The refined “sand wines” and some tasty dishes of Serbian, Hungarian and Bunjevac cuisine can be tasted on Palić wine route in the Subotica region
After the prehistoric Pannonian Sea withdrew from these lands, it left behind sandy terrains and the Palić lake, an old trendy summer resort and today one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Serbia. Some ancient sorts of grape vine are traditionally cultivated on this sandy soil of the Palić wine route.
Besides the Kadarka variety that resembles the taste of cherries, great attention is paid to the Kevedinka and the Muscat Croquant grapes used for making a dry white wine.
New vineyards of the Palić wine route cultivate mostly white varieties: Italian Riesling, Rhine Riesling, White Burgundy, Ezerjó and Chardonnay.
During the time when the phylloxera epidemic destroyed much of European vineyards in the early 18th century, this region avoided to be destroyed and therefore it attracted a lot of attention of European winemakers. At that time the Čoka and the Palić wine cellars were founded and to date they remain the backbone of viticulture in this region.
There is an interesting anecdote about the founder of the Čoka cellar, count Lederer, who organized card games in a tank of 67,000 liters. The story remained about these famous card games with music and wine that used to last for days.
The cellar, founded in 1903, represents a splendid monument of wine culture. It has a rustic ambient, seven wine alleys covering the surface of 6,000 square meters that are 4 m below the riverbed of the nearby river Stara Tisa (Old Tisa).
In the late 19th century count Lipot Rohonci built a palace with a wine cellar that still stands today, and he planted the special Muscat Croquant variety. Today his grandson is trying to restore the old glory to the palace and continue producing his grandfather’s famous wine that used to be sold in Budapest, London and other markets across Europe.
On Palić itself, the most famous wineries are “WOW Winery” and “Dibonis”, the wine salaš (a kind of farmstead) “Čuvardić” in Subotica, as well as “Vinski dvor” in Hajdukovo and “Vinum Lodi” in Feketić.
Don’t be surprised if you encounter young men dressed as knights with jugs of wine on the Palić wine route. They are a particular attraction of this region and belong to the order of knights “Arena Sabatkienze”. These knights are trying to turn back the time and spread the culture of drinking wine as it was once done.
Palić wine route is located near the border with Hungary, a the lake itself is just 8 km to the North from Subotica. Hotels by the lake are built in the Art Nouveau style, and they are set in the Baroque stylized parks. This wonderful tranquility joined with perfect nature, beaches and promenades make this lake an ideal holiday destination and an ideal ambient for enjoying quality wines.
