Estate

III

Distillery and orchards

Our estate runs to about 50 hectares in the village of Zabrdica near Valjevo. Within a single complex, between orchards and woods, stand the distillery, the cellar, the fermentation house, a meat-drying room and the family home.

Zabrdica near Valjevo — fifty hectares of orchards, distillery and quiet.

Orchards

We grow our own plums, sour cherries, quinces and pears, because we know the best rakija asks for fruit picked at the peak of its natural sweetness. For them we watch the sky and fear the frosts — but every effort finds its meaning when the orchards stand under snow in winter, blossom in spring, and in late summer the whole estate smells of ripe quince and plum.

Fermentation house

It began as an old village house we restored for the needs of the estate. In time it outgrew its first purpose, so today, alongside part of the process, it hosts presentations, lunches and gatherings for up to 100 people. Its name — „vrionica“ — comes from the fermentation that happens here before distillation: in stainless-steel fermenters, under controlled anaerobic conditions, the foundations of each rakija's aroma are laid.

Distillery

Built from 2010 so the whole process — from the first drops out of the still to the sealed, labelled bottle — happens within our distillery, under our watch. We distil the traditional way, twice, in hand-made copper pot stills, keeping only the „heart“ of the distillate and carefully discarding everything unwanted, so the rakija stays harmonious and true.

Cellar

After distillation the rakija goes to the cellar. White rakijas keep the freshness of the fruit; the amber ones rest in oak casks, slowly gaining their colour and complexity. Our rakijas rest seven years on average. We even plant our own oaks — likely our most long-term investment.

Architectural render — the building is in its final stage.

Tasting hall

The newest and longest-built structure on the estate, designed to welcome around 200 guests and adapt to smaller and larger groups. Overlooking Zabrdica and the Valjevo hills, it is meant for tastings, gatherings and conversation. If all goes to plan, it will welcome its first visitors in the coming months.