Tikveš
Encyclopedia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
which is known for an artificial lake. It is home to the towns of Kavadarci
Kavadarci
Kavadarci is a town located in the Tikveš region of the Republic of Macedonia. Situated in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, it is home to the largest winery in south-eastern Europe, named after the Tikveš plain. The town of Kavadarci is the seat of Kavadarci Municipality...
and Negotino
Negotino
Negotino is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. Its population is about 15,000. It is the seat of Negotino Municipality.-Geography:Negotino is situated on the right bank of the river Vardar. It is about above sea level. Negotino is in a vineyard region and the gates of the Tikves basin, known...
. Famous for its wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, Tikveš is the center of the Macedonian wine production which has been cultivated for more than 120 years. The region is also very famous for its yoghurt
Yoghurt
Yoghurt, yogurt or yogourt is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yoghurt are known as "yoghurt cultures"...
and sour milk.
Wine Growing
A large fertile plain of about 2,000 square kilometers makes up the Tikveš district (part of PovardariePovardarie
Povardarie is a geographic region in the central part of the Macedonia, and includes all of the canyons, mountains and valleys through which the river Vardar flows....
region), located in central Macedonia and enclosed by mountain highlands on three sides. It consists of gentle undulating hills at an average of 300 meters above sea-level. Its climate is characterized by long, hot summers and mild and rainy sub-mediterranean winters with an average of 460 mm of rainfall each year. Spring is shorter, some say fresher here and autumn is a bit longer and warmer.
Its altitude varies between 110 and 650 meters. The Vardar River, the country’s principal river, cuts the valley into western and eastern sections. These two sections are very different in their relief, climate, surface waters, soil quality and flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
. The valley’s eastern section is arid and sparsely populated, while the western section is fertile and, compared to that of the east, much more densely populated. This area is also rich in forests, minerals and pastureland and resembles an oasis with a virtual Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
of vineyards and orchards.
District's wine growing characteristics
- average sum of active temperatures during vegetation 4284ºC
- absolute maximum temperature 44.8ºC
- absolute minimum temperature -23.2ºC
- average air temperature during the vegetation period 19.3ºC
- average late spring frosts occur to 23.03, early autumn frosts from 04.11
- average rainfall per year 483 mm
- average rainfall in the period of vegetation 262 mm
- sum of sunny hours during vegetation 1750.8
Wine Making
As a result of a harmonious climactic and geographic convergence, the Tikveš region is a perfect place for the cultivation of wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
(which is locally popular). The region has produced wine for over 2,500 years.
Today, there are predominantly 20 different grape varieties grown in the Tikveš region. The local Smederevka
Smederevka
Smederevka is a white wine grape variety grown in Smederevo, Serbia and in Tikveš wine-growing region of Macedonia. The variety's name is derived from the name of Serbian city Smederevo...
, Vranec
Vranec
Vranec or Vranac is an ancient variety of grape that is indigenous to the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Vranec is considered the most important variety of grape in Montenegro and one of the most important in the Republic of Macedonia...
and Temjanika comprise 80% of the total grape production. As wine consumers' preferences change globally, the region keep paces with current trends and adjusts its vine varieties accordingly.
See also
- PovardariePovardariePovardarie is a geographic region in the central part of the Macedonia, and includes all of the canyons, mountains and valleys through which the river Vardar flows....
- VranecVranecVranec or Vranac is an ancient variety of grape that is indigenous to the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Vranec is considered the most important variety of grape in Montenegro and one of the most important in the Republic of Macedonia...
- SmederevkaSmederevkaSmederevka is a white wine grape variety grown in Smederevo, Serbia and in Tikveš wine-growing region of Macedonia. The variety's name is derived from the name of Serbian city Smederevo...
- Temjanika Muscat Blanc à Petits GrainsMuscat Blanc à Petits GrainsMuscat Blanc à Petits Grains is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters...
- Muscat OttonelMuscat OttonelMuscat Ottonel or Muskat-Ottonel is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is most notable for its use in dessert wines from Austria, Croatia and Serbia as well as dry wines from Alsace and Hungary...