The Republic of NorthMacedonia">Macedonia is a country located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. It is quite distinct from modern Greek Macedonia, with which it shares a border of over 160 kilometres (100 miles).
The wine industry is dominated by red wines. Production is centered on two indigenous Grape varieties (Vranac and Kratosija), as well as a few international varieties such as the ubiquitous Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The main wine-producing regions are Pcinja-Osogovo in the north, Pelagonija-Polog in the south and Povardarie. The republic as a whole has a stable area of 23,000 hectares (56,850 acres) of vineyards and a slightly larger coverage of vines harvested for table grapes.
Although it is a landlocked country (it is separated from the Adriatic Sea by Albania and from the Aegean Sea by Greece), the republic experiences continental and Mediterranean influences on its Climate. Its northeastern corner is separated from the nearest coast by 200 km (125 miles), while Lake Doiran, at its southeastern end, is only 55 km (35 miles) from the Greek coastal city of Thessaloniki, on the Gulf of Thessaloniki.
Along the Albanian border, in the southwest corner of the republic, several large lakes temper the climate. The shelter provided by the local topography combines with other geological factors to create particularly productive agricultural land, especially around the lake towns of Struga and Resen. Grapes play an important role in the local economy and agriculture.
Lake Prespa, which Northern Macedonia shares with Greece and Albania, is the highest tectonic lake in Europe.
When I have some time to myself in the southern Rhône, my favourite place to relax is the peaceful village of Gigondas. I had even more reason to visit this June, as the growers’ syndicate was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the appellation. Over a meal at Domaine du Clos des Tourelles, we had the opportunity to taste wines spanning five decades, including a remarkable 1971 that was still very much alive and kicking. Gigondas has long been recognised as an exceptional site for winemaking, bu ...
The week-long trip into one of France’s most exciting appellations with closed-door access to some of the most revered vineyards and their cellars will be going ahead this June. Walls has curated a trip to highlight the very best the Rhône has to offer – a 360 trip that encompasses great food, delicious wine, sightseeing and downtime – where he’ll be imparting his expert knowledge of the region, honed over the years. Download trip brochure Trip Highlights Include: Meeting some of the greatest ...
By 1965, the vineyards of Condrieu had largely been abandoned – phylloxera and two world wars had decimated the place and its people. There were just 8ha of vines remaining on these granite slopes. If it weren’t for the hard work of a few steadfast vignerons, the appellation might have disappeared entirely, reclaimed by the forest. Thankfully, Condrieu survived and has since flourished – but great appellations have been lost before. We know this because some have recently been rediscovered. In f ...