By Patti Morrow, Epicure & Culture Contributor
Albanian wine is no stranger to Europe. Archaeological evidence near the capital of Tirana suggests that traces of tannic acid, which produces the bitter taste in wine, date back to a 6,000-year viniculture, making Albania potentially the oldest wine region in Europe.

Albania, a small country bordering Greece on the Adriatic Sea, has four separate wine regions. These are defined by their altitude, ranging from mountains and inland foothills to coastal villages. The country’s wine has been characterized by a unique sweetness since ancient times. Ancient Roman writer Pliny described Albanian wine as “very sweet or luscious.”