Alcohol

A cold bottle of lager like this is what gets passed around at any backyard gathering, Ukrainian or Balkan alike. Obolon brews and bottles this Zhy...

Festigia Castello — a Croatian premium red from the Istrian peninsula, blending Mediterranean ripeness with structured tannins. Deep ruby color and...

Kutjevo Chardonnay 2011 — an older-vintage Croatian Chardonnay from Slavonia's Golden Valley, made by one of the world's oldest continuously operat...

Istrian wine on the table meant a special dinner, the bottle saved for when there was something to celebrate. Festigia makes this Istrian Malvasia,...

A premium bottle came out for the table when there was something worth celebrating, poured slowly into the good glasses. Agrolaguna makes this Cast...

Badel 1862 Pelješac Plavac Mali — Croatia's iconic Dalmatian red, bottled by the country's flagship spirits-and-wine house. Robust cherry and plum ...

Štampar Graševina — a Croatian dry white from the Štampar winery, built on Croatia's most-planted indigenous grape, Graševina. Bright, food-friendl...

Matošević Alba Malvazija Istarska — a Croatian Istrian dry white from one of the peninsula's most respected modern winemakers. Pure, mineral, and e...

This is the white wine poured at Sunday lunch tables across Slavonia, chilled and passed around at the season's first grilling. Vezak's Graševina i...

A bottle of Graševina like this is what shows up when family gathers around a Sunday roast. Krauthaker bottles this dry white Graševina from the Ku...

A bottle of brandy kept for special occasions and quiet evenings is a familiar sight in a lot of European homes. This is Bosolac Brandy Extra Old X...

Bozic's Imports Slivovitz Plum Brandy — a Bosnian plum rakija sourced and bottled by a US-based Balkan-focused importer. Clear, fruit-driven, and t...

A small glass of loza poured before a big family meal is a ritual as old as the toast itself back home. Maksuzija Loza is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian g...

Zvečevo Jubilarni — a Croatian brandy with a jubilee designation, smooth and approachable. Mellow profile, balanced sweetness, and a clean finish; ...

Bottles like this lined the good glass cabinet in your grandmother's dining room, saved for when guests came over. Darna's Bacio d'Amore is a raspb...

A small glass of walnut liqueur poured after a big Sunday meal is the closing ritual at every Croatian table. Darna's Orahovac is a walnut liqueur,...

Darna Teranino — a Croatian sweet liqueur built around the indigenous Istrian Teran grape. Rich, fruity, and spiced; a uniquely Istrian alternative...

Tikveš Kavadarka — a dry Macedonian red from the country's largest historic winery, named for the village of Kavadarci at the heart of the Tikveš r...

A bottle of Merlot came out whenever there was something worth toasting to back home. Plantaže bottles this Crnogorski Merlot, a Montenegrin Premiu...

Cabernet was the bottle saved for holidays, opened once the whole table sat down together. Plantaže produces this Crnogorski Cabernet, a Montenegri...

Vranac Barrique was the bottle brought out for milestones, the kind of wine that got its own toast. Plantaže ages this Vranac Barrique, a Montenegr...

Plantaže Crnogorski Krstač — Montenegro's flagship indigenous white grape, dry and Mediterranean-leaning. Bright citrus, stone fruit, and the miner...

A bottle of rosé always showed up at outdoor family lunches, poured cold under the summer sun. Plantaže bottles this Crnogorski Rosé, a Montenegrin...

Sunday lunch back home always meant a bottle of red opened early and left to breathe on the table. This is Minkov Brothers Syrah, a Bulgarian wine ...