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.)
