October 5th – Vranec World Day
#WorldVranecDay
Okay, let’s be fair. I have studied wine, and when I read Vranec World Day, I said, “What?”
So…
Pronounced “vra nets,” this is a Balkan grape variety that is indigenous to Montenegro, Serbia, and Croatia. (sometimes you will see it spelled “vranac.”)
It is related to Tribidrag (which is also known as Zinfandel).
The name means ‘Black Stallion” (or strong black and powerful horse) and it is the most important grape of the Republic of Northern Macedonia.
Where is Vranec from?
Okay…it always helps me to locate where this is with a map. I find it grounding.
This region is landlocked. Albania sits to its west, keeping it from the Adriatic Sea, Kosovo, and Serbia to the North, Bulgaria to the east, and Greed to the south, providing a buffer between it and the Aegean Sea.
Today, Vranec is proudly produced in Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, but the largest production is in North Macedonia.
Aromas, flavors and pairings for Vranec
Deep purple in color, this grape makes full-bodied wines. Young wines smell of berries and forest fruit.
With age, it takes on chocolate and herbal notes.
Pair this wine with rich red meats and stews.
Visit https://www.vranecworldday.com/ (yes, the day has its own website!) for all the details.
While it can be hard to find, Wine.com sometimes will have a bottle.
Robin Renken is a wine writer and Certified Specialist of Wine and WSET 3 Certified. She and her husband Michael travel to wine regions interviewing vineyard owners and winemakers and learning the stories behind the glass.
When not traveling they indulge in cooking and pairing wines with food at home in Las Vegas.
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