Dear Ms. Slaveska, which are your plans to rise awareness for the company and its high quality wines in Central Europe as new Tikveš CEO?
Tikveš is a strong brand with long lasting tradition of nearly 140 years. My primary focus will be to transform this outstanding tradition into exceptional consumer experience. The true essence of high-quality wines can only be fully appreciated when they are thoughtfully presented to consumers, who are not only knowledgeable but also increasingly open-minded. Furthermore, Tikveš is vigorously pursuing its goal of becoming one of the pioneering green wineries in Europe.
Can you explain us a bit your Châteaux&Domaines concept – and its targets?
Tikveš Châteaux&Domaines platform is comprised of single vineyard and estate bottled wines from premier microlocations, at the moment in North Macedonia and France. These are our luxury wines made by applying precision viticulture and organic production in locations with authentic wine-growing conditions. Our Domaine Lepovo wines are organically certified and we are in conversion process for many other vineyards.
North Macedonia has many interesting indigenous grape varieties like Vranec, Kratoshija, Smederevka or Temjanika. What can they offer to wine lovers?
North Macedonia's indigenous grape varieties offer wine lovers a chance to explore exciting new tastes and discover unique wine styles. Vranec showcases bold, dark berry flavors; Kratoshija brings ripe fruit notes with a smooth finish; Smederevka offers crisp, citrusy freshness; and Temjanika captivates with its floral and musky aromas. These varieties reflect the distinctive terroir and scenic beauty of the Macedonian mountains, providing intriguing and diverse experiences for wine enthusiasts around the world.
The history of the company dates back to 1885. In the last decades huge investments have been made in modern technology and management. How does this pay out?
Tikveš is the only winery in our region that has won numerous awards at renowned wine competitions and whose wines have been regularly awarded 90+ points by world famous wine critics. Exploring conditions for growing grapes coupled with the nativeness and experience of our winemakers and the state-of-the-art equipment aligned with the style we want to achieve in wines are the reasons for creating highly acclaimed, premium valued by consumers more and more year by year.
Why did Tikveš – as first important player from Southeastern Europe – invest in a famous Western wine region and purchased Château de Gourdon in Cotes-du-Rhône in 2018?
For many years, our flying winemakers from France have likened the terroir of the Tikves wine district to that of the Rhône Valley. This similarity inspired us to invest in maximizing the potential of Château de Gourdon's vineyards, which include vines over 50 years old. At the same time, we aimed to transcend the AOC rules of the Rhône Valley by introducing Balkan varieties to our vineyards.
Which are your future ideas with Tikveš 1885?
Our future is rooted in sustainable development. As we dedicate ourselves to crafting authentic premium wines, we are equally committed to minimizing our ecological footprint, maximizing our social impact, and adhering to principles of good governance.
