With wine to the end of the world - Serbia's New Moon over Russia, Korea and Britain

wines from the winery Do Kraja Sveta (Photo: Do kraja sveta)

Wine is the crown of their friendship, business and private philosophy. Joint production of the "drink of gods" happened by accident, but they named the winery Do Kraja Sveta (To the End of the World) on purpose. Zoran Kaplanovic, Gradimir Glusica and Milos Milic were sitting in the tavern Na Kraju Sveta (At the World's End) when they came up with the name for their wine cellar.

- We were thinking about the name for our "child" while sitting in Kovilj's cult tavern - Na Kraju Sveta, in Arkanj. This geographic term on one side and the metaphor "to the end of the world", as a sum of virtues we want to breed in the wine cellar and in the relations between the wine cellar and everybody else, are to be "blamed" for the name we came up with - Zoran Kaplanovic, co-owner of the winery Do Kraja Sveta, tells the story for eKapija.

How did they get the idea to start making wine?

- Wine had been an integral part of the business and private lives of the three of us - friends and future business partners, even ten years before the wine cellar was opened. In both direct and indirect way, we took part in the formation and strengthening of wineries Radovanovic, Aleksandrovic, Kovacevic and some others, with which we have been maintaining good friendly and business relations ever since – our interlocutor explains.

Gradimir Glusica, Zoran Kaplanovic, Milos Milic (Photo: lična arhiva)

The wines from the wine cellar Do Kraja Sveta in the highest demand are Mlad Mesec Crveno (New Moon Red) and Mlad Mesec Belo (New Moon White) from the primary series, and Selection Merlot and Selection Sauvignon Blanc from the premium series. As Kaplanovic explains, Aurea rose wine was also in high demand this summer, which was a positive surprise for everybody at the winery.

Mlad Mesec (New Moon) and other wines made at this winery can be found in over 200 hotels and restaurants across our country because, as our interlocutor points out, the HoReCa sector is their key partner now. Wines can also be found in all well-supplied wine stores in Serbia and in the markets of Delta Maxi, Mercator Roda, Metro, Univerexport, and DIS.

(Mlad Mesec wines)

Wines from Do Kraja Sveta are also occasionally exported to Great Britain, South Korea and Russia, whereas their export to Montenegro is continuous. According to the words of our interlocutor, their plan is to "boost the exports and make them more stable".

- A constant and carefully cherished quality and an authentic juiciness and fruitiness of each our wine, an original design and a positive message conveyed through every detail, as our message to customers and public - wine is a symbol of enjoyment through honest, light commitment. It does not stand a usual haste and cheap solutions that, unfortunately, modern time and circumstances often impose upon us – Kaplanovic explains the characteristics of wines with the label Do Kraja Sveta.

The winery owns 3 vineyards in Zivkovo near Leskovac, in Rakovac near Bujanovac, and on Fruska Gora, spanning a total of about 20 hectares. Kaplanovic does not hide that the expansion of vineyards is in the pipeline, and that the wine cellar now makes between 50 and 60 thousand liters of wine per year.

- We are proud of our two enologists whose knowledge represents a blend of traditional secrets and the latest discoveries in the field of enology. We are not ashamed to say that their decision is always the final when it comes to the application of certain technologies. They are the only ones with the right answer to our clear demand that wines always be of the same high quality, and maybe even a bit better every year - says Kaplanovic.

(Photo: lična arhiva)

The winery Do Kraja Sveta is open to all people of good will. Aside from wine tasting, an integral part of quality time in Kovilj can be a visit to beautiful Kovilj Monastery and, of course, a "gastronomic finale" at restaurants Na Kraju Sveta or Lovacka Carda. Those who want to relax the whole weekend long can also spend a night at a newly opened hotel in Kovilj.

- Frequent guests of our wine cellar are wine lovers from Belgrade and Novi Sad, businessmen on their way back home, diplomatic corps and representatives of foreign companies. Lately, this list has been extended to include families and groups of young people passing by this village because the Tourism Organization of Novi Sad has recently marked the path to the entrance to the winery with large and clearly visible signposts.

When asked about plans for the following period, the co-owner of Do Kraja Sveta says the following:

- Plans are always the same: to make excellent wines and cherish respect and correctness in each relation, thus attracting new fans and extending the list of places where these wines can be bought.