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Wine Tasting in Montenegro: Best Wine Tours in Montenegro
BY SARAH
Find out the best places to go wine tasting in Montenegro. From local wineries to tours, discover unique varieties, local cuisine and the culture of Montenegro!
Are you looking for wine tasting in Montenegro?
You've come to the right place!
People have been making wine in Montenegro since the 2nd century when the Romans starting growing vines and making wine here. There are now over 120 wineries in Montenegro and vineyards cover some 4,300 hectares.
I think it’s safe to say Montenegrins have a lot of experience in wine making!
They’re also incredibly passionate about their wine. Most families throughout Montenegro make their own wine and brandy, and it’s a common topic of conversation across the country.
A wine tour in Montenegro is one of the best ways to not only experience Montenegro’s wine, but also cuisine, warm hospitality and lethal brandy, otherwise known as rakija. Most wine tastings in Montenegro come with tastings of Montenegrin wine, rakija and huge helpings of traditional cuisine like cured meats, cheeses, stews, breads and fresh produce. Many of these are grown or made onsite too, so it’s a great way to experience how people traditionally live in Montenegro.
Although there are small family-run distilleries and wineries all over Montenegro, the Crmnica region around Lake Skadar and Podgorica is Montenegro’s premier wine-making region. This area has some of the most naturally fertile soil in Europe and 111 wineries that range from small boutique wineries to the largest vineyard in Montenegro with 10 million vines.
The best places for wine tasting in Montenegro are:
- Lake Skadar
- Podgorica
- Bay of Kotor
You can book tours to wineries in any of these destinations. When you book a tour all of the logistics are taken care of for you, meaning you don’t need to worry about having a sober driver or arranging taxis.
Ready to find your perfect wine tasting in Montenegro?
Let's go!
Table of Contents
Best Montenegro Wines
Montenegro Red Wine
Montenegro White Wine
Kotor Wine Tasting
1. Kotor Bay Winery Tour
2. The Great Tour of Montenegrian Wine and Domestic Montenegrian Food
3. Montenegro Wine Tasting
4. Home Food and Wine at My Family Home
Virpazar Wine Tasting
5. Montenegro Heritage
6. Montenegro Specialty
7. Flavours of Lake Skadar
Budva Wine Tasting
8. The Great Tour of Montenegrian Wine and Domestic Montenegrian Food
9. Montenegro Wine Tasting
Podgorica Wine Tasting
10. Podgorica Historic Safari and Winery Tour
11. Wine Tasting in the Family Winery
12. Book Your Wine Tour
Tips for Wine Tasting in Montenegro
Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Tasting in Montenegro
Best Montenegro Wines
Montenegro Red Wine
The most popular red wine in Montenegro is from the indigenous vranac grape. Vranac (meaning black horse) wine is known for its strong dark red color, which comes from its thick black skin. This dry red wine is high in alcohol (16%) and has notes of cherry, blackberry, mint and plum. Aged vranac also has notes of cinnamon, oak bark and herbs. Vranac goes particularly well with smoked and cured meats that are also popular in Montenegro.
Montenegro White Wine
Krstač is an ancient grape variety that's indigenous to Montenegro and Serbia. ‘Krst’ means ‘cross’ and the grape is named for the cross shape that it grows in.
It has a characteristic fruity aroma of ripe pears and peaches, and is the color of honey. Krstač is a dry white wine and goes well with seafood, soups, eggs, cheese, and white meat.
Kotor Wine Tasting
Kotor doesn’t have any wineries, but you can book tours to wineries and family-run distilleries from Kotor. I've listed four of the best below. If you would rather do a wine tasting in Kotor, doing a Kotor walking tour with wine and food tasting is a great alternative.
1. Kotor Bay Winery Tour
Savina Winery, Herceg NoviRATING: 5 / 5 (2+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 6.5 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Perast
- Kotor
- Winery overlooking Kotor Bay
- Herceg Novi
This Kotor Bay winery tour includes all the ingredients that make up the perfect Montenegro tour: sun, sea, magnificent views, delicious wines and traditional cuisine… živjeli!
The tour starts with a guided tour of Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks before taking you on a scenic drive around the bay towards Herceg Novi. You stop in Verige Strait for photos and coffee before continuing on to Savina Winery in Herceg Novi for a tour and wine and food tasting. Then you have a walking tour of Herceg Novi and its Kanli Kula (the Bloody Tower) before taking an easy drive back to Kotor for a walking tour of the old town.
"AMAZING! Ana and the tour she created for us was hands down the best experience we could have had in Kotor, Montenegro for 8 people in November coming off a ship for a few hours. The winery is a must see because we are still talking about those views! Ana was on time, communicated with us through the entire process perfectly, she was ready to go and did a remarkable job showing us her beautiful country. If you are going to Montenegro no need to look any further. BOOK WITH ANA NOW..just do it." - Jessica Hall
2. The Great Tour of Montenegrian Wine and Domestic Montenegrian Food
RATING: 5 / 5 (21+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 3-6 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Scenic drive around Kotor Bay
- Boutique winery visit
- Authentic homemade food and drinks
You can start this private tour in either Kotor, Tivat or Budva. From there you take a beautiful drive around the Bay of Kotor and up through the hills to Dabović Winery near Grahovo. This area is definitely off the beaten tourist path and you’ll get to experience authentic Montenegrin hospitality, wine and cuisine.
At the winery you have wine tasting of four wines and five brandies (Montenegrin brandy is extremely strong so watch out!). Luckily, all this alcohol will be somewhat diluted with a delicious lunch of traditional Montenegrin cuisine. The meal includes a starter of smoked meats, pies and fried dough balls called priganice. That’s followed by goulash, cheese pie and roasted meat and potatoes.
“Mirko was fantastic! He gave us the history and insight to the region. We had the opportunity to visit a wonderful, unique vineyard where we were served an authentic Montenegrin meal and fabulous wines and spirits. The best of our week of travel!!”
If you’re looking for an authentic Montenegrin experience with a Montenegrin family, this is the tour for you!
3. Montenegro Wine Tasting
RATING: 5 / 5 (2+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 6-8 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Visit Montenegro’s largest wine producer
- Visit family-run boutique winery
This tour takes you to experience opposite ends of the wine-making spectrum in Montenegro. Your first stop in Montenegro’s largest winemaker, 13 Jul Plantaže. Their vineyard, Ćemovsko Polje, has over 10 million vines covering 2,300 hectares and is the largest unbroken vineyard in Europe. Their wines have won more than 900 international awards and Plantaže sells over 16 million bottles of wine in 40 countries a year.
At Plantaže you have a wine tasting in their enormous wine cellar in Podgorica called Šipčanik. The cellar itself used to be a secret Yugoslav-era underground hangar and is a 356m long tunnel, which makes this one of the most unique places to try wine!
After that you head to a small boutique winery, a great example of family-owned wineries all over Montenegro. Here, you take a tour of the winery, learn about the tradition of wine-making in Montenegro and the cuisine of Montenegro. Your visit includes a wine tasting and a lunch of traditional cuisine.
4. Homemade Food and Wine Tasting at My Family Home
RATING: 5 / 5 (21+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Scenic drive with views of Kotor Bay
- Visit authentic family-owned smokehouse
- Visit traditional distillery
This tour takes you to Njeguši village, an authentic Montenegrin village near Kotor that’s known for its top-quality prosciutto.
The tour starts with a scenic drive up the Bay of Kotor’s ‘serpentine road’, an old road with 25 switchbacks leading up from Kotor. From here you’ll get magnificent views of the Bay of Kotor before you head into the hills and Njeguši village
Njeguši is known for being the birthplace of the Petrović Dynasty, which ruled Montenegro, and for having the perfect climate for making prosciutto.
In Njeguši you visit a local family’s distillery and smokehouse. As you tour the distillery and smokehouse, you learn about how wine, brandy and prosciutto are made in Montenegro and how they’re an integral part of life here. And of course, you get to try the produce!
“We were a party of four from a cruise ship and had researched this tour before we left and purchased this online. So glad we did! Our tour driver who is the son from the family that live in the village of Njegusi picked us up in a very comfortable van at the port. We then headed up the serpentine road to the top! All the way there he gave us the history of the area, himself and his family. We stopped for pictures along the way which were breath taking. Once we arrived in the small village we arrived at his fathers smoke house and distillery. A tour of the smoke house were they cure the most delicious prosciutto was very interesting. We sampled the prosciutto with homemade bread and their homemade moonshine ( what we call it in the states) and wine. The family was happy to see us and were very hospitable. The drive back down the mountain was as beautiful as the way up. You can't go wrong with this tour. It was one of our fondest memories of our cruise.”
This is a lovely intimate tour with a Montenegrin family who enjoy sharing Montenegrin way of life!
Virpazar Wine Tasting
The Crmnica region around Lake Skadar is Montenegro’s premier wine-making region. The land here is incredibly fertile and it’s a great place to experience Montenegro’s organic produce, wines, brandies and incredibly hospitality.
Cermeniza Winery in Virpazar is an award-winning winery. Nemanja Djurisić is an excellent and enthusiastic host and the unobtrusive oversight by 80+ year old family patriarch, Marko, adds to the genuine Montenegrin family atmosphere.
Cermeniza Winery is the perfect place for a Lake Skadar wine tasting. They have three tours on offer and you can book a wine tasting with them directly below. They also have beautiful accommodation at the winery… so you don’t have to worry about driving after your wine tasting!
5. Cermeniza Montenegro Heritage Tour
On this tour you'll try Vranac, Barrique, a white wine and a dessert wine, all made and bottled onsite. You'll also be able to try three types of rakija, a brandy made from grapes, quince, pears and apricots.
You'll also take a tour of the winery and see how the wines are produced and learn about the tradition of wine making in Montenegro.
What's Included: Wine tasting, rakija tasting, winery tour. Bottles of wine can be purchased during the tour.
Start point: Self-drive to winery, 1.5km from Virpazar. Directions are supplied upon booking. If you don't want to have a designated driver you can click here to book a taxi.
Price: €10 per person.
Availability: Weekends only until April 20th, every day from April 21st.
6. Cermeniza Montenegro Specialty Tour
This tour introduces you to the pillars of Montenegrin cuisine: wine, rakija, prosciutto, cheese and olives.
On the tour you'll try Vranac, Barrique, a white wine and a dessert wine all produced onsite at the winery. You'll also try three types of Montenegrin brandy: grape, fruit and gentian lutea.
The tastings are accompanied by a platter of Montenegrin prosciutto ham, and selected cheeses including a local delicacy: cheese aged in oil. And no Montenegrin meal would be complete without olives, you'll try those too.
These things form the basis of all Montenegrin cuisine. In fact, add a little bread and most Montenegrins could spend their lives eating and drinking nothing else!
What's Included: Wine tasting, rakija tasting, winery tour, prosciutto, cheese and olive platter. Bottles of wine can be purchased during the tour.
Start point: Self-drive to winery, 1.5km from Virpazar. Directions are supplied upon booking. If you don't want to have a designated driver you can click here to book a taxi.
Price: €15 per person.
Availability: Weekends only until April 20th, every day from April 21st.
7. Flavours of Lake Skadar
This tour introduces you to the unique flavours of Lake Skadar. On the tour you'll try four wines made by the winery - Vranac, Barrique, a white wine and a dessert wine. You'll also try three types of Montenegrin brandy - grape, fruit and gentian lutea.
The wine and rakija tastings are accompanied by a platter of Montenegrin prosciutto, cheeses, olives and marinated carp. Marinated carp is a Lake Skadar specialty that you'll only find here.
The owner of the winery will take you on a tour and you'll learn about Montenegro's strong wine- and brandy-making traditions.
What's Included: Wine tasting, rakija tasting, winery tour, marinated carp, prosciutto, cheese and olive platter. Bottles of wine can be purchased during the tour.
Start point: Self-drive to winery, 1.5km from Virpazar. Directions are supplied upon booking. If you don't want to have a designated driver you can click here to book a taxi.
Price: €20 per person.
Availability: Weekends only until April 20th, every day from April 21st.
Budva Wine Tasting
The best way to do a wine tasting in Budva is to book one two tours currently on offer:
- Around the Bay of Kotor to a small family-run distillery
- To Montenegro's largest winery and to small boutique winery
8. The Great Tour of Montenegrian Wine and Domestic Montenegrian Food
RATING: 5 / 5 (21+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 3-6 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Scenic drive around Kotor Bay
- Boutique winery visit
- Authentic homemade food and drinks
You can start this private tour in either Kotor, Tivat or Budva. From there you take a beautiful drive around the Bay of Kotor and up through the hills to Dabović Winery near Grahovo. This area is definitely off the beaten tourist path and you’ll get to experience authentic Montenegrin hospitality, wine and cuisine.
At the winery you have wine tasting of four wines and five brandies (Montenegrin brandy is extremely strong so watch out!). Luckily, all this alcohol will be somewhat diluted with a delicious lunch of traditional Montenegrin cuisine. The meal includes a starter of smoked meats, pies and fried dough balls called priganice. That’s followed by goulash, cheese pie and roasted meat and potatoes.
9. Montenegro Wine Tasting
RATING: 5 / 5 (2+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 6-8 hours | BOOK NOW
This tour takes you to experience opposite ends of the wine-making spectrum in Montenegro. Your first stop in Montenegro’s largest winemaker, 13 Jul Plantaže. Their vineyard, Ćemovsko Polje, has over 10 million vines covering 2,300 hectares and is the largest unbroken vineyard in Europe. Their wines have won more than 900 international awards and Plantaže sells over 16 million bottles of wine in 40 countries a year.
At Plantaže you have a wine tasting in their enormous wine cellar in Podgorica called Šipčanik. The cellar itself used to be a secret Yugoslav-era underground hangar and is a 356m long tunnel, which makes this one of the most unique places to try wine!
After that you head to a small boutique winery, which is a great example of family-owned wineries all over Montenegro. Here you take a tour of the winery, learn about the tradition of wine-making in Montenegro and the cuisine of Montenegro. Your visit includes a wine tasting and a lunch of delicious traditional cuisine.
Podgorica Wine Tasting
Podgorica is a great place for trying wine from Montenegro.13 Jul Plantaže is the largest winery in Podgorica and there are several more boutique wineries. You can do a wine tasting in Podgorica, or travel just 20 minutes to Montenegro’s premier wine-making region, Crmnica, which is home to over 100 boutique wineries, many of which offer wine tastings.
10. Podgorica Historic Safari and Winery Tour
RATING: 5 / 5 (17+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 6-7 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Žabljak Crnojevića Fortress
- Wild horses
- Besac Fortress
- Rijeka Crnojevića
- Pavlova Strana
- Karuč
- Wine and food tasting at boutique winery
This tour is a great way to combine the beauty and culture of the Lake Skadar region with a wine tasting in Montenegro.
The tour includes all the best sights around Lake Skadar including Žabljak Crnojevića Fortress, which is where Montenegro was ruled from in the 15th century. You also visit Besac Fortress in Virpazar; Rijeka Crnojevića, Montenegro’s first settlement; iconic Pavlova Strana viewpoint and the picturesque village of Karuč.
This tour also includes a visit to a local boutique winery, Mrkan Winery. Here, you’ll get to experience traditional Montenegrin wines and brandies as Montenegrins have been making them for centuries.
11. Wine Tasting in the Family Winery
RATING: 5 / 5 (7+ reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 3-4 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Family-run winery visit
- Pavlova Strana
- Montenegrin Niagara Falls near Podgorica
This tour starts out from Podgorica and takes you to a small family-run winery in the Skadar Lake region.
On the way you stop in Barutana to see a Yugoslav-era monument that’s very representative of the Brutalist style that was popular during the communist Yugoslav era. It’s a unique opportunity to hear about this period in Montenegro’s history and how Montenegrins have been shaped by it.
At Lake Skadar you visit a boutique winery to tour the vineyard and learn about winemaking in Montenegro. The tour includes a wine tasting of 6 organic wines and a selection of brandies, all made onsite. It also includes traditional cuisine like prosciutto, cheese, fresh produces and pies.
12. Book Your Wine Tour
RATING: no rating yet | TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | BOOK NOW
Highlights of this tour:
- Visit Montenegro’s top wine producer
- Wine tasting in a historic hangar
Plantaže is Montenegro’s largest wine producer. Their vineyard, Ćemovsko Polje, has over 10 million vines covering 2,300 hectares and is the largest unbroken vineyard in Europe. Their wines have won more than 900 international awards and Plantaže sells over 16 million bottles of wine in 40 countries annually.
They also have an enormous wine cellar in Podgorica called Šipčanik. The cellar itself used to be a secret Yugoslav-era underground hangar and is a 356m long tunnel, which makes this one of the most unique places to try wine!
Plantaže offers wine tastings in Šipčanik that include five wines and a cheese and bread platter.
Tips for Wine Tasting in Montenegro
Is this your first wine tasting tour? No problem! Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your Montenegro wine tour...
Don't Wear Perfume: Did you know your sense of smell overpowers your sense of taste?You won't be able to fully experience the wines if the scent of your perfume is competing with the wine, so it's best to go without on the day of your tour.
Do It Like A Pro: Swirl, sniff, sip and repeat. This way you'll be able to savour your tastings.
Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask questions. Montenegrins are a friendly bunch and they'll be only too happy to answer your questions about wine in Montenegro!
Enjoy the views: Some of these wineries are in magical locations. Take a few minutes to enjoy the stunning scenery!
Frequently Asked Questions About Wine Tasting in Montenegro
Does Montenegro have good wine?
Does Montenegro have good wine?
Montenegro has very good wines. Although it’s not a major player on the world stage, being a relatively small producer, Montenegro has over 120 wineries which produce very good quality wines. Montenegro's top winemaker has won more than 900 international awards.
Vranac red wine is the most commonly-produced wine in Montenegro and Krstač is the most commonly-produced white wine in Montenegro.
What is the biggest winery in Montenegro?
What is the biggest winery in Montenegro?
The biggest winery in Montenegro is 13 Jul Plantaže. Their vineyard, Ćemovsko Polje, has over 10 million vines covering 2,300 hectares and is the largest unbroken vineyard in Europe. Their wines have won more than 900 international awards and Plantaže sells over 16 million bottles of wine in 40 countries a year.
How much is a bottle of wine in Montenegro?
How much is a bottle of wine in Montenegro?
Typically, a good quality bottle of wine costs €10-15. Bottles of Krstač white wine start from €2.50 in supermarkets and Vranac starts from €5 a bottle.
What is the typical wine of Montenegro?
What is the typical wine of Montenegro?
The most popular red wine in Montenegro is from the indigenous vranac grape. Vranac (meaning black horse) wine is known for its strong dark red color, which comes from its thick black skin. This dry red wine is high in alcohol (16%) and has notes of cherry, blackberry, mint and plum. Aged vranac also has notes of cinnamon, oak bark and herbs. Vranac goes particularly well with smoked and cured meats that are also popular in Montenegro.
What is the best alcohol in Montenegro?
What is the best alcohol in Montenegro?
The best alcohol in Montenegro is rakija. Rakija is a fruit brandy made throughout the Balkans. It's has a very high alcohol content and is usually made from grapes in Montenegro.
What drinks to try in Montenegro?
What drinks to try in Montenegro?
The best drinks to try in Montenegro are Vranac wine, Krstač wine, fruit brandy, Nikšičko beer and pomegranate juice.
What is the main beer of Montenegro?
What is the main beer of Montenegro?
The main beer of Montenegro is Nikšičko beer, made in a brewery in the city of Nikšič.
Book a Wine Tasting at Cermeniza Winery
More Things To Do On Skadar Lake
- Skadar Lake National Park
- Skadar Lake Bird Watching
- Skadar Lake Kayaking
- Skadar Lake Hiking
- Skadar Lake Boat Cruises
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