Dalia is a Serbian winery founded in 2021 by winemaker Kristina Lukić in the Negotin Valley of Eastern Serbia, near the borders of Bulgaria and Romania. What sets Dalia apart is Kristina's international training—she completed formal education in viticulture and oenology at the University of Udine, then refined her winemaking technique across Europe, Chile, California, and New Zealand before returning home to revive Serbia's ancient winemaking heritage. Her work represents a broader movement among Serbian female winemakers reclaiming the country's rich wine history, which extends back to the Neolithic period.

About Dalia

Kristina established Dalia as a collaboration with Vinarija Raj, an existing winery whose organically farmed nine-hectare vineyard now supplies most of her fruit. The vineyard sits at 150–200 metres elevation on clay and limestone soils in the Negotin Valley, a subregion of Timok. The location's character is shaped by two geographical features: the Danube River to the east and the Deli Jovan Mountain to the west moderate a continental climate marked by dryness and abundant sunshine—conditions that have earned the valley recognition as a 'treasure trove of modern Serbian wine' from wine expert Caroline Gilby MW.

The vineyard is planted with both international varieties—Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, Gamay, Merlot—and Serbian natives including Bagrina, Smederevka, Prokupac, Začinak, and Red Tamjanika. Dalia also leases additional Gamay vines and Gewürztraminer from the village of Smedovac, famous for its preserved 19th-century stone wine cellars. This historic village has been recognized by UNESCO as worthy of World Heritage status.

Kristina's winemaking approach in the cellar emphasizes minimal intervention, allowing the fruit and terroir to shine. She harnesses indigenous yeasts and spontaneous fermentation, applies natural tartaric stabilisation, and minimises sulphur use. This philosophy produces distinctive wines: the 'Trač' Gewürtztraminer undergoes 24 hours of skin maceration before fermentation and ages in stainless-steel tanks until spring, emerging fresh and vibrant with floral aromatics, candied stone fruit character, and lychee undertones. The 'Splet' blends Gamay with Vranac, a black-skinned Serbian variety, using 100% destemmed grapes, two weeks of pre-fermentation maceration, and 10 months' ageing. These techniques reveal her commitment to expressing vineyard character rather than winemaking technique.

Dalia Wines in Our Collection

Our range focuses on Dalia's red wines from the Timok region. The 2022 Kos Merlot earned 91 points from Jancis Robinson, a testament to the quality Kristina achieves with this international variety in Serbian terroir. The wine displays the bold, structured character you'd expect from Merlot grown in the Negotin Valley's warm, sunny conditions. We also stock the 2023 Kos Merlot (87 points), showing consistency across vintages. Both offer approachable drinking that rewards food pairing. If you're exploring Dalia's full range, ask about the 'Trač' Gewürtztraminer for a white alternative and 'Splet' for a native-variety experience. The Merlot works best for those seeking reliable, well-made reds with structure and depth from an emerging Serbian producer gaining recognition among serious wine merchants.

Food Pairing

The Kos Merlot's bold structure suits slow-cooked meats: beef stews, braised lamb shanks, and grilled sausages benefit from the wine's weight and tannins. It pairs equally well with game, duck, and richly sauced dishes. Harder cheeses—mature cheddar, Gruyère—complement the wine without overpowering it. Avoid delicate white fish; this is a wine for substantial plates. The organic, naturally stabilised approach means the wine won't mask rustic, flavourful cooking.

Who is Kristina Lukić and why should I trust her winemaking?

Kristina studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Udine and trained across Europe, Chile, California, and New Zealand before returning to Serbia. She was recommended to us by Etienne de Montille of Domaine de Montille, a respected figure in European wine.

What makes Dalia's winemaking approach different?

Kristina uses minimal intervention: indigenous yeasts, spontaneous fermentation, natural tartaric stabilisation, and limited sulphur. She sources organic fruit from her own vineyard and ages wines carefully to express terroir character.

Why should I buy Serbian wines from Dalia?

Dalia revives Serbia's ancient winemaking history with modern technique. The Negotin Valley's continental climate, clay-limestone soils, and both native and international varieties create distinctive, well-structured wines gaining international recognition.

Who makes Dalia wines?

Winemaker Kristina Lukić founded Dalia in 2021 in the Negotin Valley, Eastern Serbia. She trained in viticulture and oenology at the University of Udine, then worked across Europe, Chile, California, and New Zealand before returning to Serbia.

What style of wine does Dalia make?

Dalia makes both international and Serbian native varieties using minimal intervention. The Kos Merlot is bold and structured, earning 91 points from Jancis Robinson. Trač Gewürztraminer is fresh with floral aromatics; Splet blends Gamay with Serbian Vranac.