From a Young Age with a Love for Vineyards, Today the Owner of a Family Winery

Macedonian winegrowers officially begin their work in the vineyards on February 14. This date marks the Orthodox holiday of St. Trifun, during which all winegrowers visit their vineyards. They recite a prayer, prune the first vines, and pour wine over the pruned vines to signify the beginning of the new harvest and the start of viticulture activities.

In Macedonia, it is believed that performing this religious act will lead to a greater yield and better quality grapes. Additionally, winegrowers honor their tradition in this way.

Viticulture and winemaking are the second most profitable agricultural sectors in Macedonia. Therefore, Macedonian winegrowers strive to be competitive with global producers and adopt advanced methods of vineyard cultivation.

We would like to introduce you to Blaže Minevski, a talented young winemaker who has been passionate about viticulture since childhood. Today, he proudly owns his own winery. Blaže began his journey as an apprentice to his grandfather and cultivated his skills in his own vineyards. He is now the owner of the "Badi" winery, located in Kavadarci, a city in the heart of the Tikvesh region. This region is known as the largest wine-producing area in Macedonia and throughout Southeast Europe.

Minevski states that everyone in the region respects traditions and customs. One such tradition is that all families are required to have vineyards to produce grapes and wine for their own consumption, as well as to sell some to large wineries.

From a young age, he learned to work in the fields alongside his grandfather and father. He realized during his high school years what he wanted to do in life. After completing his education, he opened his own winery, carrying on the traditional family values.

He and his family decided to take their passion a step further by producing wine, brandy, and grape products. One of their notable offerings is Tikveški Majun, a natural medicine and sweetener made from unsprayed grapes, without any added preservatives, additives, or sugars.

For him, wine— which he fondly refers to as "The Drink of the Gods"—will always be a lifelong pursuit. He is dedicated to achieving the highest possible quality and constantly pushing himself to improve.

The Tikvesh region in Macedonia holds significant potential as a prominent wine destination. The vine, known for its durability, thrives abundantly in this area, contributing to its status as one of the most successful wine regions in the Balkans.

Minevski notes that foreign tourists frequently visit the region. They are curious and eager to learn about viticulture in Tikvesh. Many are captivated by the beauty of the local climate, exploring the vineyards, camping among the vines, enjoying picnics, and immersing themselves in nature.

For him, the most important thing is to develop rural, ethno and wine tourism, building capacities, castles and hotels on the vineyards themselves, where guests can enjoy untouched nature.

The Badi Boutique Winery has a tasting room with a capacity of 20 guests (up to 8 guests according to Covid protocol), offers tasting packages and food and wine pairings with a sommelier, picnic tastings on the vineyards and combined events in nature.