Our Vineyards
Great wine is made in the Vineyard.
With over 850 ha of vineyards, we are considered one of the Balkan’s largest grape-growing companies. We own an extensive portfolio of vineyards in a diverse range of sub-regions across the iconic Tikveš Region, ranging from dry grown cool climate to inland irrigated.
Our Estate
Today, our family of vines is encompassed by four owned vineyard sites across the Tikves Region of North Macedonia. This includes Suva Gora, Raec, Shamaci and Trstenik.
Each vineyard has subtle changes in soil, aspect, elevation and therefore produces distinctly different grape characteristics from vines aged from less than 5 to 150 years old which enable us to make the most of each vintage’s climatic differences.
Our family of vines are carefully managed by precision viticulture technology along with many patient hands to ensure the highest quality fruit arrives at the winery and ultimately in the bottle.
350 meters above the sea level, our Suva Gora plantations are wrapped by the surrounding mountains. The soils here are old and Vertisol. The vineyards are dropping from the top of the valley down to the waters of the famous Tikveš Lake. 85 ha of vines are dry farmed, helping to ensure low yields and maximum fruit quality. The vines here are both pruned and harvested by hand. Low yields enable the flavours of the grapes to develop fully.
Wine Grapes planted here: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Temjanika, Riesling, Smederevka, Pinot Noir and Vranec.
Suva Gora
Raec
With Terra Rosa soil, elevated on 450 meters above the sea level, our Raec plantations enjoy a proper continental climate greatly influenced by the surrounding mountains and the massive plato on which the vineyards are growing old. 195 ha of vines are soaking up the sun through the day and resting under the cool starry sky at night. The balance in temperature and control irrigation makes it an ideal play ground for some of the most delicate grape varieties such as our Pinot Noir.
Other wine grape varieties planted here: Chardonnay, Muscat Hamburg, Temjanika, Riesling, Zilavka, Belan, Smederevka, Zilavka, Temjanika, Shiraz, Vranec and Kadarka.
Table Grapes: Muscat Italia, Michel Palieri, Ribier and Afus Ali.
Shamaci
Looking from far the vineyards at Shamaci look like a calm green ocean tamed by the skilfull hands of the people that work there. Elevated 300 meters above the sea level, the vines here enjoy ideal viticultural conditions backed up by modern viticultural practices. Shamaci plantations boast both Vertisol and Sandy soils.
192 ha of table and vine grapes are cultivated here from which:
Wine Grapes planted here: Chardonnay, Temjanika, Riesling, Muscat Hamburg, Muscat Ottonel, Uni Blanc, Belan, Smederevka, Zilavka, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kadarka, and Vranec.
Table Grapes planted here: Cardinal, Afus Ali, Ribier, Muscat Italia, Moldavia, Victoria and Michel Palieri.
Settled along the'Black River' on 250 meters altitude the vineyards here are stretched on a relatively flat and sandy soil. Perfect playground for implementing high end viticultural practices and at the same time constant challenge to adjust to the moody climate brought by the river year in and year out.
194 ha of vineyards in total from which:
Wine Grapes planted here: Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat Hamburg, Muscat Ottonel, Temjanika, Smederevka, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Vranec.
Table Grapes planted here: Cardinal, Afus Ali, Ribier, Muscat Italia, Black Magic, Victoria and Michel Palieri.
Trstenik
Settled along the'Black River' on 250 meters altitude the vineyards here are stretched on a relatively flat and sandy soil. Perfect playground for implementing high end viticultural practices and at the same time constant challenge to adjust to the moody climate brought by the river year in and year out.
194 ha of vineyards in total from which:
Wine Grapes planted here: Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat Hamburg, Muscat Ottonel, Temjanika, Smederevka, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Vranec.
Table Grapes planted here: Cardinal, Afus Ali, Ribier, Muscat Italia, Black Magic, Victoria and Michel Palieri.
Suva Gora Grape Harvest, 2020
More About
The Tikveš Region
A history of vine-growing and wine making since the 4th Century BC.
Tikves is the most well-known wine region in Macedonia. It is located in the very heart of the country and stretches along similar latitudes as the Bordeaux region in France, Tuscany region in Italy and the Napa Valley region in California.
The wine district is situated on around 2,000 sqm of fertile land, surrounded by mountains on three sides. This district embraces the flat and undulating hills that stretch to the Veles canyon on the north, Demir Kapija canyon on the south, Drenovo and Mariovo Mountains on the southeast and Plaush and Konce mountains on the northeast.
The specific part comes from the length where the rivers Vardar, Crna, Raec and Bregalnica pass in the lower flow. All these rivers and mountains have a special influence on district’s agro ecological, relief and pedologic characteristics.
The Tikves wine region represents a place where the southern Mediterranean climate, full of long and warm summers and the northern continental climate, with mild and rainy winters, combine. The average air temperatures per year are 13.3°c and the vegetation temperatures are 18°c. The summers are long and hot with temperatures that go even beyond 43°c and the winters mild and rainy with an average annual rainfall insufficient and unevenly distributed of 293 mm during the vegetation period. The vineyards are located at an average of 300 metres above sea level, protected by mountains and highlands on three sides, channelling the gentle north winds and Mediterranean climates, creating ideal grape growing conditions.
