Drinks — Wine, Rakija & Coffee

Montenegrin Wine

Montenegro has a 2,000-year-old wine tradition that has experienced a renaissance in recent years. The main growing areas are around Lake Skadar and in the Crmnica Valley. The indigenous grape varieties are the heart:

• Vranac — THE Montenegrin red wine variety. Dark red, strong, with aromas of dark berries, plum, and spices. Comparable to a Primitivo or Malbec. Montenegro's flagship wine and an excellent companion to grilled dishes and cheese. Bottle from 5€ in the supermarket, 12–18€ in the restaurant.
• Krstač — An indigenous white wine, fresh and elegant with notes of citrus and white flowers. Perfect for fish dishes on the coast. Rarer than Vranac, but increasingly appreciated.
• Pro Corde — One of the best Vranac wines, produced by the Plantaže winery. Internationally awarded and a worthy souvenir.

Plantaže Winery — Montenegro's largest wine producer owns the largest contiguous vineyard in Europe (2,310 hectares) at Lake Skadar. Tours and tastings: from 10€. Register in advance!

Rakija

Rakija is the elixir of life of the Balkans — a fruit brandy made from grapes (lozovača), plums (šljivovica), pears (kruška), or honey (medovača). Every Montenegrin family makes their own, and the pride in their rakija is immense. In restaurants, it is served as an aperitif or digestif (1–3€), offered for free in the countryside. Warning: Homemade rakija is stronger than it tastes — start slowly!

Coffee

Coffee in Montenegro is a ritual, not a drink. The day begins with coffee, business is discussed over coffee, and friendships are nurtured over coffee. The three common preparations:

• Domaća kafa (Homemade Coffee) — Turkish-style coffee, finely ground, boiled in a džezva (copper pot). Strong, sweet, and with sediment. The original.
• Espresso — Standard in the coastal towns (Italian influence). Good and cheap: 1–1.50€.
• Kafa s mlijekom — Coffee with milk, similar to a latte.

A coffee in Montenegro lasts at least 30 minutes — not because it's so big, but because sitting and talking are part of it. Montenegrins drink an average of 5–6 cups per day. In the cafés of Podgorica and Budva, you can sit for hours without being pressured to reorder.