Celebrating the success of one of the most emergent Iter Vitis destinations
At the ceremony held on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in the European Parliament in Brussels, a city from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar, was awarded the title of “European City of Wine Dionisio” for 2024.
This title is awarded by the European Network of Wine Cities (RECEVIN) with the aim of promoting destinations that have united tourism and wine into a successful tourism product. During the award ceremony, the Herzegovina Wine Route (HWR) and especially its part related to the City of Mostar were presented by representatives of the USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Turizam) and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FTC BiH).
On this occasion, the advisor to the mayor of Mostar, Marin Čuljak, stated: “We are proud that Mostar has been declared the European City of Wine Dionisio for 2024! This prestigious award is a proof of our rich tourist offer, which, in combination with the production of wine, represents an excellent reason for the visit of gastro tourists from all over the world. We look forward to presenting the unique tourist offer that the City of Mostar has, but also the whole of Herzegovina, especially through the project
Herzegovina Wine Route. This title opens up new opportunities for the development of wine tourism and further promotion to leading European destinations because, with this award, we have stood side by side with cities from Spain, Italy, Portugal, and other tourist superpowers.”
The title of the European City of Dionysio in 2024 is the latest in a series of awards that Herzegovinian winemakers and Herzegovina as a wine-growing region have won, including the proclamation of the Herzegovina Wine Route as the Iter Vitis Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, the award “Best Iter Vitis Wine City” for the City of Mostar, “The Best Sustainable Destination for Wine Tourism” for the City
of Trebinje, “The Best Practice of Improving Cultural and Historical Heritage and Wine” for the Monastery Tvrdoš, and 39 medals for Herzegovinian wines at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2023, the world’s most prestigious wine competition.
These outstanding results are also encouraged by the numerous activities of the Herzegovina Wine Route, whose development is led by the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH in cooperation with six local communities and supported by the U.S. Government through USAID Turizam. HWR stretches across the Herzegovina region, including six towns with around 30 wineries, numerous tourism attractions, and over 100 local businesses offering accommodation, gastro experiences, adventure, and other tourism
services.
“We warmly congratulate Mostar on being proclaimed the European City of Wine Dionisio for 2024! This prestigious award further emphasizes the importance of Herzegovina in the world of wine tourism. The Herzegovina Wine Route offers a unique and rich experience for wine lovers, allowing them to enjoy the excellent tastes of our locally produced wines while exploring Herzegovina’s unique cultural heritage.
We are delighted with this recognition and are dedicated to cooperation with the City of Mostar and five
ther cities included in the development of this tourism product,” said Darko Pehar, Secretary of the Tourism and Hospitality Group at the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
From Ljubuški and Čitluk in western Herzegovina, through Mostar, Čapljina and Stolac in the central part, all the way to Trebinje in the southeast, wine producers have gained international recognition through the autochthonous wine varieties žilavka, blatina, vranac and trnjak. Wineries are only the most visible part of the Herzegovina Wine Route, which includes many natural attractions, a rich cultural heritage, a gastronomic offer, and a unique culture of hospitality. Find out more about the Herzegovina Wine Road by visiting www.hwr.ba.
