Source: https://www.dnevnik.ba/vijesti/koja-je- ... Msh2m1ibtA

Translation courtesy of Google...

What is the secret of Citluk?

One of the smallest municipalities in the Federation, but the most economically developed is Citluk. Along with Medjugorje, as the most visited pilgrimage and tourist destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Čitluk boasts the largest vineyards in the country and a large number of world-renowned and successful athletes. The municipality of Čitluk was visited by the Mostar team of BHRT.


Just over 18,000 people live in one of the smallest municipalities in the Federation. It is a municipality whose economy is extremely developed, as well as the tourism sector. With more than 800 hectares of vineyards, which is about half of the country's wine plantations, Brotnjo has celebrated Herzegovina all over the world with its autochthonous varieties - žilavka and blatina. And the greatest ambassadors of that area are certainly athletes.

"When we talk about club results, in the '90s, Citluk was one of the centers for the development of sports in this area. The basketball players were the first to play in Europe, and in ’99. achieved historic success by placing in the eighth finals of the Radivoje Korac Cup. After them, the footballers became the first champions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The municipality of Čitluk has hundreds of national champions in all sports, dozens of European and world champions and recently the much desired and expected historical medal from the Olympic Games won by Ivan Dodig and Marin Čilić, says Tanja Vučić, author of the book Identity and Image of Brotnja.

Thanks to Medjugorje, the largest pilgrimage and tourist destination, the municipality of Brotnjo has developed economically and touristically. The private sector makes up 90 percent of the economy.

"We employ up to six and a half thousand people. We have a kindergarten which is really a beautiful facility. At the last session of the Council, we made a decision on the establishment of the Educational and Rehabilitation Center of St. Josip Radnik for people with disabilities. We are investing a lot in educational institutions, we have renovated all schools in Brotnje ", says the mayor Marin Radišić.

Winemakers and winegrowers are not thinking about leaving. It is a centuries-old tradition of the Broč region, where almost every family has its own vineyard. Larger winegrowers cooperate with smaller ones and buy grapes from them. They say that it is this connection and good cooperation that is the secret of great success.
"It's no secret, when they tell us - 'How are you from the winery competitors?'. We are all one, actually. We are fighting to make it better for all of us in our country. We try to create a trend for everyone, to support each other, so that we go to all fairs, from Dusseldorf to China, together. When we come to some cities where these wineries can literally eat us up in terms of their production and capacity, we somehow manage again ... and the quality. People recognize quality, love and tradition ", said Katarina Ćorića from the company Podrumi Andrija.

With over 800 hectares of vineyards, which is about half of the country's wine plantations, Brotnjo has celebrated Herzegovina around the world with its indigenous varieties of žilavka and blatina. How successful Herzegovinian winemakers are is confirmed by the fact that they return from all fairs with awards and medals. Annually, Andrija Cellars produce about 700 thousand liters of wine, of which 25 percent is exported. Along with athletes, Brocan wine, which is drunk in Europe, America and China, is one of the brightest ambassadors of the country.