As a landlocked country in the Balkan Peninsula, North Macedonia is filled with lakes and rivers and a unique climate consisting of both Mediterranean and Continental influences that make it ideal for producing wine.

In the central part of the country, through the Vardar River Valley region, the roadsides almost overflow with dense vineyards and numerous wineries. These tell the many centuries-long story of wine, which is inextricably connected to these areas. Wine is embedded in the nation’s culture and folklore, and is mentioned in many folk songs, stories, legends and traditions. All the chroniclers of Macedonian folk tales from the 19th and early 20th centuries have recorded that wine was an indispensable part of customs and rituals.

• 99registered wineries in the country, and they produce altogether just over 100 million litres of wine annually.
• 28,213 hectares of vineyards managed by about 20,000 individual grape growers and few big grape and wine producing companies. Besides, the planted grape varieties, (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, Chardonnay and Rkaciteli for example) there is one that by far dominates the landscape.VRANEC is what most winemakers place at the forefront of their production.The name Vranec essentially means ‘black stallion’, signalling a wine with power, strength and spirit.