October 5th is Vranec World Day, a global party to one of Macedonia’s most famous grapes—Vranec. Bold, rich and deeply rooted in the Balkans Vranec has been at the core of Macedonian winemaking for centuries. This is a day to celebrate the wine that has made it to the world stage and to the people and skills that make it so unique.

What is Vranec?

Vranec (Vrah-nets) is an old grape variety from the Balkans, grown in North Macedonia and surrounding countries like Montenegro and Serbia. It’s a red grape that produces wines with deep colour, strong tannins and bold flavours. The name Vranec means “black stallion” in Macedonian, because of the wine’s dark, inky colour and powerful character. The grape makes full bodied wines with dark fruit flavours like blackberries, black cherries and plums, with spices, earthy notes and firm acidity.

Vranec has some similarities with other bold red wines like Syrah or Malbec but is unique because of its regional identity and old heritage.

The History of Vranec: A Grape with Deep Roots

Vranec has a long history that goes back centuries, to the ancient viticulture of the Balkans. Wine production in the region dates back 4,000 years, with wine vessels found in archaeological sites. Vranec as a native grape has been part of that ancient winemaking tradition.

The grape’s history is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Macedonia and other Balkan countries. For generations Vranec was grown by small scale farmers in family owned vineyards where the traditional methods were passed down through the years. The unique climate of the Vardar River Valley with hot summers and cool nights was perfect for this grape and the result was a wine that was full bodied, bold and age worthy.

Under Ottoman rule winemaking in the Balkans was heavily restricted and many vineyards were either destroyed or repurposed for other crops. Despite that Vranec survived, kept alive by the families that preserved the grape’s legacy. By mid 20th century Vranec was back as one of Macedonia’s flagship grape varieties and as the country’s wine industry grew Vranec became a national pride.

Today Vranec is part of Macedonia’s winemaking identity, a revival of traditional winemaking with modern innovation. The wine is produced on small and commercial scale, with wineries using modern technology to bring out the best of the grape while respecting its heritage.

The rise of Vranec: From local treasure to global stage

Although Vranec was a favourite in the Balkans for ages, it wasn’t until the last few decades that it started to get international recognition. With the collapse of Yugoslavia and the liberalization of trade in the 90’s Macedonia’s wine industry started to boom and Vranec found new markets outside the region. Macedonian winemakers started to export Vranec to countries around the world and introduce wine lovers to this bold and dynamic red.

In recent years Vranec has been praised by wine critics and connoisseurs for its versatility and aging potential. Younger Vranec wines have fruity forward notes, while older bottles have complex flavours of tobacco, leather and earthy spices. Its growing popularity has put Macedonian wine on the map and made the country a serious player in the global wine scene.

Vranec World Day was created to promote and celebrate this important grape, to give wine lovers around the world the opportunity to discover the rich history and complex flavours that Vranec has to offer. The day is also a platform to raise awareness about Macedonia’s rich winemaking tradition and to preserve and promote indigenous grape varieties like Vranec.

A taste of Vranec

Vranec wines are known for their deep purple colour and robust body. When you taste Vranec you will notice flavours of blackberries, dark cherries and plums, with subtle hints of black pepper and licorice. The tannins are strong, giving the wine a firm, velvety texture that balances well with its acidity. As the wine ages it develops more complex flavours of tobacco, leather and earthy notes.

Vranec is a bold wine and can be aged. Well made Vranec wines can age for several years, with the tannins softening and the fruit flavours becoming more refined over time.

The future of Vranec

As Macedonian wine is becoming more and more recognized globally, Vranec will be the ambassador of the country’s winemaking industry. Its uniqueness, aging potential and rich history make it a wine that stands out in a crowded world.

Vranec World Day brings attention to this bold and unique grape and encourages wine lovers to try Macedonian wines and discover the rich cultural heritage around Vranec. Whether you are a Vranec fan or just starting to get to know it, Vranec World Day is a celebration of a grape as bold as its history.

So on October 5th, pour a glass of Vranec and cheers to centuries of winemaking tradition – and to the future of this amazing wine!