In the traditionally good and cheerful atmosphere, the two-day, 22nd Festival of Wine and Ukljeva Fish opened in Virpazar. Throughout Virpazar, at 44 stands, numerous visitors from all over Montenegro could try and buy wine, ukljeva fish, but also honey, cheese, rakija, vegetables, and fruits.
The hard-working organizers also prepared two stands where 300 liters of wine were distributed free of charge, and three booths where ukljeva fish was distributed, also free of charge.
By opening the festival, the President of Bar Municipality Dusan Raicevic said that the local government for this year raised the agro-budget from 200 to 300,000 euros, out of which 200 is going to farmers and 100,000 euros for the construction of the infrastructure. He announced the continuation of the support to producers, adding that part of the budget for the infrastructure will also go for priorities in Crmnica-construction of wine roads and Kuce wines that will serve "both for tasting and for education”.
The Acting President of MZ Crmnica Committee, Ilija Markovic, invited the state to continue investing in this region, keep the famous Montenegrin winemaking tradition with young wine growers and the construction of wine cellars. He particularly urged the preservation of the vast wealth of the Skadar Lake, primarily its fish fund.
With a minute of silence respects were paid to the founders of the festival that are no longer among the living, as well as to the victims of the recent tragedy in Vranjina.
Awards for the best poems about wine were announced.
From the received 13 poems, the jury composed of the President Goran Radoicic, a literary critic, and members poet and humorist Rajko Jolicic and playwright Dragisa Simovic, awarded the first prize to the poem "Kapi istine" (“Drops of truth”) by Slobodan Vucinic from Podgorica. The second prize was given to the poem “Da zajedno ljubimo vinograde” ("To Love Together Vineyards") by Sonja Milatovic from Niksic, and the third to Zarko Marovic from Virpazar for the poem "Vino za potonju uru" (“Wine at the dying bed”).
Marovic refused to accept the prize for personal reasons.
However, the price of wine ranges from 5-15 euros, honey from 8-12 euros, fried ukljeva fish two, and fresh three euros. Among the exhibitors was for the first time our celebrated handball representative Mladen Rakcevic, who said that after the ending of the sports career, it is possible for him to dedicate even more to the production of top quality wine.
The folklore KUD "Jedinstvo", Dino Beharović and "D band", choir "Via profesori" and famous band from Belgrade "Zana" performed as part of the entertainment program. Stressing that he is glad that the band is soon celebrating 40 years of existence and successful work, the popular Zoran Zika Zivanovic from Zana said that the band members are thrilled to be the first to perform at this festival.
The organizers of the festival are MZ Crmnica, Association of winemakers "Crmnicki vranac", NGO "Days of Skadar Lake", with the support of Bar Municipality and TO Bar.
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Text by Radomir Petric, on March 23rd, 2019, read more at Vijesti
