Albanian wine

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Albanian wine varieties in Albania

Albanian wine (Albanian: Vera Shqiptare) is produced in several regions throughout Albania within the Mediterranean Basin. The country has one of the oldest wine making traditions, dating back at least 3000 years ago to the Bronze Age Illyrians. It belongs chronologically to the old world of wine producing countries.[citation needed]

Albania is a mountainous

Mediterranean country with the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The country experiences a distinctly Mediterranean climate, which means that the winters are mild and summers usually hot and dry.[1] The favourable climate and fertile soil of the mountainous areas of the country are well suited to viticulture.[citation needed
]

Albania produced an estimated 17,500 tonnes of wine in 2009.[2]

History

See also: Old World wine and History of wine
A mosaic within the baptistery of Butrint from the 6th century.

The territory that is now Albania was one of few places where grapes were extant during the Ice Age. The oldest seeds discovered in the region are between 4,000 and 6,000 years old.[3]

Along with neighbouring

Balkan Peninsula.[7][8]

During the

Southeastern Europe. During that period the vineyards experienced a decline and were mostly found in Christian-majority regions.[citation needed
]

After the

Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Riesling.[citation needed
]

Vineyards and wine production has been steadily increasing in recent years following the institution of democracy and capitalism.[citation needed]

Production

Production figures
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2007 2009 2015
Vineyard area (ha) 2,430 8,545 11,020 16,719 17,621 9,103 9,806 10,178
Production (tonnes) 21,400 22,300 64,500 66,200 91,000 146,500[a] 162,800 204,000

Wine regions

Picking grapes in Berat

Albania can be separated into four wine regions, which are mainly defined by their altitude.

Pindus Mountains in the southeast.[citation needed
]

Indigenous grape varieties

Albanian Wine harvesting

The main indigenous grape varieties found in Albania are: Shesh (black and white), Kallmet, Vlosh, Serinë, Pulës, Cërujë, Mereshnik, Debin (black and white), Kryqës, Mjaltëz, Mavrud, Manakuq, Kotekë, Vranac, Stambolleshë, Babasan, Tajgë (red and white), etc.[citation needed]

Bottle of Shesh i Zi

List of Wineries

Wineries (kantina in Albanian) in Albania include: Medaur,[13] Kallmeti,[14] Rilindja, Skënderbeu, Çobo,[15] Luani,[16] Bardha, Arbëri, Sara, Alimani, Vintage, Constantino Spanchis, Kardinal, Zika, Belba, Nurellari, Balaj, Koto, Vila Duka, Vila Shehi, Vila Hadaj, Belba, Enol, Korca 2000, and Kokomani.[citation needed]

Preferences

According to Nasse and Zigori (1968) the best native Albanian wine varieties are Debinë (noir and blanc), Kallmet, Mereshnik, Mjaltëz, Serinë (rouge and blanc),

Tiranë, Durrës and the region between Lezhë and Shkodër.[18]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vineyards in Albania.

Notes

  1. ^ Other sources put the figure at 105,000 tonnes (FAO: Agribusiness Handbook Grapes, Wine)

References

  1. ^ Ministry of Environment of Albania. "Albania's Second National Communication to the Conference of Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" (PDF). unfccc.int. Tirana. p. 28.
  2. ^ "Wine production (tons)". Food and Agriculture Organization. p. 28. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  3. ISBN 978-1-4053-5979-5
    .
  4. ^ PATTI MORROW (5 January 2017). "Why Albania Is A Great Destination For Wine Drinkers". epicureandculture.com.
  5. ISBN 9780198705383
    .
  6. ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
    .
  7. ^ "Albania - The Ancient Illyrians". thoughtco.com.
  8. ^ "Hybrid Deities in South Dalmatia" (PDF). bollettinodiarcheologiaonline.beniculturali.it. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-28. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  9. ^ Oliver Gilkes and Valbona Hysa. "In the Shadow of Butrint" (PDF). penn.museum. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  10. ISBN 9780198705383
    .
  11. ^ Petraq Ilollari (Sotiri) (2010). Vitis Vinifera në vendin tonë/Vitis Vinifera in Our Country. pp. 8–13.
  12. ^ "STUDIM ZHVILLIMI RURAL NE RRETHIN E PUKES" (PDF). anttarc.org (in Albanian). p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  13. ^ Medaur
  14. ^ Kallmeti
  15. ^ Çobo
  16. ^ Luani
  17. ^ "The technology of wine making". Avi Pub. Co. p. 42. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  18. ISBN 9781841622460
    . Retrieved 2011-04-10.

Further reading
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