PROKUPAC DAY 2020
We know what you will be doing on October 14th! Let's celebrate Prokupac! We are celebrating wine history of Serbia! We raise a toast to the wine future of Serbia! Prokupac Day 2020 is celebrated with a series of events in wine shops, wineries and restaurants around the wine world.
"If there were no Prokupac Day, I would still think that Prokupac exists only on the pages of the wine encyclopedia written by Jancis Robinson"
John Atkinson MW
PROKUPAC SHOW & VASIL HADŽIMANOV BAND
The central celebration of Prokupac Day is scheduled for October 14th in HALL 5 of the BELGRADE FAIR GROUND, where 30 selected wineries with their Prokupac wines are awaiting you, accompanied with a concert of the great Vasil Hadzimanov Band. The wine festival opens at 6 pm, and the concert starts at 8 pm. Tickets at the price of 1500 dinars are purchased through Gigstix service - link: http://gigstix.com/sve-ulaznice/6-koncerti/3198-vasilhadzimanovprokupac2020 or at the entrance of the venue.
Prokupac Festival allows you to find all Serbian Prokupac wines in one place, to compare style, terroir, winemakers' philosophy and pick your favourites. At the same time, it is an opportunity to learn more about Prokupac directly from winemakers and find out more about the path from a vineyard to a bottle. This year, good atmosphere and high-quality music is brought to you by Vasil Hadžimanov band.
Prokupac Caravan
This year, for the first time, Prokupac Festival has been scheduled in Aleksandrovac and Kragujevac as well.
Prokupac Caravan in Šumadija
W are celebrating Prokupac in Šumadija as well!
On Saturday, October 10th, at 4 pm, winemakers from Šumadija, parts of Tri Morava wine region, as well as Belgrade and Mlava region, will proudly present their Prokupac wines in the atrium of Hotel Kragujevac.
Admission is free for all visitors, with a limited number due to epidemiological measures!
Within Prokupac Caravan in Kragujevac, a workshop on Prokupac "Šumadijski sad" will be held starting from 6 pm,(speakers: Veselin Despotović, Mladen Dragojlović and Perica Radović)
Prokupac Caravan in Župa
In the famous wine-growing region, in the middle of Aleksandrovac in Župa, on the plateau in front of the Museum of Winemaking and Vinegrowing, winemakers from Župa and Toplica will proudly present the wealth of their Prokupac wine on October 11th, starting from 4 pm!
The workshop "Identity of Župa Prokupac" will be held as part of Prokupac Caravan celebration (Speakers: Dragoslav Ivanović, Radovan Đorđević and Vuk Vuletić).
Admission is free!
Prokupac Week
PROKUPAC ALL AROUND
Prokupac Day is celebrated throughout Serbia. Numerous restaurants, wine bars, hotels, wine shops and other partners joined in the celebration of Prokupac Day. On the map of events, we give you a complete list of locations where Prokupac is available on October 14th and Prokupac Day is celebrated. This list is constantly growing, so follow it regularly to be informed about all the events on October 14th.
Mascaron Restaurant
Orlovića Pavla 12, NišRuzmarin Restaurant
Dalmatinska 28, BelgradeKorso Restaurant
Savski kej, New BelgradeZvezdara Teatar Restaurant
Milana Rakića 38, BelgradeSavanova Restaurant
Savsko šetalište bb, BelgradeCuoco Restaurant
Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 250, BelgradeWine House 11
Kraljevića Marka 11, BelgradeSrpska kuća vina lokal 2
Antifašističke borbe 15, New BelgradePuter Restaurant
Njegoševa 82, BelgradeEnso Restaurant
Mitropolita Petra 8, BelgradeLovac Restaurant
Alekse Nenadovića 19, BelgradeMoment Lounge & Gastro Bar
Požeška 31, BelgradeHotel Mona
Miladina Pećinara 26, ZlatiborKafana Dukat
Vuka Pantelića 55, PirotKompot - Centar za delikatesna istraživanja
BelgradeVinoteka Chianti
Lomina 41, BelgradePik Wine Shop
Milentija Popovića 44, New BelgradePomodoro Nuovo Restaurant
Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 115, New BelgradePomodoro Restaurant
Hilandarska 32, BelgradeUltimatum Restaurant
Patrijarha Varnave 22-24, BelgradeKod Brke Restaurant
Futoški put 93b, Novi SadCareva Ćuprija Restaurant
Bulevar vojvode Mišića 79, BelgradeCentral Inn Gastro bar
Tržni centar bb, ZlatiborHrastovina Bar
Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 248, BelgradeVinska kuća Burgundac
Kirovljeva 25, BelgradeBroker Restaurant
Antifašističke borbe 23g/5, New BelgradeMala Avala Restaurant
Ljutice Bogdana 24, BelgradeOsteria Mozzarella
Uroša Martinovića 31, New BelgradeNota Restaurant
Grčića Milenka 8, BelgradeVinoteka Neimar Bar & Shop
Braničevska 10-12, BelgradeID Restaurant
Nebojšina 6 (entrance from the park), BelgradeTabor Restaurant
Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 352, BelgradeVila Maska Restaurant
Rankeova 7, BelgradeRestaurant Mala Kolubara na reci
Savski nasip 7a, New BelgradeMala Kolubara Restaurant
Ivankovačka 2, BelgradeUprava 1927 Restaurant
Ruzveltova 26, BelgradePaideia
Dunavski kej 9, BelgradeLorenzo & Kakalamba
Cvijićeva 110, BelgradeCafeteria Gardoš
Njegoševa 53, ZemunVinsko-rakijski hub
Karađorđeva 36-38, KragujevacKano Restaurant
Milovana Glišića 23, KragujevacGradski Deli
Gospodar Jovanova 56, BelgradeD Bar
Dositejeva 21, BeogradHoma Restaurant
Žorža Klemansoa 19, BelgradeFranš Restaurant
Bulevar oslobođenja 18a, BelgradeMiamiam Restaurant
Kursulina 39, BelgradeBar Central
Kralja Petra 59, BelgradeDorćol Bar
Skenderbegova 61, BelgradeVinoteka Baltazar
Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 45v, New BelgradeVIKA - Vinarska kuća Aćimović
Bulevar vojvode Stepe Stepanovića 100, BanjalukaJasmin A Maslina Restaurant
Maksima Gorkog 17, Novi SadTerasa Restaurant
Petrovaradinska tvrđava, Novi SadKorpa Deli Market & Bistro
Veselina Masleše 2, Novi SadWine & Pleasure
Bulevar oslobođenja 117, BelgradeSalaš kod Stare Dunje
Beogradski put 261, StajićevoĆevap kod Dekija
Strahinjića Bana 71, BelgradeOrganski Podrum
Dobračina 59, BelgradeVinoteka Cerpromet
Maksima Gorkog 32, BeogradVinoteka Cerpromet
Gavrila Principa 9, BelgradeVinoteka Cerpromet
Jedrenska 1, BelgradeVinoteka Cerpromet
Kapetan Mišina 30, BelgradeABOUT US
The quest for wine identity was launched by the magazine Vino & Fino and wine-themed website Vinopedia.rs in 2014, when the first major wine conference in Belgrade was held in June 2014. The Wine Identitety platform brings together wine enthusiasts, wine writers, critics, winemakers and sommeliers, all in a common mission to popularize authentic wine heritage of Serbia and the Balkans.
So far, in addition to numerous wine experts from Serbia and the region, famous stars of the international wine world have been guest speakers at Wine Identity conferences and workshops, including several holders of the title of Master of Wine.
The initiators of the project are Tomislav Ivanović and Igor Luković, two wine aficionados who turned their passion for wine into a profession.
ABOUT PROKUPAC
Similar to numerous world-famous grape varieties that already have their grape day celebrated in the wine world, an initiative was launched in 2016 in Serbia to feast Prokupac Day on October 14th. Prokupac is the most important autochthonous grape variety from Serbia. In addition to wineries that produce Prokupac wine, the celebration of Prokupac Day also involved restaurants, wine shops and wine bars, local wine media, but also wine press, bloggers and wine experts from Hungary, Croatia, Great Britain, the Netherlands and other countries.
Prokupac Day is celebrated on all social networks (official hashtags: #ProkupacDay #Prokupac). Wineries that produce Prokupac wine have created educational programs and promotions that take place every year on October 14th at numerous locations. Well-known restaurants and wine shops in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Zrenjanin and other towns have created special menus for this
occasion featuring dishes paired with Prokupac wines, and customers can benefit from numerous discounts and special promotions in wine shops and wine bars.
The goal of the event is to stress importance of autochthonous varieties of Serbia, to support efforts made by local wineries in preserving wine identity of Serbia and to increase awareness of customers about wines from Serbia. Prokupac Day will also increase recognition of Serbia as a wine country at the international level.
Prokupac Serbian made
- Do you see all this vast area here?
-Yes, I see it. It's beautiful.
-Well, there used to be vineyards here once.
-Wow, really?!? What kind of vineyards?
-Prokupac, my son! - the old man said.
How many times have you heard such a story? We have heard it many times in various parts of Serbia. Župa, Negotin, Šumadija, Vranje... and everywhere the same story...and it is always the same story. Prior to introduction of international grape varieties, nowadays widely known, Serbian vineyards were dominated by Prokupac. We often call Prokupac "the king of Župa", but history remembers that its kingdom covered much wider territory.
Prokupac is a variety with numerous synonyms, including the most popular ones: Kameničarka; Rskavac, Niševka; Negotinsko Crno, Skopsko Crno. Apart from Serbia, Prokupac can also be found in several other countries of the region such as North Macedonia or Bulgaria. The leaf is large, three-lobed. The bunches are large - up to 300g, oval medium bunch, whilst the berry is round, large, with dark blue skin and crispy texture. Prokupac is a late variety. The variety is vigorous and productive. It can be planted with success both in traditional vineyards and trellis system. Moderately resistant to disease, but sensitive to low temperatures. It accumulates 18 to 22% sugar and 5-7 g/l acidity. However, clones which can accumulate up to 24%, even beyond this, have been selected, with total acidity reaching the level of 8g/l.
The character of Prokupac wines resemble Cabernet Franc or Blaufrankisch, with distinct fruity-spicy character. Varietal Prokupac has distinct tannins, medium body and moderate colour intensity. Winemakers in Serbia often blend it with a small percentage of wine made from international grape varieties. There are a few problems that winemakers and vinegrowers need to deal with. Problems in
the vineyard relate to its being vigorous and productive and late phenolic ripeness. In order to address these issues, one should choose poor and permeable soil - sandy or pebbly soil for example - to plant a vineyard, whilst adequate choice of rootstock will prevent vigor and high production. In order to achieve full phenological ripeness, it is advisable to plant it in warm, sun-drenched southern plots where it is possible to obtain excellent results in terms of color intensity and tannin quality with defoliation. Winemakers face a different sort of problems in the cellar, where one needs to take care of balance between tannic structure and other components in wine.
Serious example of Prokupac will always showcase fruity-spica character and aromas of sour cherry, black currants, plum, blackberry and distinct hints of spiceness. Ageing will make these wines very complex, but always vivid and fresh. Tannins of Prokupac will soften over time, so it is recommended not to hurry to open a bottle, but to allow it to soften and mature.
When the vinegrower, winemaker and winelover in Serbia realize what Prokupac actually stands for, maybe one day an old man, similar to one from the beginning of this story, will point at endless rows of vineyards and say: "Look, my son, there was nothing but weeds here in the past, but then we decided to plant Prokupac again!" (Vino & Fino)
