Podgorica - Montenegrin Capital & Wine Heritage

OVERVIEW

Sample a selection of premium Montenegrin wines in an exceptionally unusual cellar and browse a church whose frescoes depict controversial contemporary themes. The country’s largest wine company, Plantaže may be best known for its rather bizarre wine cellar – a long tunnel that was once an underground airplane hangar. Although bombed in the Kosovo War in late 1990s, the cellar has been revamped to accommodate wine tastings. The wines that will be served may include a white varietal made from Krstač grapes, which have been grown in the vineyards of Podgorica since ancient times. Plantaže also produces numerous reds, including a superior red blend from Vranac and Petit Verdot grapes. In Montenegro’s capital of Podgorica, you will visit the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, an Orthodox church that opened in 2013. The extraordinarily ornate interior features many gilded frescoes, including one that portrays several former Communist leaders burning in hell.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn about the terroir of the Plantaže vineyards and how it affects the resulting wines.
• Enjoy a tasting in a wine cellar that was once a secret underground airplane hangar.
• View a church with frescoes that reflect contemporary anti-Communist themes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.