Negotin region

Negotin region is situated in the valley, surrounded by the mountains Miroč, CrniWth and Deli Jovan in one side and the Danube and Timok Rivers in the other side, which provides quite a specific climate in the area, characterized by very warm summers and cold winters.

From Belgrade, Negotin can be reached by the international motorway E 75, via Paracin ( total distance 300 km ), or via Smederevo, Požarevac and Majdanpek ( 250 km ) or by the Danube main road, via Donji Milanovac ( 250 km ).

Niš is 150 km away and Zaječar is 57 km away. The nearest town in Bulgaria is Vidin – 55 km, and in Romania is Turnu Severin which is 80 km away.

Vine cultivation in Negotin area started in the Romans time, in the third century. At that time, conditions for vine nurturing were outstanding, and that was the main source of income for population of this area ( Lower Mesia ). Slovenes also accepted vine cultivation, so this agricultural industry had very important role in the Serbia of the middle ages. Almost all the settlements in this region had vineyards, but the largest areas of vineyards were in the villages Tamnič, Rajac, Rogljevo, Smedovac, Veljkovo and Brusnik. Some of the households in these villages had 100 000 vine stems each.

At the time when phylloxera attacked the vineyards in France, in 1870s, Negotin region exports wine to France, Austro – Hungary Germany and Russia, because this vine, was grown in the sand near the Danube banks and could not be endangered by the phylloxera. Austro – Hungary had its consulate for wine – trading Until 1911. At that time, wine from this area was considered as the strongest wine in Europe. This wine was given the bronze medal in London fair in 1907, and the gold medal in1921. Wine was exported and transported by ships in the Danube
port in Radujevac. The first cooperative of wine producers was founded ih 1890 in Negotin, after massive destruction of vineyards attacked by phylloxera. At the end of the 19th century, this region had the largest areas of vineyards in Serbia.

According to current assessments, Negotin vineyards occupy almost 1000 ha. Autochthon and old sorts of wine still nourished, are Bagrina, Začinak, prokupac, Vranac and Smederevk. Bagrina provides a kind of white wine with golden zellow colour and characteristic buce. This old sort of grapes is now changed by Italian rizling, Sauvignon, and Semion. Začinak is a sort of grapes that is used as colorist. What makes this region unique in wine production is the sort of Black tamjanika, which quality is far better than in other regions. The most famous for production of this sort of wine is the wine cellar of the Agricultural School ” Bukovo ” near Negotin.

Rajac, Rogljevo and Smedovac are three neighboring villages with rich wine history and very attractive wine cellars, and they make the special part of Negotin region vineyards. These villages manufacture the most scented red wines which are the products of good soil, lot of sun, and height of 150 till 250 m above sea level. Among Krajina wines, great fame belongs to the red wines made of Prokupac, Black burgundy and Game. These wines have intensive red color, pleasant taste and buce. Bagrina, Semion, Italian rizling Sauvignon and Smederevka are the most famous the white wines.