Grape Festival in Vršac | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Days of Grape Harvest in Vršac are a tourist and economic event, better known as the Vršac Grape Festival. It is one of the oldest events dedicated to grapes and wine in Serbia.

Vršac vineyard is among the largest and most famous wine regions, with a tradition dating back to the early 19th century, as evidenced by the city emblem featuring grapevines and grape motifs on the facades of old houses. In addition to the Beverage of the Gods exhibition, the festival also features various cultural, sports, and gastronomic events.

The Grape Festival traditionally takes place over four days every year during the grape harvest, on the third weekend of September. The first day serves as an introduction to the three-day events, featuring numerous concerts, exhibitions, competitions, and sightseeing tours of Vršac and its surroundings.

The Town Hall hosts an exhibition dedicated to grapes and wine, while a carnival takes place on the central streets of the city. During these days, the scent of sausages traditionally being grilled fills the air of Vršac, while wine is enjoyed at almost every corner, accompanied by the indispensable tamburitza music.

Famous musicians perform on the main stage every evening, and for sports enthusiasts, various competitions are organized, including tennis, cycling, fishing, and pigeon racing. The most beautiful ladies can participate in the Miss Grape selection, while the youngest visitors have the most fun at the masquerade.

According to many, the most attractive events are the "Grapes from the Air", where symbolically this fruit falls from the sky, and the wine drinking competition. However, the most significant event is the "Wine Route", during which wine cellars are visited, accompanied by tastings, of course.

Grapevines have been cultivated in this area since the time of the Dacians and Romans, and travelogues by Evlija Čelebija describe the local grapes as delicious and sweet. During the Austro-Hungarian rule, viticulture experienced an expansion. The first wine exhibition in Vršac was held in 1857 at the "Kod dva ključa" inn, while the earliest written evidence of winemaking in these regions dates back to 1494 when barrels of Vršac wine were sold to the Hungarian court.

White grape varieties dominate in these regions. Among the autochthonous grape varieties, kreaca stands out, whose synonym is Banat Riesling, the most popular local wine. Other old and indigenous varieties include župljanka, smederevka, šasla bela, and rkaciteli. In addition to the inevitable Banat Riesling, other notable wines include Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Italian Riesling.

The specific microclimate at the junction of the Vršac Mountains and the Pannonian Plain creates ideal conditions for grape cultivation. That is why the settlements of Vršački breg, Gudurica, and Veliko Središte are characterized by viticulture. The most famous winery is Vršac Vineyards, and it is rivalled by 15 smaller boutique wineries in terms of quality.

The Grape Festival is an ideal way to awaken all the senses, discover tourist attractions of Vršac, enjoy the slopes of the Vršac Mountains, and learn more about the finest Serbian wines.

This year's 64th Grape Festival is scheduled to take place from September 15th to 18th.

For more information about the Grape Festival, it is necessary to contact the organizers - the City of Vršac and the local tourist organization.