North Macedonia produceswine on some 22,400 hectares (55,000 acres) of vineyards,[1] and the production was 108,100 tonnes in 2008.[2] There are also some additional 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of vineyards dedicated totable grapes. Red wine dominates the Macedonian wine production, with around 80 per cent.[citation needed]
In contrast, within theEuropean Union, "Macedonia" is aprotected geographical indication (PGI) for wines produced in theGreek viticulture region ofMacedonia.[3]
While part ofYugoslavia,Macedonia was a producer of wine andmastika. In the 1980s, it accounted for around two-thirds of the Yugoslav wine production. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, the wine production of the new country decreased dramatically, from 1.8 millionhectoliters in the mid-1990s to 447,000 hl in 2002.[1]
North Macedonia has three wine-growing regions:[1]
The grape varieties common in cultivation includes a large proportion of indigenous varieties and varieties common to Central Europe and the Balkans, as well as someinternational varieties. Red varieties includeVranec (the most common variety of North Macedonia),Kratosija,Cabernet Sauvignon andMerlot.Stanušina Crna is a unique variety of grape of local origin from North Macedonia, capable of producing very high quality wines, very popular on domestic market, little known outside its native country. White varieties includeSmederevka,Welschriesling (usually referred to as Laški Rizling),Chardonnay,Sauvignon blanc andŽilavka.[1]
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