Jun 12, 2026
An exploration of the history, grapes, and styles of Albanian wine. And what do eagles and flamingos have to do with any of it?
Resources from this episode:
Books:
The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)
Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)
Websites:
Albanian Blogger: Albania’s Path to the EU - Where Things Stand in 2026, Plaku, E. (20 April 2026) https://albanianblogger.com/albania-eu-accession-path-2026/
Albania Secrets: Albanian Wines - A Journey Through Traditions and Terroir (n.d.) https://albaniasecrets.com/albanian-wines/
Britannica: Albania https://www.britannica.com/place/Albania/Land
EU Insider: Albania Enters Final Phase of EU Accession Talks as Montenegro Targets 2028 Membership (28 May 2026) https://www.euinsider.eu/news/eu-enlargement-albania-final-phase-montenegro-treaty-2026
Falstaff: Albania’s World Wine Heritage (30 August 2022) https://www.falstaff.com/en/news/albanias-world-wine-heritage
The. Flamingo Revolution: A grassroots, Gen Z-let uprising against a multi-billion-dollar Kushner-linked luxury resort on Albania’s protected Vjosa-Narta wetlands. https://theflamingorevolution.com/
France 24: Albania TikTok ban violated free speech, court rules (11 March 2026) https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260311-albania-tiktok-ban-violated-free-speech-court-rules
Forbes: Why Jared and Ivanka’s Island Project Could Ruin Albania’s Bid to Join EU, Durkee, A. (9 June 2026) https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/06/09/why-jared-and-ivankas-island-project-could-ruin-albanias-bid-to-join-eu/
Georank: Largest Countries by Land Area - Ranked by Size (Updated 20 April 2026) https://georank.org/size
The Guardian: ‘The birds will fly away’ - Can Albania’s flamingo revolution keep its wetlands free from Trumps and tourists? Niranjan, A. (12 June 2026) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/albania-flamingos-wetlands-trump-tourists
Himara: Albanian Wine - Grapes, Regions, and Where to Taste (14 March 2026) https://himara.net/blog/albanian-wine-guide
National Albanian Registry: Albanian Raki - A Cultural Guide to the National Spirit, Zhulati, E. (1May 2026) https://albanianregistry.org/blog/albanian-raki
National Albanian Registry: What Does Shqip Mean? The Etymology of Albania’s Self-Name, Zhulati, E. (17 May 2026) https://albanianregistry.org/blog/shqip-meaning
Politico: EU warns Albania over Kushner-linked project, Weizman, J. (7 June 2026) https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-warns-albania-membership-bid-jared-kushner-project-protests/
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Tehran and Tirana Brawl Amid Flamingo Revolution, RFE/RL’s Kosovo Service (11 June 2026) https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-tirana-flamingo-revolution-kushner/33778450.html
The Quirky Cork: Albania - A New Wine Frontier, Lemieux, A. (15 January 2025) https://thequirkycork.com/albania-a-new-wine-frontier/
SevenFifty Daily: What You Need to Know About Albanian Wine, Maxwell, S. (2 August 2023) https://daily.sevenfifty.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-albanian-wine/
Uka Wine: Everything You Need to Know About Albanian Wine (1 December 2023) https://ukawine.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-albanian-wine/
Wines of Albania: Grapes https://www.winesofalbania.com/grapes/
World Atlas: Albania https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/albania
Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:
S22E2: Wine in Poland - What the Little Ice Age Taketh Away Climate Change Giveth Back https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-in-poland-what-the-little-ice-age-taketh-away-climate-change-giveth-back
S22E1: Wine in Lebanon - Wine, War, and Rising https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-in-lebanon-wine-war-rising
Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session
Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.
Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)