Župa Harvest in Aleksandrovac | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Župa Harvest is a traditional economic and tourist event that has been taking place in Aleksandrovac for almost half a century, every September.

Serbian Champagne, as it was called in 1904 by the French consul in Serbia, is located in a valley between Kopaonik, Željin, Goč, and Jastrebac. Every September, tens of thousands of guests from Serbia and abroad flock to the Aleksandrovac region to enjoy Župa wine along with entertainment, cultural and artistic programs, and a variety of food. In this way, guests share the joy of the new harvest with the locals.

Since 1963, this event has brought together Župa winemakers and grape growers to celebrate the beginning of the new harvest. The first event attracted a lot of attention with its cultural program, featuring performances by guests from exotic Africa. This demonstrated the significance of cultural exchange among diverse cultures by the people of Župa.

The most recognizable symbol of Župa is the wine fountain, where red wine flows instead of water during the harvest days. This is also where the Wine Street begins, where hosts present their products. The complete experience is enhanced by the Wine and Viticulture Museum, which preserves centuries-old traditions.

The museum is located in the old wine cellar of the agricultural school in Aleksandrovac. Here, objects illustrating and documenting the development of winemaking and viticulture, not only in Župa but also throughout Serbia over the centuries, are collected, studied, published, preserved, and exhibited.

In 1921, a specialized school of viticulture and fruit growing with a boarding school was established in Aleksandrovac, which produced numerous generations of enologists and cellar masters. The writer Dobrica Ćosić also graduated from this school.

The inhabitants of Aleksandrovac are proud of the winemaking and viticulture traditions of this region, which they say date back several millennia. The first written mention of Župa appeared in 1196 in the Studenica Charter, where it was recorded that župan Stefan Nemanja donated vine-growing villages in Župa to the Studenica Monastery.

During the Middle Ages, the three largest Serbian monasteries, Hilandar, Studenica, and Žiča, had their vineyards and wine cellars in Župa.

Aleksandrovac and its surrounding areas cultivate authentic grape varieties - tamjanika and prokupac. Prokupac is officially recognized as an autochthonous Serbian variety with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. This red wine is among the highest-rated Serbian wines by international experts and sommeliers. Other grape varieties grown in this region include Župa bojadiser, smederevka, sauvignon, semillon, Župljanka, neoplanta, chardonnay, and Italian Riesling.

The event lasts for four days and is mostly held in the second half of September. The main activities take place in the center of Aleksandrovac, at the Wine Square next to the fountain, where a stage is set up. The program includes children's masquerade, various exhibitions, concerts by famous performers, performances by cultural and artistic societies as part of the international folklore festival, and occasional sports matches.

This year's 58th Župa Harvest will take place from September 14th to 17th. More details about this wine festival can be found on the official website of the event.