Šapat unveils three new labels

Šapat Wine Atelier has unveiled three new labels set to enter the market this autumn: Atila Plavi, Grašac and Trofej sparkling wine. These distinctive wines expand Šapat’s wine portfolio and mark the culmination of years of dedicated work by its winemakers and staff.

These are complex, sophisticated and precise wines, produced from the finest grapes grown on the slopes of Slankamen and its unique loess soil.

Trofej sparkling wine represents the pinnacle of Šapat’s winemaking achievements. The wine made its debut at last year’s Wine Vision fair, albeit as a small trial batch. Trofej is now ready to meet wine lovers in its full strength, beauty and elegance.

According to Mladen Dragojlović, Chief Oenologist at Šapat Wine Atelier, who guided guests through the secrets of the production process and the characteristics of the new wines during the presentation held in the beautiful setting of Šapat Wine Atelier, this sparkling wine was created in response to the growing popularity of sparkling wines both in Serbia and globally.

“Our sparkling wine is a blanc de blancs, produced using the traditional Champagne method from Chardonnay grapes. We worked on it with great care and precision. In doing so, we managed to achieve the characteristics of a modern sparkling wine – fruity aromas, a subtle hint of brioche, and an elegant, delicate perlage. The wine spent two and a half years aging on the lees in the bottle, six months in amphorae, while a smaller portion also spent some time in barriques. This allowed us to create a serious sparkling wine with clear expression and structure while preserving its freshness,” Dragojlović said.

The second wine making its debut from the cellars of Šapat Wine Atelier is Grašac, a white wine made from the old, indigenous and well-established grape variety of the same name.

“Grašac is a variety we decided to embrace in 2022, with the aim of enriching our wine portfolio with an indigenous variety. Personally, I deeply believe in Grašac and consider it one of the three great grape varieties of Central Europe, and our entire team is determined to prove this by producing an outstanding wine. The wine was made using gentle maceration and aged in Italian amphorae. It is characterized by natural acidity, pronounced fruit and floral aromas, harmony and complexity. This is a complex wine, yet exceptionally fresh and low in alcohol, making it easy to enjoy. I am convinced that this wine has a bright future ahead,” said the Chief Oenologist at Šapat Wine Atelier.

The event at Šapat also saw the unveiling of a new addition to the premium Atila wine line, named Plavi. This red wine is made from the Frankovka grape variety, which, thanks to the work of winemakers, is successfully regaining recognition and establishing itself as a serious contender on the international wine scene. The Atila name on the label serves as a mark of the producer’s recommendation, but also as a clear indication of the high expectations placed on this wine in the years ahead.

“Frankovka is a great grape variety that has received the treatment it deserves at Šapat. Plavi spent a certain amount of time aging in amphorae, as well as in used barriques, which gave it its distinctive and authentic character. It is a deep, layered wine with excellent acidity. Its status as a true gem was recently confirmed by world-renowned wine authority James Suckling, who, while tasting our wines, placed particular emphasis on this label,” Dragojlović said.

The new wines are part of the continued development of Šapat Wine Atelier and the realization of its vision, according to Director Mladen Ćirić.

“Our goal was to expand our wine portfolio and complement our international varieties with local ones. We also closely follow global trends and strive to keep pace with them, ensuring that our wine selection meets the demands of markets around the world, where we are already well known and established. The recognition we receive at the world’s most prestigious wine competitions, as well as our presence on wine lists in numerous countries, confirms that we are on the right path,” Ćirić said.