Winemaking in Albania

Duka Winery and Vineyards

High in the mountains of northern Albania, warmer temperatures and extreme weather have ravaged the unique local grapes that make the region’s popular wine. 

Rising temperatures, hail, and disease have taken their toll on the Shesh, Kallmet, Vlosh and Puls grapes that make the region's delicate red and white wines and floral rakis which are traditionally distilled by women rather than men. Most of the damage has been caused by mildew fueled by a hot and stormy spring followed by excessively high temperatures and drought, killing off most of his grapes.

Albania has some 11,000 hectares of vineyards, producing 190,000 to 195,000 metric tons of wine a year, according to official figures. Most of the vintners are opposed to planting genetically modified grape varieties designed to weather adverse growing conditions. 

Winemakers around the world are grappling with whether to replant their vineyards with different varieties or move their vineyards to more temperate regions. Even France with its appellation controller will have to adapt or fail.