Stobi Wines Featured in Harpers Article on Wines from Macedonia
Posted on Mon 21st Apr 2014 at 13:50
Darrel Josephs explores up and coming wines from Macedonia in his article in Harpers this month.Just back from his trip to Macedonia, in the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean, Darrel summarises his six day trip to the Balkans to taste the best the country has to offer.
He comments “Over the course of those six days, my impressions were more vivid and my conclusions more solid than those I had made during any of my previous visits to the country. To sum it up, Macedonia’s quality wines not only have gotten, but are getting better and better. The consistency, the expression of aromas and flavours, the freshness, the balance and harmony, the use of wood, the aging potential – in other words, the absolute quality – are seriously there and keep notching upwards.” Read Darrel’s full article here and you’ll find out more about the countries fascinating grape growing history and ancient ruins, many of which inspire the Story of Stobi. He also highlights how Macedonia is continuing the move away from bulk wine production to concentrate on real quality which takes advantage of its naturally excellent wine making continental and Mediterranean climate. Darrel gives an excellent summary of the distinctive wine varieties that define Macedonia, notably the Vranec with its “prominent acidity, masculine tannins and thick red and dark fruit flavours.” Although there is some concern over the already high annual summer temperatures, Darrel notes comments from Stobi’s winemaker “Dane Jovanov who is considering the possibility of planting more vineyards higher up the hillsides so that grapes will be better exposed to the winds and cool night time temperatures.” Darrel identified a selection of Macedonia wines that impressed his palate; including these tasting notes from Stobi: Zilavka 2013 From the ‘classic’ series, a refreshing wine with aromas of citrus, lemon blossom and hints of sage and thyme. Juicy, light palate with citrus and mineral flavours. Refreshing acidity. Available in the UK (Signature Wines) Darrel summarises by saying “Quite simply, the nature here is incomparable. The vineyards play host to an array of plants, flowers, birds and other forms of wildlife, during my visit, I was captivated by the stunning beauty and distinctive call of the bright, multi-coloured bee eater birds swooping through the areas abundant with loess hillsides, in which they live.”