MONASTERY TVRDOŠ: A SYMBOL OF SERBIAN WINEMAKING TRADITION AND SPIRITUALITY

An ancient epic folk song mentions the Tvrdoš Monastery and its legendary cellars, where the monastery's chambers were filled with wine.

PHOTO: TO Trebinje

In the dark times following the fall of the Serbian medieval state, Serbian monks preserved the essence of Serbian spirituality and culture in monasteries, along with the tradition of Serbian winemaking.

Much like in the rest of Europe, it was the monks who were instrumental in passing down knowledge about cultivating grapevines and producing wine. Many renowned wineries in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany originated from ancient monastic estates or continued the tradition established by the monks. Among them are several Serbian monasteries that have preserved their winemaking reputation to this day, with Tvrdoš being one of the most prominent.

Today, Monastery Tvrdoš leads a new chapter in the story of monastic winemaking in Serbia. The monks of Tvrdoš have taken responsibility for the vineyards in the Trebinje field, where they revived the old Vranac vineyards, covering 70 hectares of land, and planted 60 hectares of new vineyards in the Popovo field.

Currently, the monastery has two cellars. In the ancient stone cellar dating back to the 15th century, the Vranac grape matures in century-old oak barrels, while just a few meters away, next to the Trebišnjica River, a new cellar equipped with the most modern technology has been built, perfectly blending into the existing monastic complex.

Tvrdoš remains a symbol of tradition, winemaking, and spirituality, preserving the heritage of its ancestors and offering visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy wines that originate from the heart of Serbian winemaking.