The Wine Day in Prespa National Park

The 20th December 2013 is celebrated as the Wine Day for local wine producers. To mark the day, the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania (INCA) in cooperation with the Pustec Commune, the Prespa National Park Administrative Unit and the “Green & Clean-Korça”, organized a ceremony in the area of Prespa National Park. The activity was organized in the framework of SENiOR-A program, implemented by REC Albania and funded by the Swedish Government.

The activity aimed at promoting the natural values ​​of the area combined with human and cultural values as well as emphasizing and promoting Prespa’s traditional diversity, the preservation and conservation of their natural and cultural resources.

This festive activity at the end of the year has become a traditional ritual in the area, when the wine obtained from the barrels is prepared for use during the winter and the next year. It has increasingly attracted the interest of local community and the surrounding areas, providing them with an increased opportunity to market their product.

The ceremony reached its peak when the competition for the best wine took place. The competitive products were served in numerical labeled bottles; each number belonged to a manufacturer's name that took part in the competition. A jury of five persons was previously set up with members from civil society, local government, and representatives from the Park Administrative Unit.

Part of the activities was the organization of the fourth meeting of the Network for Nature Protection. Representatives from all the network members participated in the meeting to discuss the current network performance and to report the activities organized by each member organization. Of particular importance was the preparation of the draft program for 2014.