The Taste of the Country: Wine and Culinary Tours in Montenegro

The Taste of the Country: Wine and Culinary Tours in Montenegro

Montenegro is a country where cuisine has been shaped by Balkan, Mediterranean, and mountain traditions. There’s no haute cuisine here, but you’ll find honest, rich, home-style food — and wines that rarely leave the country, making them all the more intriguing. If you love discovering new flavors, learning about culture through food, and consider tastings your favorite way to relax, a wine and culinary tour of Montenegro might be the perfect choice.

Wineries and Wine Regions of Montenegro

1. The Podgorica Region

This is the heart of Montenegrin winemaking — here, on the sunny plains of the Ćemovsko field, you’ll find the country’s largest vineyards. The main grape variety is the indigenous Vranac, a bold red wine with a rich flavor and a distinctly Balkan character.

Notable wineries:

• Plantaže 13. jul — the largest winery in the Balkans, featuring the impressive Šipčanik wine cellar located in a former military aircraft bunker
• Vinarija Kopitović, Vinarija Vukmirović — small family-owned wineries offering more intimate tastings

🍇 Here’s a curated selection of wine-tasting tours:

2. Lake Skadar

This is where nature and gastronomy come together in a perfect route. The lake is surrounded by scenic hills, with small wineries, farms, and villages offering traditional cuisine along its shores. One of the best ways to experience it all is by taking a boat tour with stops at wineries in Virpazar, Rijeka Crnojevića, and nearby villages. These tours let you enjoy the views while tasting homemade wine, prosciutto, cheese, and olive oil at family-run estates. It’s the true flavor of Montenegro — heartfelt and authentic.

🍇 Below is a selection of combined “boat + wine” tours:

3. Northern Montenegro (Nikšić, Plužine)

Northern Montenegro is a lesser-known but deeply authentic destination for wine tourism. In the area around Nikšić, you’ll find several small family-owned wineries where grapes are grown on terraced hillsides. The wine here is made the traditional way — slowly, with a focus on natural methods and rich flavor. In Plužine, near Lake Piva, tastings can be combined with outdoor experiences: hiking, swimming, or staying overnight in eco-friendly cabins. These routes are perfect for travelers seeking peace, untouristy spots, and a genuine connection to local life.

Gastronomic Tour Formats

Gastronomic tours are perfect for those who want everything at once — to see nature, feel the atmosphere, and truly taste Montenegro.

This isn’t just about food — it’s a full experience: the freshest seafood by the coast, homemade cheeses and pršut in the mountains, and wine poured by the winemaker themselves.

Some tours even include cooking classes, where you can learn to prepare traditional dishes under the guidance of local chefs. It’s a format that blends flavor, emotion, and cultural immersion.

🧀 Below are some great gastronomic tours where you can explore Montenegro through its cuisine:

Tips:

• The most memorable experiences often come from small, family-run wineries where the owner pours the wine themselves
• Many wineries are located off the beaten path — choose a tour that includes transfers for convenience
• Pay attention to the format: some tours offer tastings only, while others include full meals