DIBRAK

Dibrak wine production mainly occurs in the Anadrinia region of Kosovo and to a lesser extent in Zerqan and Prrenjas of the Dibra and Librazhd areas. Vineyards with the Dibrak cultivar constitute 10% of Kosovo’s viticulture. In Albanian lands, synonyms for “Dibrak” include “Rrush i Rahovecit,” “Shkupjan i Zi,” “Zerqan,” as well as “Prokupac” and “Zarçin” in North Macedonia and Serbia. These four Albanian designations reaffirm why the Albanian-speaking population calls it “Illyrian vine,” as it is one of the oldest in the Balkans. During the 1960s, 3200 hectares of vineyards with the Dibrak cultivar were established in Kosovo, but the wine was only blended with other wines. ALIMANI Winery in Tirana is experimenting with the production of Dibrak wine. Throughout the 2000s, notable wineries for the production of Dibrak wine in Kosovo are “EKOVERA” in Rahovec and “TRADITA” in the village of Radostë, Rahovec municipality, while “LABI WINE” began production in 2021. Dibrak is known for blending well with other wines, hence “AGROKOSOVA HOLDING” in Therandë, as well as “EKOVERA,” “LABI WINE,” and “KOSOVA WINE” in Rahovec, etc., blend Dibrak wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Gamay. Dibrak wine contains 11-15% alcohol by volume and 5-6% total acidity. It is a high-quality and table wine; considered as dry wines. It has a dark red to violet color with hints of cherry – forest fruits – ripe blackberries. Dibrak wine possesses a consistent taste where the fresh and slightly bitter and spicy tannins stand out, making it somewhat rough, but the tannins greatly aid the wine’s quality aging. It is a full-bodied wine, well-balanced in flavor, and particularly attractive for its fruity taste (cherry, apricot, blackberry). The styles of Dibrak wine (the entirety of the basic characteristics: texture, body, flavor, alcohol content) are of medium level (11.0 to 12.5% alcohol, predominance of fruity flavors) and of the semi-heavy type – with 13-15% alcohol. It is a wine with high potential to become superior wines. Dibrak wine is served at a temperature of 16-18 °C. It can be paired with dishes containing red meats, especially lamb and game, as well as with cheeses, particularly kaçkavall