Red wine at the remains of thermal baths – Winery ''Acumincum'' in Stari Slankamen built on the basis of the medieval temple

Numerous armies - from Roman Legions to Othmans - which passed over Fruska Gora's vineyard field used to drink home-made shiraz and other sorts of red wine. One of those high-quality wines you can taste in ''Acumincum'' winery, in the oldest spa on the banks of the river Danube, Stari Slankamen. Owner of the winery Milan Spasic, refurbished a town's villa and basement which belonged to Mrksic family for more than 150 years.

Spirit of tradition with a tasteful drop

Spasic says for eKapija that they have accidentally found this charming corner of Vojvodina with magnificent view on the Danube, Banat and Srem, and making wine was just a hobby at the beginning.

- A man invests a lot of love in every hobby and, of course, enjoys the results. The first vintages were just gatherings of numerous friends having fun and picking the grapes. That moment was combined in a way with the red wine (shiraz) which attracted people with its special taste, and thus amateurishly made, it started getting high awards at first wine festivals, for example, in Temerin 2010. It led us to make a small business out of a hobby – says Spasic and adds that it was the moment when they decided to register winery ''Acumincum'', named after Roman thermal baths which existeed at the place.

(Project)

Winery includes parish home built in 1760, while the remains of Turkish bath (hamam) from 1566 can be seen in the basement. There are just two of those in Vojvodina.
A team of architects, from ''proAspect'' studio, headed by Dr.Vladimir Lojanica worked on the reconstruction project of this house in Stari Slankamen, protected by the Sector for the Preservation of Cultural Monuments.

- The whole project of creating own vineyards, purchasing 250-year-old house, its reconstruction and winery construction, as well as hamam conservation and its adaptation for visitors, is a significant investing venture which passed through different stages, but, unfortunately, without any help from aside – says Spasic.

''Acumincum'' opened for visiotors

Construction and reconstruction works are still not finished. Spasic says that some final works are missing, but ''Acumincum'' is functional and opened for the visitors who can meet rich history of the region here.

- Visit includes winery tour, with clearly explained technology process and wine tasting in the hall made for 25 people, and it is also possible to have a visiting trip to the nearest vineyards, just 5 km away.

Except enjoying the good taste, it is completely unusual for the visitors to see the remains of hamam in ''Acumincum''.

All of them are astonished to be in a 450-year-old building. They are also impressed with the way of protecting and conserving the rooms – says the interlocutor for eKapija and claims that shiraz wine is not only the most attractive to visitors, but a wine by which ''Acumincum'' is recognized in the market.

It is hard to be original in the variety of competitive wineries, says Spasic. However, ''Acumincum'' has ''something'' that distinguishes it out of other wineries.

- A mixture of an unusual tourist point, former parish home and turkish bath, location on the banks of the Danube and specific offer of red wine, which charms with its pecial taste, those are distinctive features of ''Acumincum'' winery. Our wines are strictly made out of grapes from our own vineyards - specifies Spasic. A lot of knowledge, efforts, learning and consultations with different experts is behind each glass of wine.

The winery has capacity of maximum 20,000 litars, which classifies it as a small one, and our interlocutor does not have an intention to expand it.

- Our plans are only related to increasing a level of quality which the winery offers. Considering the fact that ''Acumincum'' will not enlarge its capacities, we are focused on reaching high goals in terms of wine quality – concludes Milan Spasic.

Online sales soon

Currently you can find ''Acumincum'' wine in ''boutique'' sale during the winery visiting tour. Shiraz wine from Stari Slankamen will be distributed in a few carefully chosen wine shops and restaurants, and as the owner says, Internet sale is planned as well.

I.M.
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