Vinarija Dalia - Kristina Lukic
Vinarija Dalia is an ambitious project that started in April 2021, managed by young winemaker Kristina Lukić, who after completing the studies at the University of Viticulture and Oenology in Udine and gaining experiences around the world decided to return to her native country, Serbia, to apply and transmit what she has learned.
The project envisages the gradual planting of 10 ha of vines starting from spring 2024. The focus will be on local varieties, organic production in the vineyard with some principles of biodynamic and natural winemaking approach.
Currently the domain is renting 0,60 ha of 30 years old Gamay and 0,50 ha of 10 years old Gewurztraminer in Smedovac, a small village in Negotin Valley. For the moment, the grapes for the vinification comes mostly from the vineyards of one local producer, Vinarija Raj (a small/medium family winery founded in 2012) in Rajac, a village next to Smedovac, that is in organic conversion since 2020. The vineyards of Vinarija Dalia and Vinarija Raj are treated with sulphur and copper, the ploughing is shallow with the tractor, the inter-raw works are done with intercepts machines or hoeing and the harvest is manual.
The philosophy of respect for nature and man is at the fore, but both wineries will apply for organic certificates.
Vinarija Dalia is renting the space and equipment from Vinarija Raj with the plan to build its own winery in the near future.
From the harvest 2021 were produced 3 labels: Pramen (orange), Barjak (white), Bagra (Pet Nat), 2.250 bottles in total; 5 labels were added from harvest 2022, 10.000 bottles in total.
Fermentations are spontaneous, tartaric stabilization is carried out naturally with the winter cold, the wines are racked 2-3 times before bottling, without filtration. The use of sulphur is very limited. The aging process takes place in inox tanks or used barrels of Serbian acacia, French and Serbian oak (to which amphorae will be added soon).
The vinification follows the principle of minimum intervention.