Wine & Dine Tour 8D / 7N - Balkan

Belgrade is the capital of the southeast European country of Serbia. Its most significant landmark is the Beogradska Tvrđava, an imposing fortress at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava rivers. The fort is a testament to the city’s strategic importance to the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Serbian and Austrian empires, and it's now the site of several museums as well as Kalemegdan, a vast park.

Transfer from airport. Panoramic sightseeing of Serbian capital: City hall, National assembly, Terazije, Republic square, Student square, Belgrade fortress, Kalemegdan-Varoš gate, Knez Mihailova street, New Belgrade. After a short break, dinner in the heart of the city. Overnight in hotel.

Breakfast in hotel. After breakfast driving toward the City of Vrsac. Vrsac is a town on the slopes the Carpathian Mountains. Nowadays the whole area, where the heights of Vrsac emerge from the plain of Banat, has been covered with vineyards thus becoming one of the most important wine growing regions of Serbia. Among many of the high quality sorts of wines the best ones are: muskat, otonel, sardone, pino bianko, Italian and Rhine riesling. Very sought after is the white table wine, riesling of Banat, made from a mixture of different sorts such as: Italian riesling, smederevka, zupljnka and kreaca. Vrsac is the host of two wine festivals “Grozdjenbal” and “Vinofest”. Dinner with vine tasting in one of the famous wine cellars with traditional music. Overnight in hotel in Vrsac.

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast we are going to the eastern part of Serbia. Our first stop is
Golubac, a medieval Danube fort built on the ridge, a very narrow point where the river itself enters
Djerdap-the Iron Gorge. “Djerdap” the national park being a natural wonder abundant in flora & fauna,
archeological sites ,cultural monuments. Recently numerous tourists have spent their time and money
finding their own personal oasis in this beautiful landscape. We proceed to Negotin a town and an area where grapevine was cultivated even in 3.c.a.d.Overnight in a hotel in Negotin or in the vicinity.

After breakfast we leave for a unique area of wine cellars. Of the old sorts of grapevines still have been cultivated: bagrin, zacinak, prokupac, vranac and smederevka. From bagrin they make white wine of golden yellow color and special bouquet. Nowadays this old sort has been replaced by Italian riesling, sauvignon and semijon. There you will taste wine being served a light meal. We continue our way to visit the remnants of Gamzigrad, the Roman imperial palace - Felix Romuliana from 4c a.d. As an outstanding late Roman European sites it is on the UNESCO List. In the evening we reach Vrnjacka Banja the biggest thermal spa in Serbia, famous for its mineral springs. Enjoyment in the wellness center there. Overnight in Vrnjacka Banja.

After breakfast, relaxed we are prepared for the new tasks. We continue to Topola and Oplenac. The slopes of Oplenac have been used for wine growing for centuries. In Roman times it was known as Vincea, in medieval period as Vinica and now it is Vinca. Hence its name testifies to the skill of its inhabitants. At the beginning of 20c. there was organized the Vencac Cooperation, then there were planted the vineyards of kings Petar and Aleksandar Karadjordjevic which helped making the local wine being known all over Europe. Here comes wine tasting and a light meal. Also there is a visit to the memorial complex of the Karadjordjevic family: mausoleum of the Serbian royal family, house of king Petar, tower and church of Karadjordje. Overnight in hotel in Belgrade.

On the east bank of lake Palic we will visit a modern wine cellar of the traditional wine growing region. Special soil, climate moderate continental and high quality sorts of grapevine for centuries have been giving wines of harmonious taste, intensive aroma and soft tannin. Wine tasting and a light meal. Dinner in a farm house with local specialties which give pleasure to everyone. Overnight in Subotica.

After breakfast in hotel we turn to Novi Sad from Subotica, the second biggest town in Serbia for a panoramic tour and a short walk in the old center. Then a short drive to Sremski Karlovci a town famous as Serbian spiritual and cultural seat. The visit includes the monument of the white baron dedicated to the Russian emigration after World War One, baron Petar Nikolajevic Vrangel, one of the outstanding members of the Russian emigration, buried in Belgrade. The monument was sculpted by another Russian Vasily Azemsha. Follows the visit to the Museum of wine & honey, where the owners have resumed the 200 years old family tradition in the wine cellar out of which come the best wines of Sremski Karlovci such as bermet, riesling served also on the tables of European courts. Overnight in Belgrade.

After breakfast free time to shop before departing to the airport.