The Museum of Wine in Demir Kapija was opened to the public in 2010, on the day of the absolution of Demir Kapija, on seventh of November.
Demir Kapija is part of the area Tikvesh where agriculture is the main source of income for the population – especially the cultivation of grapes and wine production. The grapes produced in Demir Kapija are of excellent quality because there are no polluting industries nearby. The vineyards are irrigated with pure water flowing from three rivers, the Boshava, Doshnica and Vardar. As a result, several wineries are located in this micro-vine region and their superb wines have found their way into the European markets.
Demir Kapija Museum is located in the central city area in the courtyard of the elementary school Dimce Angelov Gaberot.
This museum is the only one of its kind in the Republic of Macedonia, one of 5 in Europe and 12 in the world. The museum celebrates wine, culture, and the reason for the existence of wine.
The museum is comprised of three departments: archeology, wine gallery and an historical gallery for exhibitions and presentations.
Within the museum are the following galleries:
• Archeological gallery- Archaeology is a 200 year old science, the objects in this exhibition speak for the continuity of life going from prehistory to the Middle Ages
• Wine gallery- about 6 000 years ago in this region begins the wine culture which survives through centuries and religions to this day
• Art gallery- room for 18 hours of audio-visual presentations archival footage of archeology, history and natural rarities
• Historical gallery- You come to the city of the Kings, Valley of the Paeonian kings where you can smell the wine
Artifacts in the museum reflect the history of Demir Kapija to the present. There are also exhibits which display the rich tradition of the wine culture as seen through numerous representations of Dionysus – the God of Wine and Bahanaliite (multiday festivities and orgies in honor of Bachus, the god of wine), on an assortment of cups and antique vessels for mixing wine which originate from the Demir Kapija area. Archeological finds also include tools for farming the land and other items.
The richly colored dark wine from this “Kratoshijata” Region existed since ancient times. One wine in particular called “Akrato” was drunk by Alexander the Great and his army. The power and special beauty of wine as a mediator for the goodwill of the soul is immortalized by numerous Latin phrases:
– VINO INTRANTE FORAS SUBITO SAPIENTIA VADIT– when the wine enters mind immediately turns off; – IN VINO VERITAS – in the wine is the truth; -VINUM LAK SENUM – wine is milk for elders.
In Demir Kapija the central event is the feast of the patron saint of wine- Saint Tryphon on 14th of February.