North Macedonia is one of the most long-established winegrowing countries in Europe; after all, the history of winegrowing can be traced back to 4,000 BC. When the country became independent in 1991, there was a dispute over the name of Macedonia on the Greek side for more than 25 years. However, a few years ago, an agreement was reached, and the country was finally given the name North Macedonia. Although the terroir is said to be outstandingly suitable for qualitative viticulture, mass wines are also produced here, which was especially the case during the time of the socialist government. These were destined for an existence as budget wines on the shelves of supermarkets. Since independence as a republic, there has been a turn towards quality wine growing, especially with the founding of private wineries and the accompanying investments in modern cellar technology. The vineyards of northern Macedonia, which cover approximately 28,000 hectares, are divided into three regions. More than 24,000 hectares are located in Povardarie in the valley of the Vardar River, in the heart of the country. The climate here is continental with Mediterranean influences; the summers are warm and almost tropical with cool nights.
On the other hand, it is generally so dry that rot and fungal diseases of grapes and vines are not a serious issue. The soils here consist of clay, sand, and limestone. The other two regions are called Pcynia-Osogovo and Pelaginiya-Polog. The autochthonous varieties Dimyat for white wine and Vranac for red wine are primarily cultivated. However, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also cultivated, as well as the Tribidrag variety, which has been identified as identical to Primitivo and Zinfandel. The future of viticulture in this country is undoubtedly bright.
