An Evening at the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia

Last week we attended an event through Embassy Experiences held at the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia.  We were drawn to the event specifically to try the Macedonia wines and food that were provided.  The Republic of North Macedonia is  located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe.  It is situated in the northern part of the larger geographical region traditionally known as Macedonia, which is shared with Greece and Bulgaria. The country is bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. 

Although a landlocked country (it is separated from the Adriatic Sea by Albania and the Aegean Sea by Greece), the republic has both continental and Mediterranean influences on its climate. Its northeastern corner is separated from the nearest coastline by 200km (125 miles), while Lake Doiran at its southeastern edge lies just 55km (35 miles) from the coastal Greek town of Thessalonika on the Thessalonian Gulf.  The main wine-growing regions here are Pcinja-Osogovo in the north, Pelagonija-Polog in the south and Povardarie (the central Vardar River valley). The republic as a whole has 23,000 hectares (56,850 acres) of wine vineyards and a slightly larger coverage of vines harvested for table grapes.

Courtesy of Tikveš Winery

Tikveš is a prominent winegrowing subregion within the Povardarie, or Vardar river valley. Tikveš the region is also readily confused with the country's largest wine producer of the same name (Tikveš winery), based in the town of Kavadartsi where the majority of vineyards in Tikveš lie. Founded in 1885 in a region with centuries-old winemaking tradition, Tikveš Winery is now celebrating 140 years of wine production. 

Courtesy of Tikveš Winery

At the embassy event, we were able to sample several wines from Tikveš Winery as well as a grape Rakija. The buffet consisted of an assortment of delicious Balkan cuisine featuring Tavče gravče, a hearty baked bean stew traditionally cooked in clay pots and seasoned with paprika, mint, and other spices. There was also Burek, grape leaves, plenty of rice and chicken, and pastries and other desserts. As for the wine, they poured a dry Cabernet Sauvignon and off-dry Vranec (Vranac) as well as a delicious dry Žilavka and off-dry Alexandria (Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay, Smederevka, Sauvignon Blanc).  Here are the winery's description of the two flagship wines. 

Tikveš Vranec
The name “Vranec” translates to “black stallion”, which reflects the grape’s dark color and powerful character with complex aromas. The wild nature of Vranec is tamed in this wine, characterized by a rich ruby color, a sweetish taste, full body, and a long finish. It features a myriad of aromas of ripe forest fruits, prunes, and spices

Tikveš Žilavka 
Žilavka is a dry white wine with a gentle and discreet scent of flowers and fresh and fruity taste. It is made from the indigenous grape variety of the same name, derived from ‘žilav,’ meaning ‘tough’ or ‘resilient’. This reflects the grape’s ability to withstand the hot climate, drought, and poor soils. Overall, Žilavka offers a delightful combination of vivid freshness, fruitiness, and minerality, making it a great choice for those seeking a unique and enjoyable experience.

Grape Spotlight: Montenegro & Herzegovina Vranac

Last October, the Embassy of Montenegro poured an excellent Plantaze Vranac ProCorde Special Reserve Dry Red Wine wine during an International Club of DC dinner. For many of us, it was the first time sampling this ancient grape that is indigenous to this relatively dry, mountainous, and Mediterranean climate. Specifically, the grapes for this wine were grown in the Podgorica subregion, Montenegrin basin of Lake Skadar - the largest lake in Southern Europe and shared with Albania. This Vranac was a dense wine with dark fruit, firm tannins, earthiness, and abundant acidity - the latter being retained by the cooler climate.  DNA  evidence also suggests that Vranac is related to Kratosija - the local synonym for Tribidrag-Crljenak Kastelanski, Primitivo and Zinfandel.

From Montenegro, Vranac spread to southward into the Macedonian Republic which has the largest plantings of this blacked skinned grape and northward into Bosnia-Herzegovina which has the third-largest planting.  In Herzegovina, plantings are clustered around Mostar which is a much hotter Mediterranean climate than Montenegro - yet Vranac is still able to retain its acidity even in warm climates. This was evident by the 2012 Wines of Illyria Vranac ($17) which resembles Italian Primitivo rather than American Zinfandel as this Black Stallion has disciplined juicy dark red fruit and layers of acidity. It finishes with a hint of bitterness and saline.  This and other Illyria wines are available on the East Coast and hopefully soon in the DC area through Siema Wines.