Sjekloća

That changed after Montenegro opened up to private enterprise: Sjekloća became the country's first officially registered private wine producer, run today by Milenko K. Sjekloća, who blends that centuries-old family knowledge with modern winemaking methods. A third of the estate's vines are over a hundred years old — living proof of just how long this family has been doing this.

The whole operation is deliberately small — just a few thousand bottles a year — which is exactly what gives it its exclusivity. Let's step into the cellar.

Five Centuries Before It Was Official: The History of Sjekloća

The Sjekloća family has been making wine in Crmnica for roughly five hundred years — a tradition passed down entirely within the family, long before Montenegro had any framework for private commercial winemaking. Crmnica itself sits in what's often described as the heart of old Montenegro, a hilly district between Lake Skadar and the Adriatic hinterland that has quietly produced excellent Vranac for generations.

When private enterprise became possible in Montenegro, Sjekloća moved to formalise what the family had always done, becoming the country's first officially registered private wine production facility. Milenko K. Sjekloća now runs the estate, combining the family's centuries of inherited knowledge with modern winemaking equipment and technique.

The vineyards themselves tell the story: a full third of the vines are over a hundred years old, still producing fruit for a winery that generates only a few thousand bottles each year — small enough that every bottle carries real scarcity value.

The Taste: Old Vines, Patient Ageing

Sjekloća's range is built around Montenegro's two signature grapes, made in genuinely limited quantities:

• Sjekloća Vranac: Aged 12 months before release, with a deep ruby colour and fruity character shaped by vines that, in some parcels, are over a century old.
• Krstač: The estate's white, full-bodied and aromatic in the Crmnica style.
• Grape brandy (Loza/Rakija): Alongside wine, the family continues the traditional practice of distilling their own grape brandy, a natural extension of the same five-century craft.

More Than Wine: Sjekloća's Place in Crmnica

• A genuine first: As Montenegro's first registered private winery, Sjekloća effectively opened the door for the small, family-scale producers that have followed since.
• A living link to old vines: Century-old vines still in production are increasingly rare anywhere in the Balkans, let alone concentrated on one small estate.
• Deliberately exclusive: Producing only a few thousand bottles a year keeps Sjekloća closer to a boutique curiosity than a commercial operation — a rare thing in Montenegrin wine.

Perfect Pairings: Enjoying Sjekloća Wines with Crmnica Food

These are wines meant to be savoured slowly, alongside equally unhurried food:

• Sjekloća Vranac: Pairs well with slow-cooked lamb, Njeguši prosciutto, or aged mountain cheese.
• Krstač: A good match for freshwater fish from nearby Lake Skadar, or grilled white meats.

Finding Sjekloća Wines

• At the source: The family estate in Crmnica welcomes visitors for tastings — check sjeklocavino.me before making the trip.
• Across Montenegro: Given the small production, expect to find Sjekloća mainly at specialty wine shops and select restaurants around Bar, Budva, and Podgorica.
• Internationally: Limited quantities occasionally reach specialty importers focused on rare Balkan wines.

Živjeli uz Sjekloća! To five centuries of family knowledge, finally made official.