Nestled between Macedonia, Albania and Serbia, Kosovo is in one of the sunniest regions of the Balkans with some areas enjoying up to 270 days of sunshine each year. The country was already successful by the early nineties, with 9,000 hectares of vineyards exporting to surrounding countries as far as Germany.
Unfortunately, the well known war and collapse of former Yugoslavia that same decade caused much of this infrastructure to be destroyed, with production only beginning to recover after the millenium when any wineries were privatised and restarted production. Vineyards now cover over 3,000 hectares and accompanying trade and interntaional renown is increasing once more.
Bodrumi I Vjeter in Rahovec is a surviving winery that was established in 1953. Originally a state Co-operative, it was privatised in 2006 but still works closely with local small producers and farmers to yield grapes from its surrounding areas.
These traditional practices combine with new modern equipment and technology in the winery to create some of the very best wines from Kosovo.
Their Vranec (12% £13.70) uses the flagship grape of the Balkans, grown in selected sunny soils and hills to produce an outstanding full bodied varietal that remains in the top ten most popular Kosovo wines. Dense, luxurious and of distinguished flavour, showing ripe cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, chocolate and vanilla.
Their Old Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon & Vranec (13.5% £14.45) is a ruby red wine with a harmonious balance of dried plums and light oak, showing the best of both these vibrant grapes.