Arbëri Winery, Mirdita: Kallmet From the Bukmira Hills
Rrëshen, Mirdita
Fran Kaçorri opened Arbëri in Rrëshen, in the mountains of Mirdita, in 2003. His son Rigers grew up around the wine and learned the old way of making it from his grandmother. He went on to study viticulture and enology at the University of Bologna and wine marketing in Florence, worked in Italian cellars, and came home to make the wine.
"My professors did not know the variety, or think Albania made wine."
Rigers Kaçorri, on writing his thesis about Kallmet (translated from Albanian)
The grapes come from the Bukmira hills, 400 to 650 meters up, from vineyards planted between 1969 and 1972. Most of it is Kallmet, the native red of the north, and it pours a deep ruby, with red apple, blueberry, and a touch of oak. Every year since 2003 the winery has set aside about 2,500 bottles, so it now holds an archive of every vintage.
Rigers has always supported what we do, and he carries Albanian wine wherever he goes, including to importers in Japan. Not long ago, a bottle of Arbëri went to Rome with the Archbishop from Mirdita, and Pope Leo now has one.
At a Glance
Rrëshen, Mirdita · Fran and Rigers Kaçorri · Kallmet
Where to Start
The Kallmet for everyday, or the Kallmet Reserve for an occasion.