2019 Cuvée Methodius, Tikves Winery

Wine Variety:  This potent red grape variety, Vranac, shares DNA with a whole slew of varieties around the Balkan region, where it appears to have been grown for many centuries. Perhaps most interestingly, it shares DNA with Tribidrag, a grape that is genetically identical to Zinfandel. Vranac's bunches are compact, the berries thin-skinned: something of a surprise considering how tannic is the wine it produces. The name of this variety translates as "strong black", referencing the potency and colour of the wine it produces. (N.B. This wine also includes 10% Merlot.)

Wine Region: The Republic of North Macedonia is a landlocked country that used to be part of Yugoslavia. Indeed, greater Macedonia also covered parts of Greece and Bulgaria, too. The Greeks still dispute the use of the name. 85% of the country's vineyard area is within the central River Vardar valley; 41% in Tikves, from where comes this wine. It is now thought that this region is the cradle of global wine production. Recent investment has given rise to a resurgence of quality in the Republic of Macedonia.

Wine Producer: Tikves Winery opened its doors 130 years ago and is apparently the largest and oldest winery in south-east Europe. Bought in 2003 by the Texas-based M6 Investment Group, Tikves has been the beneficiary of €30M of new investment and is now a fully modernised winery.