Wine guide · about an hour from Skopje
The ancient city of Stobi and the wineries of Tikveš: Tikveš, Popova Kula, Stobi and Bovin, the Museum of Wine, Lake Tikveš and the Demir Kapija gorge.
North Macedonia feature
Sun-soaked vineyards, deep red Vranec and an ancient city on the road south.
See the mosaics of Stobi in the morning, book a tasting and lunch at a winery, and stay the night among the vines at Popova Kula.
Read the full back story below, then plan your trip.
The back story
The heart of Macedonian wine country, an ancient city with mosaics on the main road south, a lake in the hills and a dramatic gorge: an easy and delicious day from Skopje.
An ancient crossroads
The ruins of an ancient city at the meeting of the Vardar and the Crna Reka, with a theatre and fine mosaics.
Since 1885
The country’s best-known winery, in Kavadarci, with cellar tours and tastings.
A tower among the vines
A winery in the hills of Demir Kapija, with tastings, a restaurant and rooms.
Next to the ancient city
A large modern winery near Gradsko, close to the ancient site of Stobi.
A lake in the hills
A long reservoir in the hills south-west of Kavadarci, with a monastery on an island.
The Iron Gate
A dramatic gorge where the Vardar cuts through the mountains, popular with climbers.
A royal estate of 1928
A historic winery at Demir Kapija, founded in 1928 and named after Queen Maria, with tastings and estate lunches.
Sommelier tastings
A working winery near Veles at the northern edge of the wine country, with guided tastings, easy to pair with Stobi.
Sleep among the vines
Rooms at the Popova Kula winery, so you can enjoy the tasting and stay the night.
About an hour
About an hour south of Skopje by car on the motorway; buses run to Kavadarci and Negotino.
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