The Republic of Albania (alb. Shqipëria) on the Balkan Peninsula in south-east Europe with the capital Tirana covers 28,748 km². It borders Montenegro and Kosovo to the north, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. The western border is formed by the coasts of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
The region is considered one of the cradles of European viticulture. This goes back to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. Cultivated viticulture already existed in Illyria in the 8th century BC. Roman authors mention the introduction of a high-yielding Illyrian grape variety to Italy. In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the empire was conquered by the Romans. From the beginning of the 16th century until independence was gained in 1912, it was under Turkish rule. During this time, viticulture was insignificant due to the ban on alcohol.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“