Grapevine

In the sunny Tikveš valley ripens vranec – a dark grape regarded as the calling card of Macedonian wine.

A climber that clings to supports with its tendrils, with lobed leaves and small, fragrant flowers borne in panicles. The fruits are juicy berries gathered in bunches, rich in sugars and acids. The vine needs plenty of sun and a warm autumn, and the hot summers of the Vardar valley favour varieties that make dark, strong wines. Alongside international varieties, local ones are grown here – red vranec and kratošija and white smederevka. The grapes are also made into grape rakija, popular throughout the country.

Significance in the country

Winemaking is one of the most important branches of Macedonian agriculture, and the Tikveš region, with Kavadarci and Negotino, is one of the oldest wine regions in the Balkans. Vranec is regarded as the symbol of Macedonian wine, and a grape harvest festival is held in Kavadarci every September.

Where it grows

Mainly in the Vardar valley: in the Tikveš region (Kavadarci, Negotino, Rosoman, Demir Kapija), around Gevgelija and Valandovo in the south, and in the areas around Skopje, Štip and Strumica.

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