Written by: Tomo Jakopović
On 3 November, the Zagreb wine bar Wine & Friends hosted a special wine evening dedicated to the Macedonian winery Tikveš, the most awarded winery in South-East Europe. The presentation brought together wine lovers and wine professionals, who had the chance to discover the richness of Macedonian vineyard terroir through a carefully chosen selection of wines. Over almost a century and a half of existence, Tikveš has grown from a traditional into a modern winery that successfully combines a rich Macedonian wine heritage, modern viticultural and oenological knowledge, and the specific character of individual vineyard sites and micro-sites, which is especially evident in its terroir wines Babuna, Barovo, Bela Voda and Lepovo.
The presentation was also attended by Svetozar Janevski, owner of Tikveš, whose presence further underlined the significance of the occasion. The tasting was led by Zvonko Herceg, who guided participants through the story of the wines, presenting individual labels, their characteristics and particularities.
The tasting flight opened with Luda Mara Sparkling, a sparkling wine of fresh and lively character, made for enjoying on everyday and festive occasions alike. Its elegant perlage and fruitiness make it an attractive start to a tasting. The sparkling wine was followed by Luda Mara White Cuvée, an introduction to the diversity of styles and expressions that Tikveš cultivates. This white blend emphasises freshness, fruit and drinkability: a modern interpretation of white wine aimed at a wide circle of wine lovers.
The white part of the tasting continued with Domain Babuna White, which reflects the particularities of the Babuna vineyard site, where continental and Mediterranean climatic influences meet. It is marked by terroir character and an emphasis on freshness and aromatic expressiveness. Next came Domain Lepovo Chardonnay, which is irresistibly reminiscent of the best Burgundian Chardonnays and has rightly become one of the finest white wines of the Balkans. The Lepovo site is defined by the influence of the winds and specific climatic conditions in which traceability is particularly pronounced, so that the grapes, and later the wine, translate the characteristics of the terroir into varietal typicity, fullness and elegance. The rosé Château de Gourdon Mistral au Jardin, from the Tikveš estate in the southern Rhône, attracted a great deal of attention. A serious gastronomic rosé made from Cinsault and Grenache Noir, it is full-bodied, with a fruity aromatic profile and a distinctly French character.
The red wines brought a completely different dimension to the evening. Domain Babuna Red presented the character of the Babuna vineyard site. In an intriguing composition of Plavac Mali, Syrah and Vranec, the emphasis is on fruit, structure and a harmonious expression of the red varieties. The wine is cohesive and harmonious, powerful and elegant. Domain Bela Voda Red is a Tikveš classic from one of the most interesting Macedonian vineyard sites, known for its volcanic soil and large differences between day and night temperatures. Vranec and Plavac Mali are perfectly reconciled here, and the wine stands out for its pronounced structure, concentration, mineral freshness and ageing potential. Perhaps the biggest sighs of the evening were reserved for the red Domain Barovo Red, a wine Tikveš is exceptionally proud of and which receives the highest scores at all the most relevant competitions. Vranec and Kratošija (Crljenak) are blended with great knowledge and feeling, and the wine is characterised by full body and pronounced elegance. The tannins are almost velvety, the influence of fine oak is noticeable but unobtrusive, and the interplay of ripe sweetness and freshness makes it a wine for special occasions. It is easy to drink and long remembered.
To close the tasting, the choice fell on Lyxa VS, a top-quality wine brandy with pronounced aromas of dried fruit, caramel, chocolate, coffee and smoke. It rounded off an evening devoted to Tikveš and proved the perfect choice for the finale.
Those present heard a great deal of interesting information about Tikveš, the winery’s philosophy and its vision for the future, and also met the people behind its development. Over the years, Tikveš has built a strong identity on the international wine scene, relying on the rich tradition of Macedonian viticulture as well as on contemporary approaches to winemaking and the interpretation of wine.
The gathering at Wine & Friends was therefore more than a classic tasting. It was a meeting of Macedonian wine culture and the Zagreb wine public, with the opportunity to hear first-hand the story of one of the most important wine houses in the region.
Photo gallery
Photo: Josip Posavec
