Vinogradi Nuić

The story starts in 2004, when the family began developing the Orlovac site near Crnopod — seven hectares and 30,000-plus vines planted directly into the area's distinctive rugged red soil. Winery operations followed in 2013, and the estate has since grown to 35 hectares, planted with an unusually wide range of both indigenous and international grapes.

Roughly 70% of production here is red, all hand-harvested and hand-sorted — a genuinely modern winery built with old-fashioned attention to detail. Let's find out how a small Herzegovinian estate ended up growing an island grape.

From Rugged Red Soil to Rare Grapes: The History of Vinogradi Nuić

Vinogradi Nuić began in 2004, when the family started developing the Orlovac vineyard site near the village of Crnopod, between Međugorje and Ljubuški. The land here isn't the pale karst limestone found in most of Herzegovina — it's a rugged, rust-red soil that gives the estate a genuinely distinctive look, and, the family believes, a distinctive character in the glass.

Seven hectares and more than 30,000 vines went into that first plot; winery operations began in earnest in 2013. In the years since, the estate has grown to 35 hectares planted with an unusually broad range for a Herzegovinian producer: the expected Žilavka, Blatina, and Trnjak sit alongside Bena, Krkošija, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet, Plavac Mali, Syrah, Merlot, Pošip — and, most distinctively, Grk.

Grk is native to Croatia's Korčula island, and Vinogradi Nuić is, as far as anyone can document, the only winery growing it commercially in Bosnia and Herzegovina — a genuinely rare claim in a region where most producers work with the same handful of well-known indigenous grapes.

The Taste: An International Bench, Anchored by One Rare White

Around 70% of Vinogradi Nuić's production is red, all hand-harvested and hand-sorted, but it's the range's breadth that stands out:

• Grk: The estate's signature rarity — crisp, saline, and citrus-driven, grown nowhere else in the country.
• Žilavka, Blatina, and Trnjak: The expected Herzegovinian trio, grown alongside minor indigenous varieties Bena and Krkošija.
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet, Plavac Mali, Syrah, Merlot, and Pošip: An unusually wide bench of international and neighbouring varieties, reflecting the estate's experimental streak.

The wines have picked up recognition at both AWC Vienna and Germany's Mundus Vini for Žilavka, Blatina, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trnjak, Pošip, Syrah, and Merlot.

More Than Wine: Vinogradi Nuić's Place in Herzegovina

• A genuinely unique claim: Being the sole Bosnian producer of Grk gives this winery a headline no other Herzegovinian estate can match.
• A distinctive terroir: The rust-red Orlovac soil sets the vineyard apart visually and, the family argues, in the glass, from the pale karst that defines most of the region.
• An experimental spirit: Few Herzegovinian producers plant as wide a varietal range, making this a good stop for anyone curious about what else the region's soil can do.

Perfect Pairings: Enjoying Vinogradi Nuić Wines with Herzegovinian Food

The estate's breadth makes it genuinely versatile at the table:

• Grk: A natural match for fresh seafood, oysters, or a simple plate of soft cheese — its saline edge is built for the coast even though the grapes grow inland.
• Blatina and Trnjak: Pair well with grilled lamb, ćevapi, or hearty Herzegovinian stews.
• Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon: Suited to richer red meats and aged hard cheeses.

Finding Vinogradi Nuić Wines

• At the source: Vineyard tours near Crnopod are available — check vinogradinuic.com to arrange a visit.
• Across Bosnia and Herzegovina: Available at specialty wine shops and restaurants around Mostar and West Herzegovina.
• Internationally: The Grk bottling in particular has drawn interest from importers curious about a Bosnian take on a famously rare Croatian grape.

Živjeli uz Vinogradi Nuić! To the one Herzegovinian vineyard growing a grape that, technically, doesn't belong there at all.