The Serbian Orthodox Monastery Tvrdoš in southeastern Herzegovina was built in the late 13th century above the right bank of the Trebisnica river on the foundations of a 4th century Roman church. An old epic folk poem mentions "its monastic cellars filled with wine", proof that the monastery was already well known for its winemaking in the Middle Ages. Winemaker Tihomir Kuduz took over in 2006 and remains committed to the historic varieties of the region, including the thick-skinned, richly colored Vranac. Aged for two years in ancient wood barrels, this is powerful with perfumed aromatics, crushed blackberry, cranberry, wet rose petals, dark chocolate, cedar, and exotic spices. “Živjeli!”