Region: Tikveš, Macedonia

Varietal: 100% Rkaciteli

Tasting notes: A stand out cuvee from Jordanov featuring a Georgian grape that dates back to 3000 BC, making it one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. Elegant notes of Granny smith apple, ripe pear, peach, kiwi, and starfruit leap from the glass. The palate is plush with electric acidity lending to a well-rounded body. A sophisticated midpalate plays with subtle tones of pineapple before descending into a crisp and delightfully dry finish with lasting impressions of white pepper and ginger.

Producer: A true patriot, Mister Jordanov is committed to putting his country of North Macedonia on the map. He has kept his quality level exceedingly high and his pricing modest until such a day arrives. Dry farmed in Tikveš, one of Europe’s most arid zones, these wines hail from the same latitudinal corridor as Tuscany, Bordeaux, and Napa (41 degrees north) with an average vine age of 35 years. A mix of continental and Mediterranean climates provides for long, hot summers, near-constant winds, and less than 12 inches of rainfall per year.

Vineyard and Winemaking: A vibrant, thick-skinned, cool climate grape, Rkaciteli originally hails from the Republic of Georgia. In the case of Jordanov, what we find most fascinating is the ironic planting in one of Europe’s hottest, driest regions. The Baltic continental front and Mediterranean front collide in Tikveš, North Macedona, creating a pocket with virtually no rain. Cool clay soils, known locally as rendzina, help provide acidic backbones for the wines and keep the overall style taut and fresh.