The company “13. Jul – Plantaže” has responded to the article titled “How is the European Union the country of origin of ‘Podgorica white’ wine?” published by Radio Free Europe (RSE) and reported by the Vijesti portal.

We are sharing the full response from “13. Jul – Plantaže”:

“In light of the text published on the Radio Free Europe portal that discusses the operations of our company ’13. Jul – Plantaže,’ we feel compelled to address the inaccurate and unverified information presented, ensuring the public is accurately and objectively informed.

A journalist from Radio Free Europe posed questions to us that were exclusively related to the white wine segment of our liter wine program, which we answered accurately and within the stipulated timeframe. However, the published article delved into various other topics and made allegations we had no opportunity to respond to, as the questions did not cover those issues. Therefore, to uphold the truth and the reputation of our company, we emphasize the following:

1. Misstatement Regarding Grapes for Top-Quality Wines

The assertion by the Radio Free Europe interlocutor that ‘the company lacks grapes to produce top-quality wines’ is completely false and unfounded. This is an attempt to undermine Plantaže’s reputation as a producer of premium wines, which we counter with concrete facts.

Plantaža wines have garnered the highest honors at the world’s leading wine competitions, reaffirming our consistent quality and prominent position in the region’s wine industry. As of 2025, Plantaža wines have received 28 medals across competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, Mundus Vini, Balkans International Wine Competition, and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, including 2 grand gold medals, 12 gold medals, and the title of the best wine of the Balkans.

Notably, among our various red wine labels, the white wine Nota from the 2024 vintage won a gold medal at this year’s Mundus Vini evaluation in Germany – a clear testament to the quality of our raw materials and finished product.

2. Origin of Grapes – Ćemovsko Polje

All Plantaža labels from our premium wine line (available in 0.75 l and 0.187 l packages), as well as all red wines, are exclusively produced from grapes harvested in the Ćemovsko polje. These vineyards are cultivated with exceptional care, expertise, and responsibility. Despite facing challenges from climate change and historical plantation issues, they continue to yield high-quality grapes.

3. Inaccurate Statement on Government Assistance

The article claims that the Government of Montenegro intervened in 2020 with 5 million euros in aid to Plantaže, which is untrue. In 2022, the Government allocated 1.5 million euros for damage repair caused by natural disasters/hail based on an estimated total damage of 8.5 million euros. These funds represent the only state support provided to the company, which was then the largest agricultural producer in the nation.

4. Financial Stability and Investment Facts

Assertions that Plantaže is ‘in decline’ are inaccurate and can be easily refuted by objective data:

• In 2024, we achieved the highest revenue level in the last decade, marking the end of a stagnation phase.
• From 2021 to 2024, over 7 million euros were invested, with 3 million euros funded in 2024 alone.
• The total debt to commercial banks in 2022 stood at 23.4 million euros, which has significantly decreased to 14.5 million euros today, thereby improving our financial stability.
• Total liabilities of the company as of December 31, 2024, are 31.12 million euros less than those as of December 31, 2023.

These results reflect responsible management and consolidation efforts.

Conclusion

We urge Radio Free Europe to publish this complete rebuttal in adherence to the standards of professional journalism and the principles of objective public information, allowing readers to access accurate and comprehensive information.

“The company ’13. Jul – Plantaže,’ the most valuable Montenegrin brand, remains open to all forms of transparent and professional communication, firmly committed to quality preservation, responsible business practices, and enhancing its leadership role in the Montenegrin and regional wine industry,” concludes the response.

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