Trofej sparkling wine, Grašac and Atila Plavi, a wine made from the Blaufränkisch grape variety, presented to wine professionals

With the introduction of three new labels, the presentation of an exclusive portfolio of 12 red and white wines, and dozens of meetings with business partners, distributors and friends of the winery, Šapat once again participated in Wine Vision by Open Balkan, held in Belgrade for the fifth time this year.

Šapat was once again a proud partner of the event, which has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s four largest wine fairs. Meetings with international partners created opportunities for new business agreements and expansion into new markets, further strengthening the position of Serbian winemaking on the global wine map. This is one of the missions of Šapat Wine Atelier, whose wines are already available in eight markets, from neighboring countries and other parts of Europe to Russia and China.

“Wine Vision by Open Balkan is extremely important because it brings some of the world’s leading wine authorities, sommeliers, buyers and representatives of major international distributors to Belgrade. Our aim is to strengthen existing partnerships while establishing new ones. Among our many distinguished guests this year, we had the particular honor of welcoming James Suckling, regarded by many as the world’s foremost wine authority, to our stand. His visit speaks volumes about Šapat’s reputation, as well as Serbia’s growing recognition on the global wine scene,” said Mladen Ćirić, Director of Šapat Wine Atelier, reflecting on the results of this year’s Wine Vision fair.

This year, the spotlight was on three new additions to the winery’s portfolio. Trofej sparkling wine is a source of pride for Šapat’s winemaking team, led by Chief Oenologist Mladen Dragojlović. A small trial batch was introduced at last year’s fair, while this year the wine was presented to wine enthusiasts in its final form.

The second wine to make its debut from our cellar was Grašac, a white wine produced from the traditional local grape variety of the same name. It reflects the winery’s commitment to preserving authenticity and local character, both of which are essential foundations for building an international reputation.

Another new addition to the premium wine range is Atila Plavi, a red wine made from the Blaufränkisch grape variety, distinguished by its depth, complexity and excellent acidity.

Visitors to Wine Vision also showed great interest in the established favorites of Šapat Wine Atelier, wines that have received numerous accolades at some of the world’s most prestigious wine competitions. This was particularly true of the acclaimed Atila Chardonnay, which has become the winery’s signature wine over the years. Visitors and guests at Wine Vision also had a unique opportunity to taste Terol, made from the Teroldego grape variety. Awarded an impressive 95 points by James Suckling, this wine is regarded as a true rarity on the Serbian wine scene.

Held at the Belgrade Fair, this year’s Wine Vision by Open Balkan brought together more than 550 exhibitors from 30 countries. Over the three-day event, numerous workshops, masterclasses, educational sessions and panel discussions were organized, alongside more than 2,000 business meetings. The significance of the event was further demonstrated by the attendance of nearly 300 professional buyers and distributors from 40 countries. The fair also hosted the Open Balkan Wine Trophy awards, where an international panel of judges selected the finest wines from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.