We arrived in the late afternoon, the sun casting a golden hue over the vines. Our room — simply named The Winter Grape — overlooked the hills. Inside, we found clean lines, branch-style coat racks, and wide windows that let in the scent of grapes ripening on the vine.
Wandering the grounds felt like stepping into a living museum of Albanian wine heritage — without ever feeling staged. There’s an old-school TV in the lounge, sepia-toned family portraits from generations past, and a fully functioning toilet tucked inside an enormous wooden wine barrel. Even the signage nods to wine culture, woven subtly into the textures of the place.
The team behind Alpeta are a joy — creative, warm, and rooted in tradition, all while bringing a fresh, contemporary lens to everything they do. There’s nothing pretentious here. Just good humour, thoughtful design, and an atmosphere that made us feel instantly at ease.
Breakfasts were served in a glass-walled dining room filled with light and hanging wildflowers, overlooking rows of vines. Each morning began with warm bread, local cheese, honey, and views that made us linger longer than planned.
One morning, we joined a nearby cooking class, learning traditional recipes and hearing stories passed down through the family. Later, we followed a quiet path through the hills to Alpeta’s working farm. During the walk, we heard the soft clinking of goat bells and spotted a herder guiding at least twenty goats down the hillside. Our daughter watched in amazement. At the end of the trail, a peaceful lake shimmered in the afternoon light. We didn’t speak — we just listened.
