🍇 Prokupac

Prokupac is a red wine grape from Serbia. The VIVC catalogue lists it as Serbian and marks it as a wine grape only. Researchers from Čačak and Belgrade, in a 2024 paper, call Prokupac the most important native variety in the country.

The variety is old and has many local names: VIVC counts 47 synonyms, among them Kameničarka, Crnka, Rskavac, Niševka and Skopsko crno. It is also grown in North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Prokupac once mattered more than it does today, but in recent years it has again taken up notable areas in Serbia.

It is a late variety. In a trial in Niš in 2011–2013, buds opened on 12–17 April and flowering began around 1 June. Full ripeness came around 3 October, and on average 172 days passed from budburst to the first harvest. The juice had 21.58 % sugar and 7.61 g/L of acids, and the yield was high and stable.

The study was carried out in the Niš wine region, in a collection vineyard at 210 m. The authors note that similar ripening dates have been described for the Toplica region, so the grape behaves alike in different parts of southern Serbia.

Why it matters to you. Prokupac on a label signals a Serbian red wine from a local grape rather than an international one. Synonyms such as "Skopsko crno" or "Crnka" may hide the same grape. Red wines are served at 15–18 °C.