The Vranec
Grape
A red grape variety indigenous to the Balkans, particularly North Macedonia. Vranec produces deep-colored, full-bodied wines with high tannins and acidity, offering flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, and spices, with great aging potential.
Vranec
Grape History
Vranec, also known as Vranac or Vranats, is a dark-skinned grape variety that is native to the Balkan region, specifically to the countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. The name "Vranec" translates to "black stallion" in Serbian, which reflects the grape's bold and robust characteristics.
Historical records suggest that Vranec has been cultivated in the Balkans for centuries, with some experts tracing its origins back to ancient Greek and Roman times. This grape variety has a long and storied history in the region, where it has been traditionally used to produce full-bodied and deeply colored red wines.
Vranec is known for its thick skins and high tannin levels, which give the resulting wines a rich and robust character. It typically produces wines with intense flavors of dark fruits, such as blackberry and plum, along with notes of spice, tobacco, and earthiness.
Vranec is primarily grown in North Macedonia, where it is considered to be the country's signature grape variety. It is also cultivated in Montenegro, Kosovo, and other parts of the Balkans. In recent years, Vranec has garnered international attention for its unique qualities and distinctive flavor profile.
Wines made from Vranec grapes are often bottled as single varietal wines, showcasing the grape's distinctive characteristics. They can also be blended with other grape varieties to enhance complexity and balance.
In terms of the future of Vranec, there is growing interest and recognition of this grape variety among wine enthusiasts and critics. As awareness of Balkan wines continues to increase on the global stage, Vranec is poised to gain even more popularity and appreciation.
In conclusion, Vranec is a grape variety with a rich history and immense potential. Its deep flavors and bold structure make it a standout choice for those seeking unique and distinctive wines. As the global wine community continues to explore and appreciate the diversity of grape varieties, Vranec is sure to remain a celebrated and sought-after varietal in the years to come.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel