Wine tourism in Herzegovina: grapes, wine route and receiving guests

Wine tourism is one of the easiest ways for a cellar, restaurant or guesthouse in East Herzegovina to attract guests outside the summer peak. This text is for winemakers, grape growers, restaurateurs and tour operators.

In short

• Vinska cesta Hercegovine (Herzegovina Wine Route) is managed by the Vanjskotrgovinska/Spoljnotrgovinska komora BiH (Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH) together with six towns and municipalities: Mostar, Čapljina, Čitluk, Ljubuški, Stolac and Trebinje.
• Of the six towns only Trebinje is in Republika Srpska. The route was set up in 2007 by the Tourism Board of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton under an EU-financed project, and since 2020 it has been revitalised by the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH with USAID support.
• The route is a member of Iter Vitis, a Council of Europe cultural route.
• Featured wines are Žilavka (white), Blatina, Trnjak and Vranac (red).
• Membership is voluntary, and members pay an annual fee whose amount, deadlines and payment method are set by the route's Council. Each cellar sets its own tasting prices and visiting season, so check them with the cellar directly.

Grapes visitors ask about

• Žilavka is the native white grape, giving mineral-toned wines.
• Blatina is the native red grape. It has only female flowers, so it needs a pollinator variety planted beside it (Krkošija is the one usually mentioned).
• Vranac is a dark red grape also grown in Montenegro and Dalmatia.
• Trnjak is a red grape, the traditional companion to Blatina; Krkošija, Bena and Dobrogostina are also mentioned.

We could not confirm planting shares per variety in a reliable source, so we give no percentages.

Example from Trebinje

Tvrdoš Monastery has a wine cellar near Trebinje. We could not confirm its vineyard area or export figures in an official source, so we give none. Near Trebinje, Vukoje, Vera, Popovac and Anđušić also operate, along with smaller family cellars in the valley and Popovo Polje.

Tips for receiving guests

1. Visits are by appointment. Most cellars are family farms, not visitor centres, so set a phone number and hours when you are available.
2. Prepare a clear offer: number of wines (usually three to four), price per person, duration, and whether the price is deducted on purchase.
3. Serve cheese, smoked ham or a local dish with the tasting.
4. Drivers should not drink: offer juice or water and link guests with a local taxi or guide.
5. Match the offer to the season: harvest views in September and October, a quieter visit in spring.
6. If you want your cellar on the wine route, apply for membership to the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH (Mostar office), and link up with accommodation and restaurants directly.

What to check before opening to guests

We could not confirm a specific "wine tourism" licence in Republika Srpska. For serving food and drink, business registration and hygiene requirements, contact the municipal administration and the Republička uprava za inspekcijske poslove (Republic Inspectorate).

Membership terms are set by the Pravilnik o Vinskoj cesti Hercegovine (Rulebook on the Herzegovina Wine Route, Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, 14.03.2023):

• Members can be registered wine producers, and also restaurants, accommodation, tour operators, producers of traditional products, local governments and tourist organisations in Herzegovina (Art. 4).
• You apply to the Chamber on the prescribed form, with a registry extract and other registration decisions. A wine producer must attach a decision showing it makes at least one wine with a protected designation of origin (Art. 18). Specific criteria by product or service type are in Annex 2 (Art. 19).
• A commission checks the application and, if needed, visits the premises within 30 days; the Council decides on admission and the Chamber signs a contract with the member (Art. 20 and 21).
• Members pay an annual membership fee; the amount, deadlines and payment method are set by the Council (Art. 27 and 28). Check the current amount with the Chamber.
• Only members may use the route's mark (Art. 7).

Where to go

• Vanjskotrgovinska/Spoljnotrgovinska komora BiH (Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH), Mostar office, Dr. Ante Starčevića bb, 88000 Mostar, tel. +387 36 333 651: membership and information on the Herzegovina Wine Route
• Trebinje tourist organisation and municipal administration, for registration and advice

Sources

• Pravilnik o Vinskoj cesti Hercegovine (Rulebook on the Herzegovina Wine Route), Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, 14.03.2023
• Pogodnosti članstva u Vinskoj cesti Hercegovine (membership leaflet), Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH (founding, management, Iter Vitis, contact)