Vranac
| Vranac | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 A cluster of Vranac grapes in Montenegro | |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Vranec |
| Origin | Montenegro |
| Notable regions | Montenegro, North Macedonia |
| VIVC number | 13179 |
Vranac (pronounced [ʋrǎːnats]) is a Montenegrin autochthonous red grape variety. It is the most planted grape variety in Montenegro. Under the name Vranec, it is cultivated in Macedonia. Vranac is considered the most important grape variety in Montenegro and one of the most important in North Macedonia.[1]
The first mention of a genetic relationship between Vranac and Kratošija (Zinfandel), described as a first-degree relationship, was made by Calò et al. (2008).[2]
However, the full pedigree of Vranac was established through genetic identification of the variety in the joint international research by Tello et al. (2020), entitled "Population genetic analysis in old Montenegrin vineyards reveals ancient ways currently active to generate diversity in Vitis vinifera".[3] The research was conducted with the participation of the Institute of Grapevine and Wine Sciences (ICVV), La Rioja, the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, the Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada, Universidad de Sevilla, the Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, the University of Montenegro Faculty of Biotechnology, the Faculty for Food Technology, Food Safety and Ecology, University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica, and the Research and Development Department of Plantaže, Podgorica.
It was established that Vranac originated from a cross between the autochthonous Montenegrin varieties Kratošija and Duljenga. Kratošija was confirmed as the male parent, and Duljenga as the female parent.[3]
History
[edit source]The first description of the Vranac variety was published by Mitar Plamenac in 1891 in the journal Grlica.[4] A description of the variety was also published in 1909 in the ampelography by Pierre Viala and Victor Vermorel.[5]
Maraš et al. (2015) report that many authors from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, of which Montenegro was a part until June 1991 like Stojanović (1929), Bulić (1949), Ulićević (1959, 1966), Nastev (1967), Ćetković (1978), Zirojević (1979), Pejović (1987), Avramov (1988), Burić (1995), Božinovik (1996), Maraš (2000), Maraš et al. (2004), and Milosavljević (2008) described Vranac as an autochthonous Montenegrin grapevine variety and stated that it was historically cultivated only in Montenegro.[6]
Nastev (1967) states that Vranac is an autochthonous Montenegrin grapevine variety, cultivated mainly in the Lake Skadar region, particularly in Crmnica, but also on the Montenegrin coast .[7] He also states that Vranac was introduced to Macedonia in the 1950s at the Butel experimental field, from which it subsequently spread throughout the former Yugoslavia.[7]
Bulić (1949) states that Vranac spread from Montenegro to Dalmatia.[8]
Distribution and cultivation
[edit source]At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the cultivation area of Vranac was very small, extending for about 30 km. Until World War II, the variety was mainly distributed in the Crmnica subregion. During this period, Vranac had not spread beyond varietal collections or experimental vineyards. It later spread from Crmnica to other parts of Montenegro and beyond.[6]
In 2021, Vranac was cultivated on 1,346 hectares, accounting for 51.16% of the total area under grapevines in Montenegro.[9] Outside Montenegro, it is most widely cultivated in North Macedonia. It is also grown in Herzegovina, Kosovo, and central Serbia.[9]
Ampelographic characteristics
[edit source]The vine is vigorous. The flower is morphologically and functionally hermaphroditic. The leaf is medium-sized to large, five-lobed to seven-lobed, with the blade showing no visible hairs on either side. The cluster is medium-sized to large, cylindrical, medium-compact, rarely loose, weighing 160–250 g. The berry is medium-sized, elongated, round or oval, blue-black or black, with a thin skin and abundant bloom. It belongs to productive and very productive varieties. The grapes ripen in the third epoch. It is a late variety. To obtain a high-quality yield, the variety favors well-sunlit positions and warm, loose-gravelly, permeable and moderately fertile soils.[9]
Wine characteristics
[edit source]The wine is full-bodied, with an intense ruby-red color, aromas of small berry fruits such as blackberry and blueberry, and subtle dried spices. It is described as a top-quality wine and is recognizable for its intense color. Owing to the rich oenological potential of the Vranac variety, several profiles and styles of Vranac wine can be produced. Due to its quality characteristics, it is also suitable for blending with wines of other varieties.[9]
References
[edit source]- ↑ Stevenson, Tom (2005). The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia (4 ed.). Londyn: Dorling Kindersley. p. 427. ISBN 0-7566-1324-8.
- ↑ Calò, Antonio; Costacurta, Angelo; Maraš, Vesna; Meneghetti, Stefano; Crespan, Manna (2008). "Molecular correlation of Zinfandel (Primitivo) with Austrian, Croatian, and Hungarian cultivars and Kratošija, an additional synonym". American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 59 (2): 205–209. doi:10.5344/ajev.2008.59.2.205. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- 1 2 Tello, Javier; Martínez-Zapater, José Miguel; Ibáñez, Javier (2020). "Population genetic analysis in old Montenegrin vineyards reveals ancient ways currently active to generate diversity in Vitis vinifera". Scientific Reports. 10: 15000. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-71918-7. PMC 7490262.
- ↑ Plamenac, M. (1891). "Gajenje vinove loze u Crmnici". Grlica (in Serbian). Cetinje: State Printing House.
- ↑ Viala, P.; Vermorel, V. (1901–1910). Traité général de viticulture: Ampélographie (in French). Vol. I–IV. Paris: Masson et Cie.
- 1 2 Maraš, Vesna; Popović, T.; Gazivoda, A.; Raičević, J.; Kodžulović, V.; Mugoša, M.; Šućur, S. (2015). "Origin and Characterization of Montenegrin Grapevine Varieties". VITIS. 54 (Special Issue): 135–137. doi:10.5073/vitis.2015.54.special-issue.135-137. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 Nastev, Dragan (1967). Specijalno lozarstvo [Special Viticulture] (in Macedonian).
- ↑ Bulić, Stjepan (1949). Dalmatinska ampelografija [Dalmatian Ampelography] (in Croatian). Zagreb: Poljoprivredni nakladni zavod.
- 1 2 3 4 "Vranac". Leksikon vinogradarstva i vinarstva Crne Gore (Lexicon of Viticulture and Winemaking of Montenegro) (in Montenegrin). Crnogorska akademija nauka i umjetnosti (Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts; CANU). 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2026.