Wine from Kosovo, optimism in the Rahovec Valley

Kosovo is located in the Western Balkans, wedged between Macedonia, Serbia, Albania and Montenegro. In this country, which was once part of the former Yugoslavia, winemaking is not a novelty. Wine was produced here as early as the 3rd century. Once the emphasis was on local grape varieties, now international grapes are also receiving ample attention from wine producers.

The centuries-old wine tradition was interrupted by the Cold War, the division of the former Yugoslavia, the war with neighbouring Serbia, trade embargoes and political instability. Now that peace has returned to the region, winegrowers and winemakers are full of optimism to put wines from Kosovo on the map.

Kosovo, with the Rahovec Valley as its most important wine region, has excellent cards for wine growing in principle. Provided the right vine is planted in the most suitable place. With over 270 sunny days per year, differences in altitude and a soil that is quite poor, apart from a little bauxite and limestone, the vines do very well.

Grape varieties in Kosovo

The more than 5,000 hectares of vineyard are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Gamay. Chardonnay and Riesling are also present. Varieties such as Vranec, Prokupec, Smederevka and Zilavka give a local touch to the range of Kosovar wines.

Bulk wines are still over-represented. But the market - once Germany was a major buyer - for these wines is getting smaller and smaller. The surplus of these lower quality grapes has led to the re-grafting of vines. The less profitable vines are grafted with table grape vines such as Thompson Seedless. With the help of knowledge and money from both European countries and the United States, the focus is now on quality vineyards.

The winemakers mainly look to Bordeaux, Burgundy and California for inspiration for the style of their wines. With ambition and hard work, the better quality Kosovar wines are getting an increasingly bigger stage. An interesting wine country to keep an eye on in the coming years.