Originating from the slopes of Bakar Bay in the area between Bakar and Bakarac, at the beginning of the 19th century, according to the records, Bakarska vodica was produced. The people have preserved the oral tradition that during his reign from 1740-1780. Empress Maria Theresa allowed the inhabitants of the Bakar region to freely clear the land and turn it into vineyards, which would thus become their property. Although there are no reliable historical confirmations that would prove the accuracy of this tradition, the story says that this act created the Bakarski prezidi (Copper Terraces), today the trademark of this area.
The work was painstaking and due to the steep configuration of the terrain, it was carried out entirely by hand. The slopes of the Bay of Bakar were completely terraced with the construction of Bakarski prezida, where 45 ha of vineyards were spread, 40 wagons of grapes were harvested and 30 wagons of wine were made. In those ancient days, the production of Bakarska vodica started in Praputnjak.
According to the Wine Act of 1930, Bakarska vodica was considered a natural sparkling wine from the Croatian Littoral, which could be produced exclusively in the traditional way from grapes harvested from the Bakar terraces. The records state that the wine was produced from the clear must of the local white grape variety.
It is interesting that women played a significant role in maintaining the vineyards and making wine – since their husbands and fathers, who were sailors or carpenters, were often away from home. Upon returning to their homes, they would help by doing the most difficult tasks, such as building walls or digging hard ground.
Thus, a tradition was created whose undeniable value was passed down to future generations.
According to Boris Petković, Manager of the association PZ "Dolčina" Praputnjak, the Bakar wine-growing terraces, or Bakar presidi, are a cultural monument that has been recognized and protected by law since 1972, and this status of cultural property was confirmed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia in 2011.
Bakar presidi and Stara Bakarska vodica today represent an important segment of the cultural and historical heritage of the city of Bakar, i.e. Praputnjak, with strong touristic and educational potential. The copper presidios give a visual stamp to the entire bay and its slopes, and it is safe to say that it is a "graphic stone record in space".
