The wine industry in Montenegro is distinguished for its exceptional production of intense, deeply colored red wine, primarily crafted from the Vranac grape variety. Renowned for its rich character, well-made Vranac reaches its pinnacle after spending several years in the bottle. Montenegrin Vranac, when skillfully aged with the judicious use of oak, can stand shoulder to shoulder with the robust wines of southern France. Notably, it boasts a fresh acid balance, a distinctive trait attributed to the cooler altitudes at which the vines thrive in Montenegro, a quality rarely found across the Adriatic in Puglia.

In addition to Vranac, the region cultivates various other red grape varieties, including the renowned Bordeaux grapes, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Kratosija. The latter, synonymous with Tribidrag, is connected to well-known clonal variants such as Crljenak Kasteljanski, Primitivo, and Zinfandel, albeit playing a minor role in the region's contemporary viticulture.

Montenegro embraces international white grape varieties, with Chardonnay sometimes locally referred to as Sardone. The Balkan specialty, Smederevka, further adds to the diverse tapestry of grape cultivation in the region.

The Montenegrin landscape, typical of southern European countries, is characterized by a dry, mountainous terrain with a definitively Mediterranean climate. This geographical setting has fostered a long-standing culture of viticulture and winemaking, a tradition deeply rooted in the Greco-Roman heritage of the region.

While Montenegro may not boast a wine culture as developed as its neighboring Croatia, historical evidence strongly suggests that the region, aptly named 'black mountain' or Montenegro, has a rich winemaking history that predates even the renowned wine regions of France and Italy. The Greco-Roman influence is palpable, showcasing the enduring legacy of viticulture in this ancient land.

Interestingly, Montenegro played a pivotal role in the migration pattern of grape varieties that eventually became synonymous with Italy. Several grapes, now integral to Italian winemaking, are believed to have originated in this region, making their journey either by sea or along the Adriatic coastline to Venice, passing through modern-day Croatia and Slovenia. Notably, the robust red Tribidrag/Primitivo is a testament to this historical grape migration, with its Italian landfall speculated to be around Bari, Puglia, directly across the Adriatic from the Montenegrin city of Bar. The journey between these two similarly named ports stands as one of the primary crossing points in the rich tapestry of viticultural history connecting Montenegro to the broader winemaking world.