Herzegovinian winemakers are recording an above-average grape yield and excellent must quality this year, which promises top-quality wine for the season.

An Excellent Year for Herzegovinian Winemakers: Exceptional Harvest and Rising Demand

Oenologist Tihomir Prusina from Čitluk Winery points out that all grape varieties had an excellent yield this year, and the quality of the must was boosted by favorable weather conditions, especially the rains in August.

“Climate change is increasingly affecting viticulture, but this year the rains were welcome, as they increased both the quantity and quality of the grapes. The grapes harvested from September 8th had an excellent balance of sugar and acids,” said Prusina.

Herzegovinian viticulture is also increasingly investing in indigenous varieties such as Žilavka, Blatina, Trnjak, and Vranac, which form the foundation of the region’s wine tradition. Given the increased demand for white wines, winemakers are investing more in these varieties, and demand for white wines currently makes up 70% of the market, while red wines account for the rest.

From Andrija Cellars, another renowned winery in Herzegovina, they announce that wines from this harvest will be of exceptional quality, with special attention given to Žilavka, which is their best-selling variety.

Andrija Ćorić, sales and marketing director of Andrija Cellars, notes that despite increased demand, there is still a shortage of Žilavka, but they believe that planting new vineyards will help meet market needs.

Although wine exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina are steadily growing, competition in the European and global markets remains a challenge. Herzegovina, as a small wine region, must compete with established wine regions that have a longer tradition and more developed infrastructure.

Ćorić emphasizes the importance of indigenous varieties for the region’s recognition: “We are already making significant progress in the domestic market, while there is still much work to be done in the international market,” Ćorić concluded.

Finally, he points out that wine consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the rise, especially among young people who are showing interest in different types of wine and want to learn more about viticultural and wine traditions.