Global Rank : 16 With nearly 70,000 hectares of vineyards , production holds steady in Serbia which achieved the same yield for the fourth successive year . The country has nine winemaking regions with one of the most important vineyard areas situated in Negotinska Krajina ( 250km to the east of Belgrade ), a sub region of the river valley of Timok where wine making dates back to Roman times . Indigenous grapes like Prokupac ( red ) and the Muscat-like Tamjanika ( white ) date back to the Middle Ages . International grapes grown include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon .

Global Rank : 15 The Greek harvest was up 2 % thanks to an absence of heatwaves and consistent cool night temperatures . Assyrtiko is one of Greece ’ s finest multi-purpose grape varieties , first cultivated on the volcanic island of Santorini . It now thrives in the terroir of Macedonia delivering a dry white wine with citrus aromas . Xinomavro ( meaning ‘ acid black ’) is the leading native red noted for its rich tannins and complex fruit aroma with hints of olive and spice . Greece was one of the first wine-producing territories in Europe . The earliest evidence of Greek wine making dates back 6,500 years when it was produced on a household or communal basis .

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