Albanian Winery Pouring Its Own Labels North of the City
Uka Wine is a producer first and a tasting room second. It was founded in 2005 by Flori Uka, of the first generation of winemakers in the family, and it sits at…Uka Wine is a producer first and a tasting room second. It was founded in 2005 by Flori Uka, of the first generation of winemakers in the family, and it sits at Laknas on the northern edge of the capital rather than in the centre.
Features
Type
Wine bar
Price
$$ Mid-range
Schedule
Daily
FAQ
Is Uka Wine a bar or a working winery?
A producer that also pours. The wines are its own rather than bought in, so a tasting there is at source. That is a different experience from a city wine bar, where the same bottles arrive by the case and nobody on site grew the fruit.
Which wines does Uka Wine make?
Four labels under its own name: Udha, Sus, Besa and Ceruja. They are built on indigenous Albanian grape varieties rather than the international ones that are easier to sell, which is the whole point of the project.
Why do indigenous Albanian grape varieties matter?
Because they came close to disappearing. Uka works through a network of local families to identify and keep them in cultivation, so the wines carry varieties you cannot easily taste anywhere else. For a visitor that is the argument for drinking Albanian rather than Italian here.
How far is Uka Wine from central Tirana?
It sits at Laknas on the northern edge of the capital, out towards the airport road rather than in the city. Plan it as a short drive or taxi ride rather than something you walk to after dinner in Blloku.
When was Uka Wine founded and by whom?
In 2005, by Flori Uka, described as the first generation of wine producers in the family. By Albanian standards that makes it an early mover, since most of the country's serious modern wine production dates from after that point.
