.

Wine business in Herzegovina has had its ups and downs, but it has never stopped being the main agricultural branch, and one could say, a lifestyle of the local people. Herzegovinian winemakers aspire to be recognized for their Žilavka and Blatina as unique grape varieties in the world of wine and to present themselves to the world through the wine that captures the savour of the soil and the fervency of the Herzegovinian sun.

Contact

 

Turistička zajednica HNŽ/HNK
Address: Dr. Ante Starčevića bb
Phone. : +387 36 355 090
Fax : 387 36 355 096
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: www.hercegovina.ba

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Map of wine road Herzegovina