WINE ROOM: THE CITY’S LEADING HUB OF WINE CULTURE ON THE VRBAS

Wine Room, located at Vidovdanska 2 in Banja Luka, opened its doors in 2020 as the retail and online showroom of the company Next. With a selection of more than 300 wine and spirit labels, it has become a haven for hedonists who seek quality, authenticity and a story in every glass.

PHOTO: Vino.rs

But Wine Room is far more than a wine shop – it serves as a tasting hall, a venue for promotions, presentations and partner events. Together with its web shop and nationwide delivery across Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has enabled Next to position itself as a significant regional player in the wine market.

A special chapter in this story belongs to the company’s now well-established wine festivals, such as Wine Me Up (held in Banja Luka since 2017) and the Wine Park in Gradiška, as well as a new addition – the Festival of Šumadija Wines, held for the first time on 15 November 2025 at the Kastel fortress.

“These events serve multiple purposes: building the company’s brand, strengthening relationships with wineries and the region, educating the audience and developing a wine culture that goes beyond mere sales,” explains Nenad Kotur, founder of Next, a company that has been focused on importing premium wines and spirits into BiH since 2016

Wine Room was created from the need to offer a physical place for purchasing and tasting wines. What began with 200 labels has expanded to more than 300 wines and around 100 types of rakija, complemented by carefully curated spirits, olive oils, wine accessories and magazines.

Next is an importer for numerous wineries and distilleries from Serbia, including Vinogradi Matijašević, Bukovo, Erdevik, Belo Brdo, Janko, Eden, Chichateau and many others. The portfolio includes more than 30 Serbian wineries, with a dominant regional selection and a tailored international offering.

“Sauvignons, malvazias and tamjanikas are the most sought-after, while on the red side, fuller wines with higher alcohol – typical of Šumadija and Fruška Gora – lead the way,” Kotur says with a smile, adding that sparkling wines are increasingly popular among consumers, unlike organic and orange wines, which still occupy a smaller share of the market.

Although Wine Room is also the core of Next’s online sales, it is worth visiting in person – Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – as the space exudes an authentic wine atmosphere that invites exploration and conversation.

“As far as Next is concerned, only now are we truly entering a phase of serious work. Until recently, I was more focused on hospitality, but now everything – the festivals, import, distribution, tasting hall and shop – is connected into a single whole. The goal is to build an audience, a community, loyalty and identity. And then we’ll see how it all works in these times,” Kotur concludes.