A story bound in pearl paper and deep red ink

The 6-hectare vineyard sits in the Sarandapori valley of Leskovik, right on the border with Greece's Konitsa region. The Sarandapori - the main tributary of the Vjosa - traces 25 km of the frontier. Its name, "40 springs," comes from the thermal sources along its banks; one of those springs, used for over two centuries and once feeding Leskovik's healing hospital, still flows beside the vines.

That legacy begins with great-grandfather Pasha and now continues with Mirlinda and Albert Gajo. Out of respect for the spring and the land, the wine carries the name "Vreshti i Pashait." Albert's quiet obsession with wine pulled the family back to these slopes in the early 2000s, leading to the restoration of all 6 hectares in 2006-2007.

Historical records show the spring and vineyard terrain were under Greek administration until 1924. After the border was redrawn by an international commission led by General Enrico Tellini, the land returned to Albania. A week later, Tellini was ambushed and killed nearby - a stark footnote to a valley otherwise defined by calm winds and a generous microclimate.

Just downstream, near the village museum in Burizan, botanists noted one of Europe's densest butterfly habitats where the Sarandapori meets the Vjosa. Loose clay rich in light iron oxide sits over gravel a meter below, giving perfect drainage and the reddish soils that push minerality into the skins.

The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Shiraz (25%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Chardonnay (10%), and Riesling (10%). Harvest begins with Chardonnay (Sept 1-6), then Merlot (Sept 7-12), Cabernet Sauvignon in early to mid-October, and Shiraz, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc reaching peak ripeness mid to late October.

Every bottling is kept entirely natural - native to the place, unforced, and sought out by those who want the valley's character left intact.