HEPOK Vinarija Ljubuški

The Austro-Hungarian authorities began serious nursery and seedling production at the "Rasadnik" vineyard site in 1912, laying the groundwork for what would become a major regional producer. The winery passed through the Yugoslav-era HEPOK agricultural cooperative starting in 1972, and survives today as part of the international VINO-ALPE-ADRIA group — still trading proudly under its historic HEPOK name.

At over 2 million bottles a year, this is Herzegovina at industrial scale — the older, more historic counterpart to Vinarija Čitluk's modern giant. Let's step into the country's longest-running cellar.

144 Years in Ljubuški: The History of HEPOK

HEPOK Vinarija Ljubuški traces its founding to 1882, making it the oldest winery anywhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Austro-Hungarian authorities who administered the region at the time recognised West Herzegovina's potential for serious viticulture, and by 1912 had established the "Rasadnik" vineyard site specifically for seedling and nursery production — infrastructure that shaped the region's wine industry for generations.

The winery became part of the sprawling Yugoslav-era HEPOK agricultural cooperative starting in 1972, at the time one of the most significant agricultural enterprises in the Balkans. When HEPOK's larger structure broke apart in the difficult decades that followed, this particular winery survived and was eventually absorbed into the international VINO-ALPE-ADRIA group — but it kept trading under the historic HEPOK name that Herzegovinian wine drinkers already knew and trusted.

Today the winery blends grapes from its own vineyards with fruit from local cooperating growers around Ljubuški, producing over 2 million bottles a year — a scale matched by very few other producers in the country.

The Taste: Long-Established Herzegovinian Classics

HEPOK's range leans on the varieties that have defined this vineyard for over a century:

• Žilavka: Full-bodied and mineral, in the classic Herzegovinian style, built on some of the longest-established vine plantings in the country.
• Blatina: The estate's principal red, dry and structured, produced at a scale that makes it one of the most widely available Blatinas in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Merlot, Sauvignon, and Zweigelt: International varieties planted more recently, expanding the range beyond the two indigenous stars.

More Than Wine: HEPOK's Place in Herzegovina

• The country's elder statesman: No other Bosnian winery can claim a longer unbroken connection to a single site — 144 years and counting.
• A genuine production benchmark: At over 2 million bottles a year, HEPOK sits alongside Vinarija Čitluk as one of the two true industrial-scale producers in the country.
• A living link across eras: Austro-Hungarian founding, Yugoslav-era cooperative membership, and modern international ownership — HEPOK's history mirrors the country's own.

Perfect Pairings: Enjoying HEPOK Wines with Herzegovinian Food

Straightforward, food-friendly wines built for everyday Herzegovinian cooking:

• Žilavka: Pairs well with grilled freshwater fish, hard cheeses, and Herzegovinian prosciutto.
• Blatina: A natural match for grilled lamb, ćevapi, and hearty stews.

Finding HEPOK Vinarija Ljubuški Wines

• At the source: A visitor tasting space near Ljubuški pairs the wines with local delicacies — check hepok-mostar.ba for details.
• Across Bosnia and Herzegovina: As one of the country's two largest producers, HEPOK wines are widely stocked in supermarkets and restaurants nationwide.
• Internationally: Distributed through the broader VINO-ALPE-ADRIA group's export network across the region.

Živjeli uz HEPOK! To 144 years of Žilavka from the same corner of West Herzegovina.