Stanušina
Encyclopedia
Stanušina Crna or Stanušina is a red grape variety indigenous to the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

 and is found nowhere else in the world. Little known outside of its native country, nonetheless it is capable of producing very high quality wines and is mainly grown in the Tikveš
Tikveš
Tikveš is a plain situated in central Republic of Macedonia which is known for an artificial lake. It is home to the towns of Kavadarci and Negotino. Famous for its wine, Tikveš is the center of the Macedonian wine production which has been cultivated for more than 120 years...

 region.

The introduction of international grape varieties have caused a sharp decline of Stanušina from the country’s vineyards in recent times, threatening to wipe out this local variety of grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...

 forever. Realizing this, local wineries have begun initiatives to reintroduce this uniquely old Macedonian domestic variety back into the region.

The grapevine is highly resistant to drought and pests and can be cultivated without irrigation. The fruit ripens very late but gives good yields, producing on average 15-20 t/ha. The juice
Juice
Juice is the liquid that is naturally contained in fruit or vegetable tissue.Juice is prepared by mechanically squeezing or macerating fruit or vegetable flesh without the application of heat or solvents. For example, orange juice is the liquid extract of the fruit of the orange tree...

 obtained contains approx 18-20% sugar and 6-9 g/l acids. During a good year, it can provide a base for wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...

 of high quality and medium strength, with 11-12% of alcohol. Rich in extract but characteristically pale in color, the high level of acid gives the wine excellent freshness and is recommended to be taken at a temperature of 10-16°C. Stanušina typically has a light strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...

, raspberry
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...

, blackcurrant
Blackcurrant
Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum, is a species of Ribes berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia, and is a perennial....

 and dry leaf aroma. It makes an excellent complement to white and yellow cheeses, light and creamy desserts, leaf salads, nuts and sweets.

Kavadarka

Kavadarka is one of the oldest and most popular wines in Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

. It is made from the grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...

 Stanushina from the region of the city Kavadarci
Kavadarci
Kavadarci is a town located in the Tikveš region of the Republic of Macedonia. Situated in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, it is home to the largest winery in south-eastern Europe, named after the Tikveš plain. The town of Kavadarci is the seat of Kavadarci Municipality...

and that is how it gets the name. It is also one of the cheapest wines in Macedonia but it has good taste and quality. It is best served at temperature from 16 to 18 оC.

Synonyms

Stanušina Crna is also known under the synonyms Gradech, Grades, Gradesh Tykveshjo, Stanochina, Stanouchina, Stanuchina, Stanuisna, Stanusina Grades, Stanusina Tikvesko, Tikvesko, Tikvesko Crno, Tsarna Stanushina, Tykveshko.
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