The Bermet Of “Aleks” Winery
Bermet is a special dessert wine only produced in Serbia. The history of the wine was for the first time written in Fruška Gora Mount in the 18th century. By applying a special procedure, the potion was being made from young wine mixed with aromatic plants from this mountain. Empress Maria Theresa, who ruled these regions in those days, liked the wine so much that she freed the inhabitants of these regions from serving in the army. In a very short time, bermet won glory at other European courts as well, and was also listed in the Titanic’s exclusive wine card.
“Had it not been for Empress Maria, this ‘Devine Wine’, as I call bermet, might not have been produced,” says Nenad Ratković, the producer of the “Aleks” bermet – the wine produced according to the old recipes obtained from Patriarch Rajačić’s family. “Today, bermet is still produced according to the strictly safeguarded recipes. It is served as an aperitif and also after a meal with vanilla-jam cookies (the so-called vanilice), walnut cookies, Gugelhupf etc. It is a wine of an extremely high quality, reminding of Italian vermouth; although it is ‘considered to be a ladies’ drink’, it is equally drunk by men, too.”
One is likely to see this likeable wine producer, always dressed in the Syrmian traditional costume, promoting bermet at many tourist events in the country. He has also presented the wine in China, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Canada etc. His winery has won an armful of gold medals, decorations and champion cups; it has also received The Tourism Flower Award and is at the same time the supplier of the Royal Court in Dedinje…
“For twenty years or so, I have been producing wines and brandies. I perseveringly present the drinks of this climate, particularly bermet, because it is unique in the world,” says Nenad Ratković – Aleks. He has been named a knight of wine by the European Order of the Wine Knights “Saint George”, established in the 13th century.
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