Kosovo may have a bitter conflict ridden past, but only a year after gaining independence, the state is flourishing as they embark on a new era of wine producing, with their first export to the UK.
Kosovo adds to a long line of previously small and unknown countries that are enjoying success with UK sales. Last month a report revealed the UK is in fact the most valuable wine market across the globe, worth an estimated £3.3bn in 2008. Unsurprisingly wine makers the world over are keen to get a piece of that big wine loving pie.
Stonecastle Vranac Premium 2007 is the name of the Kosovan wine, and it hails from the Rahoveci Valley, in the south-east of the country. The wine is unique in that it is produced using one of the oldest grape varieties known to man, vranac, which can only be found in the Balkan region. Although the region in Rahoveci can still boast rolling hills and lucious vines like some of the best wine producing regions across the world, it is widely unknown as a top wine producer. However, predictions indicate sales over in the UK will quickly rise.
We can expect to see the bottles on our shelves in early March after the makers have seen roaring success across the rest of Europe. To begin with it will be available in supermarkets for around £7.99 a bottle.
Guy Woodward, editor of Decanter wine magazine said, “The UK doesn’t have a history of wine-making, and we are pretty liberal about where our wine comes from,”
“It is much easier these days for countries to break through. However, there are so many wines around now that it’s difficult to get new wines space on the shelf. I am not vouching for the quality of them, but there are more and more countries producing wine. Brazil and Uruguay have several big producers, and there are also more wines coming out of Eastern Europe, from places such as Croatia and Georgia”, he added.
Kosovo is certainly no stranger to making wine, having been in the business of it for more than 2,000 years with its perfect weather/climate conditions. However, it is only now that it has taken steps to reach the global market. When Kosovo was under the rule of former Yugoslavia, wines were sent to Belgrade.
Ken Mackay, a wine buyer for Waitrose, which will be selling Stonecastle Vranac said, “It is a full-bodied red which is soft in texture, similar to a Rhone valley red,”
“It is not cheap cheap, but it is really good value. To make wine of this quality costs more, because there are low yields, but a greater concentration of flavour.”
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Kosovo may have a bitter conflict ridden past, but only a year after gaining independence, the state is flourishing as they embark on a new era of wine producing, with their first export to the UK.
Kosovo adds to a long line of previously small and unknown countries that are enjoying success with UK sales. Last month a report revealed the UK is in fact the most valuable wine market across the globe, worth an estimated £3.3bn in 2008. Unsurprisingly wine makers the world over are keen to get a piece of that big wine loving pie.
Stonecastle Vranac Premium 2007 is the name of the Kosovan wine, and it hails from the Rahoveci Valley, in the south-east of the country. The wine is unique in that it is produced using one of the oldest grape varieties known to man, vranac, which can only be found in the Balkan region. Although the region in Rahoveci can still boast rolling hills and lucious vines like some of the best wine producing regions across the world, it is widely unknown as a top wine producer. However, predictions indicate sales over in the UK will quickly rise.
We can expect to see the bottles on our shelves in early March after the makers have seen roaring success across the rest of Europe. To begin with it will be available in supermarkets for around £7.99 a bottle.
Guy Woodward, editor of Decanter wine magazine said, “The UK doesn’t have a history of wine-making, and we are pretty liberal about where our wine comes from,”
“It is much easier these days for countries to break through. However, there are so many wines around now that it’s difficult to get new wines space on the shelf. I am not vouching for the quality of them, but there are more and more countries producing wine. Brazil and Uruguay have several big producers, and there are also more wines coming out of Eastern Europe, from places such as Croatia and Georgia”, he added.
Kosovo is certainly no stranger to making wine, having been in the business of it for more than 2,000 years with its perfect weather/climate conditions. However, it is only now that it has taken steps to reach the global market. When Kosovo was under the rule of former Yugoslavia, wines were sent to Belgrade.
Ken Mackay, a wine buyer for Waitrose, which will be selling Stonecastle Vranac said, “It is a full-bodied red which is soft in texture, similar to a Rhone valley red,”
“It is not cheap cheap, but it is really good value. To make wine of this quality costs more, because there are low yields, but a greater concentration of flavour.”
Share and Enjoy: