The Center for Viticulture and Oenology was founded in 1953 as the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology “Mediana” with its headquarters in Niš by the decision of the Executive Council of the People’s Republic of Serbia no. 145. This is a professional and research institution in Serbia that deals exclusively with activities in the viticulture and wine sector. After several transformations, since 2006, the Center for Viticulture and Oenology has been functioning as a national innovation center with research and professional activities in the viticulture and wine sector.
ABOUT THE CENTER

ESTABLISHMENT AND ACTIVITY
The founder of the Center for Viticulture and Oenology LLC Niš (hereinafter: the Center for Viticulture and Oenology) is the Republic of Serbia, and the rights and socialities related to this state institution are carried out by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development. The Center for Viticulture and Oenology carries out certain professional tasks in the viticulture and wine sector and for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
The activities of the Center for Viticulture and Oenology are based on professional, research and innovation activities in the viticulture and wine sector, of which the following activities are the most important and which will be especially developed in the following period:
- Providing expertise and information related to viticulture and oenology;
- Performing professional activities in order to meet the conditions and standards of the European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Vine and Wine (OIV);
- Examination and analysis of orographic and other ecological conditions of the smallest wine-growing units (vineyards), as well as basic parameters of grape quality in vineyards;
- Planting the vineyards and examination the ecological conditions favorable for cultivating vines and producing high quality grapes, wine and alcoholic and non-alcoholic products originating from grapes;
- Research of terroir factors in wine-growing areas;
- Production of grapes and wines, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic products originating from grapes;
- Examination of quality parameters of grapes, wine / products originating from grapes, as well as certain quality parameters for fruit, vegetables and fruit and vegetable products and non-alcoholic beverages;
- Research on the value for cultivation of varieties, clones and rootstocks of vine;
- Preserving the genetic resources of the vine;
- Valorization of autochthonous, local / regional, domestic-created varieties and other varieties of grapevine including clonal selection and certification of planting material of the grapevine;
- Examinations and activities related to the protection of vines from diseases and pests;
- Implementation of various domestic and international projects and activities in the viticulture and wine sector;
- Other activities in the viticulture and wine sector.
The Center for Viticulture and Oenology is currently implementing professional tasks related to the Vineyard Register for the needs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, as one of the biggest challenges of harmonization with the requirements of the European Union in the viticulture and wine sector.
HISTORY
The idea of creating a national center to deal with viticulture and wine production dates back to the end of the 19th century. Namely, with the emergence of phylloxera in Serbia, there is a crisis in domestic viticulture, and in 1889 in Niš, the first winemakers' assembly of the Kingdom of Serbia was held. Then two days were discussed about all important issues in Serbian viticulture and wine production, and was attended by the King, members of the Government and about a thousand grape and wine producers from all over the kingdom at that time. At this expert gathering, it was decided to establish viticulture and wine-growing schools, nurseries in order to solve the problem of phylloxera and oenological station, that is, laboratories for testing parameters of quality of must and wine. Based on the conclusions from this important gathering for Serbian wine history, in 1899 a fruits and vine plant nursery was established in Niš, which was at the same time a Center for the education of producers on the production of planting material of the vine, as well as grape and wine production. The work of this institution played an important role in the recovery of viticulture and wine production after the destruction of vineyards from phylloxera, the introduction of new varieties for the production of high-quality grapes and wines, and the introduction of new technologies in domestic viticulture and wine production.
After the Second World War and the intensive development of viticulture and wine production, as a need for the introduction of modern technologies on large surfaces, there was also a need for the establishment of an institution that would intensively address the challenges in the viticulture and wine sector. The Center for Viticulture and Oenology in Niš was founded in 1953 as the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology “Mediana” by the decision of the Executive Council of the People’s Republic of Serbia no. 145 as the first professional and scientific institution in Serbia which exclusively engaged in activities in the viticulture and wine sector.
Although the main activities of the Center for Viticulture and Oenology through activities in viticulture, wine production and production of other non-alcoholic and alcoholic products originating from grapes were always similar, in the course of its many years of operation this state institution changed its name several times, and in 1954 it became an institute with independent financing. By establishing the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology in Sremski Karlovci in 1959, the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology in Niš is becoming an experimental research station within that institute. As a research station, it functioned until 1961 when, by the regulation of the Executive Council of the People's Republic of Serbia, this expert-scientific institution was transformed into the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology where various professional and scientific researches were carried out, as well as the breeding of grapevine varieties. Since 1974, the Institute under the same name has been part of the national institute Center for Agricultural Research. Since 1977, this institution functions as the RO Institute for Viticulture and Oenology "Mediana" within the SOUR for research and development of agriculture "Serbia", and after that the institute is joined by the Institute for fruit and wine growing in Čačak as its Institute for Viticulture and Oenology. Since 1994, this institution has been engaged in professional and scientific work as a Center for Viticulture and Oenology, based in Niš, within the Institute for Agricultural Research "Serbia", where it further develops a rich collection of biotypes of grapevine, performs expert and scientific research, examines new varieties and grapevine clones, selection of varieties, examinations of quality parameters of grapes, musts, wines and other products originating from grapes and other professional activities.
Since the transformation of the Institute for Agricultural Research "Serbia" was carried out in 2006, the Ministry of Science and Technological Development transforms the Institute for Viticulture and Oenology into the institution for research and development in biotechnical sciences: Center for Viticulture and Oenology. The Center for Viticulture and Oenology Ltd. based in Niš, which continues its previous professional and scientific work in the viticulture and wine sector, as well as the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic products originating from grapes.
By the decision of the Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection no. 110-00-134 / 2006-01 of 29.11.2006. the Center for Viticulture and Oenology was registered in the Register of Innovation Organizations as Development and Production Center.
The Center for Viticulture and Oenology has had in the past, and also today has a significant influence on the development of viticulture and wine growing of Serbia, and through research on the experimental field trials, in the collection of grapevine varieties, as well as through the breeding of new varieties, it has also contributed greatly in professional and scientific examinations of vine, wine and other products originating from grapes.


PROJECTS
Some of the more important projects in which the Center for Viticulture and Oenology and / or the expert team / employees of the Center participated and had professional activities:
- EU project "Support to the Development of a Geographical Indications System in Ukraine", Technical assistance EuropeAid/138706/DH/SER/UA (2018-2021)
- EU project "Technical support to renewal of viticulture zoning of Montenegro", Europe Aid / 136071/DH/SER/ME (2015-2017)
- EU project "Capacity Building and Technical Support for the renewal of Viticulture Zoning and for the System of Designation for Wine with Geographical Indications in Serbia", Twining project SR2008/IB/AG/02 (2011-2013)
- EU project "Capacity Building for the Regulation of the Serbian Wine Sector", Twining project 05SER01/06/005 (2006 - 2009)
- EU project "Improvement, sanitation and production of local vines and wines" (VARIPROVIT) Interreg IIIA Trans-border Adriatic project (2005-2007)
- Vineyard register – authorised by the MAFWE RS from 2012
- Project "Improvement of technological procedure for production of wines of autochthonous variety Prokupac and possibilities of obtaining organic wine" (2010-2011)
- Project "Atlas of grapevine varieties" (2009)
- Project "Subsidizing the Analysis of Wine and Spirt Drinks from Fruit and Grapes" (2008-2009)
- Project "Creation of a trial wine cellar and conditions for wine tasting" (2008-2009)
- The project "Development of winemaking in the territory of the city of Niš by establishing a demonstration wine cellar" (2007)
- Project "Creating conditions for sensory evaluation of wine and training of assessors" (2007)
- Project "Preservation of autochthonous grapevine varieties of the Sićevo wine-growing subregion" (2006-2007)
- Project "Importance of respecting the technological procedure for the production of wine and spirit drinks from grapes, waste and spoilage of wine and spirits, causes of emergence and how to remove them" (2006-2007)
-Project "Establishment of a database of autochthonous grapevine varieties in Sićevo wine-growing subregion" (2005-2007)
- Project "Education of producers on the importance of production of wine with geographical indications"
- The project "Curbing the phytoplasma vector and grubbing-up infected vineyards" (2006)
- Project "Equipping the oenological laboratory for analysis according to EU standards" (2006)
- Project "Advantages and disadvantages of cultivating the autochthonous grapevine varieties" (2006)
- Project "Establishment of a laboratory for determination phytoplasm Flavescence dorée using the PCR method" (2006)
- Project "Eradication of vineyards in the territory of the city of Niš" (2006-2006)
- Project " Grape Productswith Geographical Indications" (2004-2006)
- Project "Fruit and grape study and processing program, top-quality white and red wine with geographical indications, muscat grape spirit and harvest selection of table grapes"
- Project "PIS - Forecast and Reporting Service of the City of Niš"
- Project "Conservation, research and extension of the collection of grapevine varieties - preservation of the genetic resources of the Republic of Serbia"
- Project "Center for examination of varieties / clones / rootstocks of fruits and vines in the field trial"