The fifth edition of the international fair Wine Vision by Open Balkan brought together winemakers, wine professionals and the international market. From 10 to 12 October, Belgrade became a meeting place for different wine cultures, traditions and contemporary approaches to winemaking, with a special emphasis on the potential of the wine region of South-East Europe.
Under the slogan „One Place. The World.”, this year’s Wine Vision by Open Balkan gathered 550 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. The arrival of professional buyers from 45 countries confirms that the event has outgrown the framework of a regional fair and is becoming ever more significant globally.
From the vineyard to the glass: knowledge as the foundation of quality
Modern winemaking increasingly demands a blend of tradition, expertise and adaptation to change. The quality of a wine is not created only in the cellar, but is the result of a series of decisions that begin in the vineyard, from the choice of variety and training method to an understanding of the soil, the climate and the specifics of each vintage. Expert programmes and wine workshops are an important part of this event, because they open a space for exchanging experiences and discussing the challenges that shape the future of the wine industry. This year’s programme was exceptionally interesting, covering indigenous varieties, the history of wine regions, viticultural practices and changes on the global wine market. The participation of internationally recognised experts further underlined the educational role of the fair and its importance for the professional development of the wine sector.
Istria, Vinistra and Tikveš on the international wine stage
For us, two masterclasses were particularly exciting. The first, organised by Vinistra under the title Malvazija and Teran, the varieties that became the symbol of Istria, was brilliantly led by Vinistra president Luka Rossi and our legendary winemaker Gianfranco Kozlović, who explained how Istria built its recognisability on the combination of climate, indigenous varieties and years of work, and how the new generation of winemakers has an ever greater influence on Istrian wine. Three aged Malvazija and three Teran wines were presented, showing the full potential of the varieties.
The second exceptionally interesting masterclass we attended was organised by Tikveš and showed us „Barovo through time” in a vertical tasting that revealed the full breadth of the Macedonian terroir. How does a wine change with the years, what does time bring to it, and how does the character of the vineyard show in different vintages? Precisely those questions were at the centre of the masterclass „Time in the Glass, Domaine Barovo Vertical Tasting”, held by the inimitable Zvonko Herceg.
Finally, it should be mentioned that for the first time this year Croatian winemakers did not exhibit in Belgrade, dissatisfied with their status in previous years.
