The grapevine pruning ceremony and the blessing of the start of works in the vineyard brings a large number of guests to Baranja each year. Vinceška, the feast day of Saint Vincent, the patron saint of wine-growers, is traditionally commemorated on 22 January by Vina Belje. The feast represents not only the start of a new viticultural year, but also the start of a new year for tourism in Baranja, which has been the most visited rural destination in Croatia for several years in a row.
In accordance with the tradition, the first grapevines were pruned by Davor Bošnjaković, director of Belje Plus d.o.o., Suzana Zovko, the head oenologist, and Tomislav Pintarić, the head of the viticulture department. Grapevines decorated with kulen and sausages from Baranja were blessed by Đula Andraši, the parish priest from Kneževi Vinogradi, in hopes for an abundant harvest this year.
On this occasion, Davor Bošnjaković, the director of Belje plus, pointed out: “I am extremely pleased to announce that new vintages of premium quality Graševina and Rosé 2019 will be placed on the market next month, as they achieved great sales last year. We have in front of us a very eventful year, from which we can single out the 40th birthday of ABC cheese, one of the most famous regional products which is exported to 20 markets on four continents, the rebranding of Vina Belje, which includes an entirely new line of wines, and an additional step forward in breeding Black Slavonian pigs and in placing superior products made from the meat of Black Slavonian pigs bred in the Kopački Rit nature park on the market.”