Zvonko Bogdan Winery

The winery leans into Palić's Art Nouveau architectural heritage — the same striking style found throughout nearby Subotica — housing a restaurant, modern cellars, and a genuinely beautiful library inside a building that looks as much like a small palace as a working winery.

The region has real pedigree behind the postcard setting: Palić-grown wine was exported across Europe in the late 19th century, reaching markets in London, Budapest, and Vienna. With 56 hectares and 400,000 bottles a year, Zvonko Bogdan is reviving that reputation. Let's take a look.

A Singer, a Businessman, and a Lake: The History of Zvonko Bogdan Winery

Palić's wine story is older than most visitors realise. In the late 19th century, this small stretch of Vojvodina exported wine across Europe, with bottles reaching as far as London, Budapest, and Vienna — a genuinely international reputation for a small lake town in the far north of Serbia.

That history had faded by the time a Serbian businessman decided, in 2008, to revive serious winemaking on the eastern shore of Lake Palić. He brought in Zvonko Bogdan — a celebrated Serbian folk singer with deep roots in the region — as a partner, giving the project both a recognisable name and a genuine local connection.

Rather than build something generic, the team designed the winery in the Art Nouveau style that defines nearby Subotica's architecture — one of Europe's finest concentrations of Secessionist buildings. The result is a winery that looks like a small palace on the water, combining modern French winemaking technology with the specificity of Palić's own vineyard tradition.

The Taste: A White-Focused Estate on the Lake

Across 56 hectares producing roughly 400,000 bottles a year, the estate leans heavily toward white wine:

• Premium range: Four single-varietal whites — Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay — showcasing the specificity of Palić's own vineyards.
• Cuvée N°1: A red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the estate's main foray into red wine alongside its white-dominant range.

More Than Wine: Zvonko Bogdan Winery's Place in Vojvodina

• Reviving a forgotten export history: Palić's 19th-century reputation as a wine exporter to major European capitals had largely been lost to time before this winery helped bring it back into conversation.
• A genuine architectural landmark: The Art Nouveau building is as much a destination for its design as for its wine, tying the estate to the wider Subotica-Palić Secessionist heritage.
• A recognisable cultural name: Zvonko Bogdan's involvement gives the winery a level of local cultural cachet that few purely commercial ventures can match.

Perfect Pairings: Enjoying Zvonko Bogdan Wines with Vojvodina Food

The estate's white-forward range suits Vojvodina's lighter, freshwater-influenced dishes:

• Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris: Pair well with freshwater fish from nearby lakes and rivers, or soft cheeses.
• Cuvée N°1: A good match for grilled poultry or lighter red-meat dishes.

Finding Zvonko Bogdan Wines

• At the source: The winery's restaurant and tasting rooms on Lake Palić are a popular day trip from nearby Subotica — check vinarijazvonkobogdan.com to book.
• Across Serbia: Available at better restaurants and wine shops in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
• Internationally: Growing export presence, echoing Palić's own 19th-century reputation abroad.

Živeli uz Zvonko Bogdan! To a lake town that's been exporting good wine since long before most people knew where Palić was.