PASSPORT PROGRAMME
WINE ROUTE LEADING FROM NEW JERSEY TO SERBIA
The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) has declared Serbia as a partner for 2021/22, and Air Serbia as the official airline that will be – as it has been to date – a precious bridge between the two continents
YOU ARE CERTAINLY AWARE THAT NEW Yorkers often tell jokes at the ex- pense of New Jersey and that this sta- te is home to the entertaining Atlan- tic City. You probably know that the series The Sopranos was filmed the- re and that it is the birthplace of Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise. Perhaps you also know that New Jer- sey is often dubbed the “Diner Capi- tal of the world” and that it is home to the world’s longest boardwalk. But did you know that New Jersey’s vineyards compete with the best French wines, and even those that come from Cali- fornia’s Napa Valley? New Jersey is actually one of America’s leading wine producing states. And what makes its wine indu- stry so noteworthy is the wide variety of grapes grown there - it is not reco- gnised for a single variety, but rather as a territory that produces award- winning wines that suit every palate. This state boasts 51 wineries that serve top quality wines, offers ex- cellent food to accompany those wi- nes, but also music that ensures the whole experience is special. And yet, it was necessary for the state’s wine lo- vers and owners to join forces to en- sure the wines of New Jersey receive the status they deserve. The Gar- den State Wine Growers Associati- on (GSWGA) has designed a passport programme that motivates people to visit these wineries, by using their wi- ne passports to collect stamps and receive rewards at the end of the year in the form of a trip to one of the wine destinations in Europe or America. Although this programme has been in existence for around ten ye- ars already, Goran Mandić – as the creator and coordinator of the new concept – has expanded the choice
of destinations for American wine lo- vers, who will next year be able to dis- cover and explore a land of natural beauty, good fun and, of course, gre- at wines. Yes, we mean Serbia! “I’ve been collaborating wi- th the GSWGA for two and a half ye- ars on multiple projects that relate to the creation of new wine placement channels, the promoting of the State of New Jersey and wineries overseas. The Passport programme has led wine enthusiasts to verified regions of Italy and France, but my wish is to present all the beauty of my country of origin. A country that Americans are not suf- ficiently acquainted with, and which lies at the heart of Europe, has a long history, ancient monasteries and the temple of Saint Sava. The GSWGA wi- ll collaborate with the Tourist Organi- sation of Serbia to ensure much more dynamic cooperation between Ser- bia and the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. All wineries wi- ll use their social media accounts, whi- ch are followed by more than a million people, to promote Serbia, while one of the goals is to each month secure a significant group of tourists, wine lo- vers, who will embark on a journey to our country,” explains Mandić. Air Serbia will also play a major role in this programme, as the exclu- sive partner and official airline of the Passport programme, but also as a company that has represented a di- rect link between Belgrade and New York for years. “It is very important for all pas- sengers to have a direct flight and not have to take a connecting flight. That offers comfort, but also testifies to Serbia being an important desti- nation, as it has a direct flight to New York, which isn’t something that every country has,” concludes Mandić.
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