Spreading of the Srem wine region
Srem wine region is located on the slopes of Fruska Gora mountain facing the river Danube (in the North) and the Sava river (in the South), excluding the National Park “Fruska Gora”. It includes the territory of the municipalities of Nestin, Susek, Svilos, Banostor, Cerevic, Rakovac, Ledinci, Sremska Kamenica, Novi Sad II, Petrovaradin, Sremski Karlovci, Bukovac, Cortanovci, Beska, Krcedin, Novi Slankamen, Stari Slankamen, Molovin, Sot, Ljuba, Vizic, Djipsa, Divos, Lezimir, Grabovo, Mandjelos, Grgurevci, Suljam, Besenovo Prnjavor, Besenovo Selo, Mala Remeta, Stejanovci, Jazak Prnjavor, Jazak selo, Vrdnik, Pavlovci, Rivica, Irig, Neradin, Grgetek, Bankovci, Satrinci, Dobrodol, Velika Remeta, Krusedol Prnjavor, Maradik, Ljukovo, Berkasovo, Sid, Privina Glava, Gibarac, Bacinci, Kukujevci, Erdevik, Bingula and Calma, as well as the cadaster municipality Krusedol selo. Srem wine region occupies an area of 86.715,92 hectares.
Based on the data from 2012, there are 2,141 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are situated at an altitude ranging from 90 to 270 meters, mainly on the northern and southern slopes.
Soil
The southern and northern sides of Fruska Gora are intersected by numerous streams that flow into the Danube River in the north and the Sava river in the south. Because of this, the exposure of the terrain depends on which side of the stream it is located on. Smaller or bigger plateaus are nestled between the streams. On the southern slopes of Fruska Gora, these plateaus are spacious, often comprising dozens of hectares in one piece, with gentle sloping and seldom facing erosion problems. The altitude is gradually decreasing as we go from the slopes of Fruška Gora toward the edge of the wine region.
The predominant type of soil is Chernozem, and to a lesser extent also Cambisol, Rendzina (brown soil on limestone), Regosol and Orthent on the magmatic stone. A moderating factor affecting the local climate is the Danube River, that affects the earlier ripening of grapes due to the intense diffuse radiation (the effect of two suns).
Grape Producers: In this wine region 2,170 households own vineyards. The largest areas under vineyards are located in the municipality of Sid.
Grape Varieties
Grasac, Slankamenka Crvena, Sremska Zelenika, Furmint, Medenac Beli, Bakator, Tamjanika, Neoplanta, Zupljanka, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rhine Riesling, Blaufrankisch, Portugizer, Vranac, Probus, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Marselan, Sedusa, Kadarka.
Interesting facts
Historians note that Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (276-282) planted the first vineyards on the territory of the present Fruska Gora and that was the beginning of winegrowing and winemaking in Serbia.
Every story about the Srem wine region touches on the history of the aristocratic family Odescalchi. After the Treaty of Karlowitz and following the emigration of the Turks, the Vienna Imperial Court rewarded the Odescalchi family with a property that included a large part of Srem. Their newly acquired estate included the Upper Srem area centered around the town of Ilok (the present Croatia) and the Lower Srem area centered around the town of Irig (the present Serbia). Duke Livio Odescalchi and his descendants are largely responsible for the development of the winemaking tradition in Srem/Srijem. In Ilok, he modernized the old cellar from the 15th century. In the early 18th century, the Odescalchi family expanded vineyards in Ilok and constructed a new wine cellar next to the existing Old cellar. Historic records also indicate that the Odescalchi family established the first winery in Erdevik in 1826.
Srem is a unique region in Serbia where you can find the grape variety Furmint. Historic records indicate that Furmint was once widespread in Fruska Gora, and today there are only five vineyards in Fruska Gora. A small group of young winemakers aspires to put Furmint back on Serbia's wine map.
In contemporary Serbian winemaking, Fruska Gora stands out as a dynamic wine region where young winemakers experiment with wine styles, varieties and philosophy in the vineyard/cellar, which is supported by the numerous winemakers dedicated to natural wines, biodynamic wines, organic wines, orange wines, etc.