Melesin Distillery: World's Greatest Places 2024

T here was a time when ruby-red Mavrud wines were so coveted, bottles were earmarked exclusively for Albania’s party elite. After the fall of communism in 1990, wine-producing towns such as Leskovik—located 180 miles from the capital of Tirana—were all but forgotten. Named for the limestone massif that towers over its lone minaret, Melesin is a hotel, restaurant, and distillery in one. Italian-made copper stills parked inside a cavernous lounge on the ground floor of the retrofitted industrial building refine both raki and gin from local grapes and juniper berries—part of an effort to set the bar for “Made in Albania” spirits and put this overlooked region back on the map. Equipment is still in test mode following the spring 2023 launch, but Melesin has started introducing new raki and gin degustations this year. Guests can also choose from Leskovic Mavrud, Cabernet, Debine, and Shiraz wines. Upstairs, eight suites exhibit a kind of luxury seldom seen this far from the Albanian Riviera: oak floors, exposed stone walls, and woven textiles are juxtaposed against modern furnishings. Melesin promises more than just a unique boozy weekend—it is the gateway to the roaring Vjosa , which was crowned Europe’s first Wild River National Park last year.

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