The renowned Michelin star, representing a global hallmark of gastronomic excellence and hospitality, shone brightly at Šapat Wine Atelier on 17th December, when its Fleur de Sel restaurant was awarded this prestigious accolade; an honour that crowns a year of recognition for this acclaimed restaurant
Šapat also unveiled a new line of red wines at the recent fair Wine Vision by Open Balkan, thus completing its wine portfolio. Šapat Wine Atelier Director Mladen Ćirić notes that 2024 was an exceptionally successful year for the winery, marked by the dedicated work of the entire team, with the Michelin star being the pinnacle of 2024 for a winery that’s brimming with ambitions and plans for the future.
The holiday season is a time of reflection and planning. How do you view the achievements of 2024 and what’s your outlook for the future?
— We’re bidding farewell to a year that was filled with challenges, but also tremendous successes. A great deal was accomplished in 2024 by the team at Šapat Wine Atelier, which is united by a clear vision that has guided us since the beginning.
Apart from completing several infrastructure projects in and around the winery, we devoted significant attention to our wine cellar and technology. Our Šapat restaurant, an exclusive premium casual dining venue, and our fine dining gem that is Fleur de Sel, both established themselves as unique gastronomic destinations – not only in Serbia, but across this part of the world.
Fleur de Sel was recognised by esteemed French gastronomic guide Gault & Millau as the best restaurant in Serbia, while American magazine Wine Spectator awarded its wine list the Best of Award of Excellence. These accolades underscore the excellent positioning of Šapat even in an international context.
Your winery made a significant impression at the recent Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair. What did you showcase at this event?
— I’m truly proud of our new line of red wines, which has completed our wine portfolio. These wines are the result of the dedicated efforts of our team of oenologists, technologists and vintners, led by Mladen Dragojlović and Vladimir Hadžić, who managed to capture the essence of the Slankamen terroir and transform it into exceptional wines.
Our premium Atila line has been enriched with the addition of Atila Cabernet, while we introduced a true exclusive for Serbia and this part of Europe with Terol, a wine produced from the rare Teroldego grape variety that’s traditionally grown in northern Italy. This wine, with its unique and intriguing aromatic profile, is produced in limited batches and will be offered as a true rarity and wine adventure. Among the novelties are Šapat Cuvee and Nera, both of which are exceptionally high-quality yet accessible wines.
What business achievement makes you particularly proud?
— Undoubtedly the Michelin star, which means a great deal – not only for us, but for Serbia as a whole. I’m delighted that the effort, dedication and passion invested in developing and positioning Šapat Wine Atelier on Europe’s wine map have been recognised beyond our borders.
We’ve entered six foreign markets in just one year. Our wines are selling well, but – more importantly – we’re receiving excellent feedback and comments. Beyond neighbouring countries like Montenegro, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, our premium wines are now available in Switzerland, the UK and China.
What is the concept behind Šapat Wine Atelier and what does this winery offer its guests and business partners?
— Šapat Wine Atelier was conceived as a premium winery and strives to achieve the highest standards and quality in every aspect of its operations – something our guests are well aware of. This vision has been fully realised at our restaurants, thanks in large part to our manager, hospitality expert and sommelier Dušan Vranić.
Šapat is a premium winery, intentionally small and exclusive, producing around 50,000 litres of topquality wines exclusively from its own vineyards. Once our new vineyard reaches its full yield, we will produce a total of no more than 100,000 bottles annually
The same principle applies to our wine production. Our wines are not mass-produced, nor are they sold in large retail chains. Šapat is a premium winery, intentionally small and exclusive, producing around 50,000 litres of top-quality wines exclusively from its own vineyards. Once our new vineyard reaches its full yield, we will produce a total of no more than 100,000 bottles annually.
Our wines are available in select restaurants and wine shops, and that is more than sufficient.
Which label from your wine portfolio stands out, and what makes it unique?
— The chardonnay from our premium Atila line was awarded a gold medal by London’s renowned Decanter Magazine, receiving an impressive score of 95 points. This comes as no surprise, given that the unique terroir of our vineyards and the specific soil conditions provide an excellent foundation for producing robust, full-bodied and complex wines.
The Atila line is the crown jewel of our portfolio. Atila Sauvignon was awarded 92 points by James Suckling, the world’s most influential wine critic, while our Muscat Bianca received the Best of Show 2023 award at the Mundus Vini competition held in Germany in early 2024. Additionally, our Atila Cabernet has successfully debunked the misconception that the Fruška Gora region cannot produce high-quality wines of this variety. Quite the contrary!
What’s on the agenda for Šapat in 2025, and which plans do you see as strategic?
— We anticipate a challenging but exciting year ahead. We will launch a new line of wines and present our entire portfolio on a broader front. Moreover, exciting wines are now maturing in the cellars and amphorae of our winery, patiently awaiting their time to debut in grand style.
Despite an unusual harvest and severe drought, grape quality is excellent and all indications suggest the wines will be extraordinary. We have significant work ahead in the vineyards—nurturing the vines, monitoring the aging process of the wines and continuing to advance production.
Our goal is to enrich our offer by introducing a unique spa centre with a pool and accommodation facilities that provide breathtaking views of the Danube. This will undoubtedly become a true haven for hedonism and relaxation, perfectly complementing the exceptional offer of Šapat Wine Atelier.