GRAPE HARVEST EVEN BETTER THAN LAST YEAR, EXCELLENT QUALITY

TREBINJE, SEPTEMBER 16 /SRNA/ - The grape harvest in Trebinje is very good this year, better than last year, and the quality is also excellent, as the weather conditions have been favourable, Ranko Petijević, owner of Petijević Winery, told SRNA today.

Petijević said that yields are around three kilograms per vine, which is optimal for producing high-quality grapes.

"I am satisfied with the grape yield. Vine growers who irrigated their vines had a good yield this year," Petijević said, adding that the yield is slightly higher than last year.

He stressed that the quality of the grapes is excellent because the ripening period was dry, with no rainfall, so there were no diseases.

He said that the grape harvest began around 15 days earlier than usual this year.

"The harvest of early Chardonnay varieties began around August 25, followed by Žilavka around September 5. After that, the red grape varieties, such as Merlot, which is a slightly later-ripening variety, were ready for harvesting and are now being picked. The harvest is gradually drawing to a close," Petijević noted.

Petijević said that the remaining harvest involves red grape varieties — Vranac, Merlot and Cabernet - which are grown in the Trebinje area and ripen somewhat later than the white varieties.