Popova Kula Winery in Macedonia’s Wine Country is one of the Balkans’ best kept secrets. Growing grapes and producing wine are woven deeply into Macedonian history. On our Macedonia Culinary Tour you will visit this renowned winery where you will taste wine from the highest quality grapes.
I stayed one night at the beautiful Popova Kula hotel and woke to the sound of bells tied around the necks of a whole herd of goats making their way across the front yards of the winery with their herder. It was a classic Macedonian sight and I watched the herd till they disappeared in the distance. It made me want to linger in this spot till I could explore the area hiking or biking or just go bird watching. The area around the winery has so many venues to sample even cooking classes and, of course, wine tasting at the 80 plus wineries in the area. The Macedonia countryside seems largely untouched ,and this is a great place to experience its beauty.
Popova Kula Winery is located on the south slopes of the Grand Hill (Veliko Brdo) west of the lovely town of Demir Kapija which lays on the southeast part of the Tikveshiya grape growing sub-region that is a part of the Povardarie region.
Vranee Victory 2015 is a wine made from late harvested grapes from estate owned vineyards that perfectly highlights the uniqueness of the terroir of the Popova Kula micro-location. This is a semi-sweet wine with natural residual sugar, coming from the grapes as a result of the late harvest, that is excellently integrated in the taste of the wine.
King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic had a kingdom that stretched across present day Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia, including the Adriatic coast and Pannonian Valley. He had vast possibilities to choose from for the location of his vineyard. Following the advice of trusted consultants, however, King Aleksander choose wisely and planted his first vines in the micro region of Demir Kapija on exactly the same location where Popova Kula is located today.
The location is perfect for vineyards and winery…
To remain faithful to the people and historical fabric of the region, the astounding winery was named after an important tower, the Popova Kula (Priest’s Tower) which once served as an important checkpoint on the old Roman road that passes next to the winery.
On our Macedonia Culinary Tour you will be able to tour Popova Kula Winery and indulge in the best wine the region has to offer. We’ll meet with an enologist who will give us a presentation of the winery, a tour of the facilities and a wine tasting in the cellar. During our 12 days in Macedonia, through the country’s cuisine, we will experience its rich and proud history and its warm-hearted, welcoming people. We will get to know a region from its wine, a town from its unique spicing of a dish, and a sheep-fold through its cheese. We will visit food markets, buy fresh food and spices, and have hands on experience as we learn to prepare traditional Macedonian fare. We will wine and dine in traditional Macedonian restaurants. We’ll be guests in a Macedonian home where our host will prepare a traditional Macedonian dish for us. And along the way, we’ll have an opportunity to see some of the history, beauty and majesty of Macedonia.
For more information check out Kutrubes Travel’s Macedonia Culinary Tour at https://kutrubestrvprd.wpenginepowered.com/tours/macedonia-culinary-tour/ or Popova Kula Winery at http://popovakula.com.mk/.