The Third international wine, food, and tourism fair, “Wine Vision of the Open Balkan,” officially opened on November 22nd, 2024 at the Belgrade Fair, in the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and regional officials.
More than 650 exhibitors from numerous wineries, distilleries, and gastronomy companies from 38 countries participated in the fair.
President Vučić stated during the opening that this event has become the third most significant wine fair in Europe, emphasizing it as a great collective achievement.
He recalled that the idea for this fair was conceived as a joint conclusion between Belgrade, Skopje, and Tirana and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia for attending the opening. “I regret that Edi Rama is not here tonight. I hope he will join us next year,” he said, adding that winemakers have been preparing for this fair for over six or seven months.
“In my opinion, this is no longer the fourth but the third most significant wine fair in all of Europe. Ahead of us are only Vinitaly and Düsseldorf, with Düsseldorf declining. So, in two or three years, we might even compete for second place — by quality, number of exhibitors, and visitors, by all parameters,” Vučić emphasized.
While touring the exhibition stands, President Vučić remarked that Serbia’s wines cannot yet compete with Italy, which, alongside France, leads globally, but they are among the best in the region.
North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the event is a testament to the collaboration, vision, and commitment of the Open Balkan countries to strengthening economic ties, cultural exchange, and tourism promotion.
“This regional initiative creates opportunities that connect our region with the world, and this platform is a prime example of how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand,” he noted.
He highlighted that wine is part of the cultural heritage of this part of Europe.
“Wine is much more than a product; it symbolizes our history, our nations, and serves as a bridge between people, fostering understanding and friendship,” Mickoski said.
He also mentioned that North Macedonia has over 28,000 hectares of vineyards and produces approximately 100 million liters of wine annually, with nearly 70% exported.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message, described Wine Vision as an opportunity for regional countries to showcase their achievements in wine production, learn from each other, and build bridges of cooperation.
Rama called the fair a “beautiful present” created by the Open Balkan Initiative.
Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, expressed regret that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the Open Balkan but appreciated the sense of solidarity within the initiative.
Stevan Rajta, President of the Serbian Winemakers and Vinegrowers Association, stated at the opening that this fair has grown into an event of global significance, where tradition and innovation intertwine, opening Serbia and the region to new markets.
Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković praised the presence of 650 exhibitors, calling it the largest fair of its kind in this part of Europe.
He congratulated Belgrade and thanked President Vučić for the invitation, adding that this reflects the friendship between Belgrade and Ljubljana, which are sister cities.
The opening was attended by members of the Serbian government, including Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević.
More than 650 exhibitors from numerous wineries, distilleries, and gastronomy companies from 38 countries participated in the fair.
The three-day event featured exhibitors from the United States, France, Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa, Lebanon, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
During this third edition, 25 renowned wine judges, led by the esteemed Caroline Gilby MW, evaluated over 900 wines from Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania, with the best being awarded trophies and medals.
Local and international wine experts delivered a series of engaging lectures, workshops, and guided tastings, including sessions dedicated to wines made from indigenous grape varieties.
Simultaneously, at the accompanying “Food Vision of the Open Balkan” event, leaders from the food industry and culinary arts gathered, including some of the most prominent names in the culinary world.
Visitors also enjoyed competitions among young chefs and culinary teams, as well as various workshops and lectures.
Additionally, in the “Gastro Theater,” the best restaurants and hotels from Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania presented their offerings.
A dedicated digital platform has been created for scheduling B2B meetings, with distributors and professional buyers from over 48 countries confirmed, highlighting the fair’s strong international character and Serbia’s export potential.
The central space in Hall 3 of the Belgrade Fair was reserved for the joint stand of the three national tourism organizations of the Open Balkan countries, showcasing their tourism offerings and cultural heritage together.
This year’s focus was on sustainability, heritage, and modern flavors, aligning with Serbia’s dynamic culinary scene and the fair’s vision of cooperation and exchange.