Gourmet products local specialties and wines Southeast

Since 1992, this confectionery workshop affiliated with the slow food movement has been preparing Përmet's great specialty: gliko. These are candied fruits or vegetables also found in Greece and Cyprus under the name glyko tou koutaliou ("dessert with a spoon"). Almost everything here is candied: plums, cherries, figs, watermelons, grapes, strawberries, apricots, figs, eggplants, tomatoes, rose petals and more. And don't forget to try the gliko arre, made from whole walnuts (with the shell) that are still green. Caloric but delicious!

Founded in 2000, this winery is the largest in the region. The owner, Menelaos Lëmi, buys his grapes from local winegrowers and produces the Menea line: red wines made from merlot, cabernet sauvignon and mavrud (originally from Bulgarian Thrace), white riesling, rosé, not forgetting of course the typical rakis made from serina (a local variety derived from blaufränkisch), perle (a German variety) and fruit (apple or quince). Visits and tastings by appointment only.

Albania's second-largest industrial brewery has a pleasant restaurant here, with a charming terrace. The menu features mainly grilled meats and salads, and of course beer. During the week, free tours of the facilities are offered during the day. Founded by Venetian Umberto Uberti in 1928, the brewery is now owned by Albanian businessman Irfan Hysenbelliu. The brewery produces five beers and organizes the Korça Beer Fest, Albania's biggest festive event, in mid-August.

This winery was founded in 1993 by the family of Ersol Caco, one of the country's top sommeliers. Today, he manages the estate and offers two wines named after the ancient town of Ohrid, Lychnidos: Lynnid i Bardhe, a white made from tokay, muscat and riesling; and Lyhnid i Kuq, a red made from merlot and gems, a rare local grape variety. Also worth trying: three rakis, a rosé made from the Bulgarian pamid grape and the excellent Harmoni red (merlot and gems). Beware, prices are high.