Skopje, 18 March 2022 (MIA) — The Institute of Agriculture in Skopje held Friday a scholarly conference dedicated to the Macedonian autochthonous grape variety Stanushina, featuring special guest Stanislav Kocutar, a vinedresser from Maribor, Slovenia, and the keeper of the oldest noble vine in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Conference attendees included other vinedressers, grape growers and winemakers as well as diplomats, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University faculty, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. According to the Institute of Agriculture, Stanushina is an autochthonous Macedonian grape variety originating from the Tikvesh wine region. Stanushina grapes make a fresh, medium-bodied wine full of fruit aromas such as raspberry, dogwood, cherry, pomegranate, and strawberry. In the past, many red wines were made from Stanushina grapes. Through the years, however, new international grape varieties were introduced and largely replaced it. Institute of Agriculture head Viktor Gjamovski opened the conference. The state university’s rector Nikola Jankulovski addressed the event. Professor Biljana Ristovska-Josifovska from the Institute of National History also held a speech on the symbolism of autochthony. The purpose of the conference was to promote the variety to grape growers and winemakers as well as to highlight the need of developing public policies for the preservation of autochthonous varieties and protecting the country’s biodiversity and environment. mr/