The 28th Wine and Bleak Festival will be held on February 28 and March 1 in Virpazar, weather permitting. The event is organized by the Crmnica Local Community, the Municipality of Bar, the Tourist Organization Bar, and the Association of Winegrowers and Winemakers “Crmnički Vranac.”
This is one of the most recognizable traditional events in the Bar municipality. For nearly three decades, the festival has gathered winemakers, fishermen, local artisans and visitors from across Montenegro and the region, honouring the deep – rooted wine and fishing traditions of Crmnica.
The programme begins on Saturday, February 28, with the official opening at 11 AM. Throughout the day, visitors will enjoy performances by FA Rumija, Rajko Joličić, Akademia Band, Milena Ćeranić, and Nikola Bušković, along with the award ceremony for the most beautiful song about wine.
On the second day, Sunday, March 1, the stage will feature KUD Jedinstvo, klapa Assa Voce, and the band Perper, followed by the awards ceremony for the best wines, further highlighting the quality and potential of local producers.
This year’s competitive segment gathers 26 exhibitors with a total of 66 wine samples. The evaluation of young wines from the 2025 harvest has been entrusted to the renowned winery Plantaže “13. jul”, reinforcing the festival’s professional and expert character.
Awards will be presented for:
• Best overall wine
• Best Crmnica wine
• Gold, silver, and bronze medals for red, white, and rosé wines
A special highlight of this year’s festival will be a round table discussion on Saturday at 4 PM at the Skadar Lake National Park Visitor Centre in Virpazar, addressing two key topics: The future of Vranac as an indigenous Montenegrin grape variety and the state of the fish stock in Skadar Lake.
This year, the festival also sends an important message — protect Skadar Lake.
For that reason, bleak will not be served, as a concrete step towards preserving this native fish species during the fishing ban period. Instead, visitors will be able to enjoy other freshly prepared lake fish, equally delicious and carefully sourced.
During the festival, 200 litres of homemade wine and 200 kilograms of fresh lake fish will be provided free of charge.
More than just a celebration of tradition, the Wine and Bleak Festival is also a platform for dialogue on sustainable winemaking and the preservation of the natural resources of Skadar Lake.
Photos: Festival vina i ukljeve Facebook
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