BALKANS.WINE

Indigenous Wine Varietals of the Balkans

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Red / White
Melnik
Ancient, unique to SW Bulgaria; full-bodied, dark fruit, spice, firm tannins.
Mavrud
Powerful, high-tannin, dark berry and spice; good for aging.
Rubin
Crossing of Nebbiolo and Syrah; rich color, black fruit, spice.
Pamid
Traditional light red; soft, fresh, simple everyday wine.
Melnik 55
Unique to Struma Valley; rich, fruity, berry and spice; good acidity and structure.
Dimyat
Traditional Bulgarian white; light, fresh, citrus and floral; often used for easy-drinking wines.
Misket
Aromatic, floral, often off-dry; notes of rose, citrus, and spice.
Tamianka
Aromatic (Muscat-type); intense floral notes, grapes and citrus, often semi-dry.
Riesling (local)
Crisp, high acidity; green apple and mineral notes in cooler sites.

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

Red / White
Vranec
Flagship NMK red; deep color, high tannin, dark fruit and spice.
Kratosija
Ancient Balkan variety; medium body, red fruit and spice; sometimes linked to Zinfandel lineage.
Smederevka
Most widely planted; crisp, light, fresh with citrus and floral notes.
Temjanika
Aromatic Muscat-type; floral and spicy with lychee, citrus, and grapes.
Rkatsiteli
Crisp, tangy, green apple and mineral; also widely grown in the region.
Vranec (white)
Rare white variant; dry, fresh, fruit and subtle floral character.

🇬🇷 Greece

Red / White
Xinomavro
High-acid, high-tannin, red fruit and tomato leaf; great aging, often compared to Nebbiolo.
Agiorgitiko
Softer, plush red; plum and spice; versatile styles from rosé to age-worthy reds.
Mavrotragano
Santorini-origin red; dark fruit, spice, structure, often oak-aged.
Assyrtiko
High-acid, mineral, saline; signature Santorini white, excellent aging.
Moschofilero
Aromatic, floral (rose, citrus blossom), light and refreshing.
Roditis
Versatile, medium-bodied; citrus and stone fruit; widely planted.
Malagousia
Aromatic, peach, apricot, citrus and herbal notes; often fuller bodied.
Vidiano
Cretan white; stone fruit, herbs, good structure and body.

🇽🇰 Kosovo

Red / White
Vranac
Dominant Balkan red; deep, powerful, dark fruit and spice.
Prokupac
Traditional Serbian/Kosovar red; medium body, red fruit and spice, often fresh style.
Smederevka
Most widely planted indigenous white in Kosovo; crisp, fresh, good acidity.
Welschriesling
Known locally as Italian Riesling; light, fresh, floral with apple and pear.
Chardonnay
Widely planted international; from fresh and fruity to oaked styles.
Riesling
Aromatic, high acidity, citrus and green apple; less common but notable.
Solaris
Early-ripening hybrid; high sugar, good acidity; tropical and citrus notes.
Cëruja
Historic local variety; rare; fresh, complex, often with herbal and stone-fruit notes.

🇷🇸 Serbia

Red / White
Prokupac
Signature Serbian red; cherry, plum, spice; can be fresh or structured.
Grašac (red)
Regional variant; used in blends for color and structure.
Smederevka
Traditional Serbian white; light, crisp, citrus and green apple.
Tamjanika
Local Muscat-type; very aromatic, floral, spicy; often semi-dry.
Bagrina
Rare, old Balkan variety; fresh, light, good acidity.

🇦🇱 Albania

Red / White
Shesh i Zi
Indigenous Albanian red; medium-bodied, red fruit, herbal and earthy notes.
Kallmet
Northern Albanian grape; dark fruit, spice, medium to full body; good aging potential.
Shesh i Bardhë
Traditional Albanian white; crisp, medium-bodied, stone fruit and floral notes.
Cëruja
Historic grape; high acidity, mineral and citrus profile.
Pulës
Local white; lighter style, fresh and easy-drinking.
Debina
High-acid, versatile; citrus and green fruit; also seen in Greece.

🇧🇦 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Red / White
Blatina
Herzegovinian red; dry, ruby, notes of coffee, spice, dark fruit; moderate tannin.
Trnjak
Bold, structured; dark fruit and spice; used both varietally and in blends.
Žilavka
Signature Herzegovinian white; high acidity, structure, citrus and stone fruit; good aging potential.
Bena
Indigenous, less common; used in blends for freshness and acidity.
Krkošija
Local white; adds freshness and aromatic lift in blends.

🇲🇪 Montenegro

Red / White
Vranac
Flagship Montenegrin red; very dark, powerful, high alcohol, rich black fruit and spice.
Kratošija
Historic variety; medium-bodied, red and black fruit, spice; related to Primitivo/Zinfandel line.
Krstač
Indigenous Montenegrin white; fresh, medium-bodied, citrus and floral notes.
Žižak
Local white; less common, used mainly in regional blends.

🇭🇷 Croatia

Red / White
Plavac Mali
Most famous Croatian red; bold, tannic, spicy, dark fruit; excellent aging potential.
Babić
Dalmatian coastal red; dark berry, herbs, firm structure.
Teran
Istrian red; high acid, medium body, red fruit and herbal notes.
Pošip
Dalmatian island white; full-bodied, stone fruit, citrus, herbal notes, good acidity.
Grk
Native to Korčula; dry, saline, citrus and stone fruit, strong structure.
Maraština
Also known as Rukatac; medium-bodied, citrus and dried fruit, used for blends and varietal wines.
Malvazija
Istrian Malvasia; medium to full-bodied, stone fruit, floral and herbal notes.
Graševina
Also called Welschriesling; crisp, apple and citrus, very widely planted.