The Republic of Kosovo in south-east Europe with its capital Pristina covers 10,877 km². It borders Albania to the south-west, Montenegro to the north-west, Serbia to the north and east and North Macedonia to the south-east. Kosovo was an autonomous region within Yugoslavia. As a result of the wars in the 1990s and the break-up of Yugoslavia, Kosovo became part of Serbia in 2003. It proclaimed its independence in February 2008.
Viticulture in the Metohija region dates back to Roman times. Pithoi (wine vessels) were found during archaeological excavations in Velika Hoča. Kosovo is divided into the wine-growing areas of Juzni and Severni. The red wine varieties Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Pinot Noir as well as Riesling were mainly cultivated. On the border with Albania, the well-known branded wine Amselfelder (Kosovsko Vino) was produced by the German company Racke. Up to 60 million litres of wine were produced annually on around 8,000 hectares. Due to the turmoil of war, however, wine production came to a complete standstill in the 1990s. The vineyards and many wineries are still being rebuilt.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)