Many people who drink wine often focus on French and Italian products. But in the years, many countries started to compete in the market. And North Macedonia can have its own space because it offers very good wines. The main production is concentrated around the town of Kavadarci, located more or less in the center of the country. There the landscapes are full of vineyards. And you can visit a lot of wineries where to taste and to buy the local product.
Wine production in Kavadarci
The quality is high, they hired also experts from abroad. And they also export a lot in the USA and not only. Compared with other wines, the ones coming from North Macedonia are more genuine. Also, the taste is very good. This depends also on the grape, a great one. If you go during the harvest period (September) you can find the grape also on your breakfast table in the hotel. And already from there, you can understand the quality.
Of course, they divide the fruit for the wine production from the one destined to the table of consumers. But it has to be said that agriculture in North Macedonia, which uses traditional methods, gives superb results. The town counts for around 39.000 inhabitants. And it is well known for the wine and also for ferronickel. In fact, in Kavadarci, there is a manufacture founded in the town, called Feni.
Other reasons why the place is known by people in North Macedonia and abroad are timber and tobacco productions. At the beginning of September visitors from different parts of Europe go to Kavadarci to see the Tikveški Grozdober. It is a parade made by people with costumes like in the carnival to celebrate the grape harvest. Not only tourists but also groups who take an active part in the parade are coming from various countries.
What to see in Kavadarci
A bit outside the town there are some attractions. Among them, I can mention the biggest artificial lake of North Macedonia, Tikveš (name of the region), the Strict Natural Reserve, and the Polok Monastery. In the area of Kavadarci and Negotino, the nearest town, there are some religious places where people can pray and stay. About the one dedicated to St. Nikola, located in beautiful wood with a lovely stream, there is a legend. All the just married couples who want a baby can go to the monastery and sleep there for on the night. The day after the lady will be pregnant.
Of course, I have some doubts, but there are rooms there and if you want, you can try to sleep there. If you are not interested in having a baby, you can just stop there and eat your food. There are tables under the patio freely available for visitors. It is a relaxing place that deserves a visit. Not so far from Kavadarci, on the way to Gradsko, there is Stobi, the archeological site described in one of the previous posts.
In the center of the town, after a stop in one of the various bars present along the main street, you can visit the park. It is very nice and is created on a hill. On the top, there is Marko’s Tower, perfect to enjoy the panorama over the town and the vineyards. The tower itself is not so nice as architecture, but going there you will know some legends related to it. I let the surprise to you. The local museum, not far from the park, hosts items of different ages and there is also an interesting section dedicated to archeology.
Where to sleep and eat
There are various options and for the western range, the prices are cheap.
Feni Hotel
If you want to stay in town for one night or a few days I can recommend Feni Hotel, it is owned by North Macedonians who are living in Australia, but there is good management in Kavadarci. They are kind, the structure is modern and it offers big spaces, as well inside the rooms. The breakfast is generous in perfect North Macedonian style and it is a four stars hotel, according to the national rating.
The equipment is basic and it can happen that while you do shower the water fulfills the floor, but this element is unfortunately common in many hotels. During the weekend there are often weddings in the room near the hall and the music can reach the other floors, so be ready. They celebrate generally all night. You will be anyway welcome to join them, people are friendly so don’t be surprised to be invited.
Uni Palas I
Closer to the downtown there is also Uni Palas I, smaller, but lovely and well equipped. In the next building, there is a discotheque, so again at the weekend, you can have some noise. Both of them are good hotels. There are also many good restaurants, some of them quite elegant, but always very well connected to the North Macedonian tradition. Exclusive in the center, the restaurant of Tikveš Winery, Brioni in the park. Those are only a few of the best, but you can easily find the perfect place where to taste the local recipes.
Villa Bella
If you have a car (the best way to move to North Macedonia), you can sleep and eat at Villa Bella (it means a white house) that is a few kilometers far from the town. It is a hotel built and opened in 2012 with charming rooms and a really good restaurant. The staff is very kind and always available. The main problem is the car parking, but you will find the way if it is a crowded space outside.
Going around Kavadarci during the day and the night is safe, the only people who can stop you are the most curious, because, despite the festival dedicated to the grape harvest, they are not so used to see tourists. Most of the people don’t speak English, but they are always trying to be understood, don’t worry.
The wine
Now let me go back to the main point: the wine. The place is well known for the production, but also the export and the biggest winery in South-East Europe. Tikveš Winery is one of the most important and of the oldest of North Macedonia and the numbers about the production and the export is impressive. I don’t want anyway to annoy you with statistics that I had during my trip. It is easy to find them online.
There are grape fields also Rosoman, a village at the border with Kavadarci, where the time seems stopped in the past. It has to be mention that wine production is a very old tradition, in the area, because in the IV century before Christ the population was already growing the grape. In the medieval era, they improved the activity and they started a real industry in the sector. To help the growing there is a Continental climate.
Wine brands in Kavadarci
If you have the chance to travel there you have to taste the wine. Among red wines, the types I liked the most there are Alexandria and Vranec. About white wines, I suggest Smederevka and Alexandria. Of course, this is according to my taste, so don’t worry to try others, there are a lot of varieties. If you want to know more you can read the book written by Sanja Kostadinovik Velickovska.
Search here all the connections to Kavadarci.
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