King’s Winery
About the King’s Winery in Topola
The King’s Winery is located in Topola, at the foot of Oplenac, in a region where the tradition of viticulture dates back centuries. The earliest written records of winegrowing in this area date back to the 15th century, while Karađorđe and his descendants also cultivated vineyards on the slopes of Oplenac. A significant boost to the development of viticulture came with the establishment of the Venčac Winegrowers’ Cooperative in 1903, which brought together winegrowers from Topola and the surrounding villages and helped make this area one of Serbia’s most important winegrowing regions.
At the beginning of the 20th century, King Peter I Karađorđević continued the family’s winemaking tradition. During the construction of the Church of St. George at Oplenac, he built a small wine cellar behind the church, where grapes were processed until the outbreak of the First World War. A large wooden barrel with a capacity of nearly 4,000 litres has been preserved from this period. It was presented to King Peter I in 1909 by Petar Joksić, the grandson of one of Karađorđe’s military commanders.
King Alexander I Karađorđević continued his father’s viticultural endeavour. Around 150,000 vines were planted across more than 50 hectares, including Traminer, Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot Noir varieties imported from France, as well as local varieties used for wine production and various blends. Over time, the royal vineyards also became a nursery for high-quality grape varieties, while wines from Oplenac were served during official visits by European monarchs and found their way to royal courts abroad.
In 1931, King Alexander I built the King’s Winery, which at the time was one of the most modern wineries in the Balkans. The new cellar made it possible to combine grape production from the royal vineyards with modern methods of wine processing and storage, establishing Oplenac as one of the important centres for the development of modern Serbian viticulture and winemaking.
One of the King’s Winery’s greatest treasures lies underground. At a depth of approximately 12 metres, a unique collection of old wines dating from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia has been preserved. The wine archive contains around 280 bottles from the period when the Karađorđević family produced wine at Oplenac, including bottles that are almost a century old. Today, this historic wine collection provides valuable testimony to the development of wine culture in Serbia.
After the Second World War, the continuity of royal wine production was interrupted, and the vineyards and winery became state property. Production at the King’s Winery was revived in 2007, when wine production using grapes from its own vineyards resumed. Today, the winery also houses a museum exhibition and the historic wine collection, preserving the story of viticulture at Oplenac and the Karađorđević family’s connection with the region.
Restoration Project
A new chapter in the history of the King’s Winery began with its restoration. The first phase of reconstruction was completed in 2024 with the support of the European Union through the “EU for Cultural Heritage and Tourism” programme. The works included the adaptation, rehabilitation and revitalisation of the building, including roof restoration, architectural and construction works, and upgrades to building systems and installations.
The restoration continued through the EU PRO Plus programme, implemented by the European Union in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration and carried out by UNOPS. The second phase included the completion of the remaining works on the main building, including finishing, stonework, carpentry and installation works, as well as the procurement of furniture and new lighting and the refurbishment of the interior. The project also included improvements to the forecourt in front of the winery and the restoration of the original gates dating from the period when the winery was built.
A total of EUR 439,613 was invested in the restoration of the King’s Winery in Topola, of which the European Union provided EUR 338,502, while local co-financing amounted to EUR 101,111. The restoration was carried out as part of the integrated CREST project – Cultural Revival for Enriched Sustainable Tourism in Šumadija – which aims to preserve and enhance cultural heritage through the development of a sustainable tourism offer in the region.
Following the completion of the works, the King’s Winery regained its full functionality as a venue for showcasing the winemaking tradition of Oplenac and Šumadija, bringing together local winemakers, and hosting cultural and tourism activities. The restoration has helped preserve the authenticity of the complex while integrating it more effectively into the contemporary tourism offer of Topola and central Serbia.