red grape · regional staple
Vranac
Crmnica region, Montenegro
Say it
vrah·nats
Final 'c' is always 'ts' as in 'cats'; Macedonian variant spelled Vranec is pronounced VRAH-nets
On the palate
blackberryblack cherryblack plumblueberryblack pepperdried herbs
How you spot it blind: Inky near-opaque color with fierce tannins and cutting acidity
The story
First written down · 15th century, Budva, Montenegro (Medieval Statute of Budva)
2020 genomic analysis confirmed Vranac as a natural cross of Duljenga and Kratošija (Tribidrag/Primitivo), making it a half-sibling of Zinfandel.
Family tree: Duljenga × Primitivo
Where it lives
Montenegro · North Macedonia · Bosnia-Herzegovina · Kosovo · Serbia
Shows up as
still redrosé