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FROM THE ORIGINS
Albania is one of the oldest wine producers in Europe. Viticulture had developed as early as the 8th century B.C. on the basis of indigenous varieties that had endured presumably since the Ice Age. Between the eighth and sixth centuries B.C., the Greeks founded a series of colonies on the present Albanian coast. They became among the most important ports in the eastern Adriatic; by Roman times, Albania's coastal regions were renowned for wine and oil production. With the conquest of the Ottomans in the 17th century, a serious crisis began in wine viticulture, which managed to survive only in the Christian territories. In predominantly Muslim areas, however, a type of viticulture for family production of grapes often used for the production of spirits took hold. Beginning in 1912, following Albanian independence, we could see a resurgence of viticulture that had to contend with the spread of diseases caused by powdery mildew and downy mildew and finally phylloxera.
TO THE PRESENT DAY
Two main vine training systems coexist in the country: the alberello system, more common in the coastal region, and the pergola system, typical of the hinterland. In recent years, some producers in the coastal belt have converted bush training to a spurred cordon and/or Guyot-like system. The political and economic crisis between 1990 and 1995 led to the abandonment and uprooting of almost the entire vineyard area. This was the period of the great Albanian exodus, From 2000 to the present there has been a revival and a marked increase in activity. The Albanians over the years have realized the advantage that the wine business can bring, and it has grown to the current approximately 25 thousand hectares under vine.
Zadrima area
Sukth area
Narta area
Myzeqeja (Musacchia) area
Korca area
Permet area
Leskovik area
Pogradec area