Between Vine and Empire: Wine Production and Perception in Ottoman Macedonia

Abstract

This article explores the production, consumption, and trade of wine in Ottoman Macedonia from the 17th to the early 20th century, analyzing a wide array of sources, including consular reports, travelogues, and scholarly writings. Despite Islamic legal prohibitions, wine remained deeply embedded in the region’s economic, cultural, and social life, especially among Christian and Jewish communities. The study traces the evolution of viticulture, changes in taxation and regulation, and the rise of wine as an export commodity. It also examines patterns of consumption through the lens of religious affiliation, gender, and, to some extent, social standing. Taken together, these aspects illustrate how wine production in the region developed into a competitive sector, positioning Ottoman Macedonia as an important node in the Mediterranean wine economy, with several of its wines rivaling their European counterparts in both quality and reputation.