CNN 's new series i-List takes you to a different country each month . In May , we visit Macedonia focusing on changes shaping the country 's economy , culture and its social fabric . Demir Kapija , Macedonia -- Jordan Trajkov was a successful banker studying for an MBA when he visited Napa Valley in California . The visit inspired him to go back to his roots and start a winery in his native Macedonia . Trajkov 's father had owned a vineyard , but when Macedonia was part of socialist Yugoslavia he was not allowed to produce his own wine . `` There were just a few big wineries and my father had to sell his grapes to them . '' Trajkov told CNN . `` But my grandfather had his own winery before socialism and that inspired me . `` From an early age I had worked on my father 's vineyard , but I had never had the opportunity to make my own wine . '' Trajkov , now 41 , worked in banking for seven years in Macedonia , London and New York . He was studying for an MBA in Phoenix , Arizona , when he took the holiday in Napa Valley that was to change his career . Trajkov returned to Macedonia and in 2003 bought some land close to where he had grown up . He planted his first grapes in 2005 and began selling wine from his Popova Kula winery the following year . `` Bringing together the concept of wine tourism with grape growing and wine making was fascinating for me , '' Trajkov told CNN . Popova Kula produces 23 varieties of wine , but Trajkov 's favorites are those native to Macedonia . He is keen to give a future to the ancient vines denied when Macedonia was part of Yugoslavia . Then , production was all about bulk export of more common grapes , such as cabernets and sauvignons . Alongside his better-known grapes , Trajkov produces Vranec and Stanushina , and has won international medals for several of his wines . `` I describe our philosophy as 'glocalization ' , promoting the local varieties globally . We are really traditionalists . We think that there are some wonderful domestic varieties . '' Trajkov put all his own money into the winery , and his father sold his own nearby vineyards to invest too . Trajkov 's former career as a banker has helped , and he became the first Macedonian company to be floated on its stock exchange . `` I knew how to do that because of my background . We have strong equity , '' he said . `` I can not say our sales are as we originally predicted in our business plan , but I can say we hope to get there because our sales are increasing year to year . That 's because we have highest quality wine . '' To increase sales further , Trajkov knows he must work hard on promoting his wines more widely . He has even built a hotel to accommodate tourists , with each room themed on a wine . Alongside the hiking , bird-watching , fishing and skiing on offer locally , the Napa Valley influence becomes clear . Catriona Davies contributed to this report .
A visit to Napa Valley inspired Demir Kapija to start a winery in Macedonia . His favorite varieties of grape are those native to Phoenix . Winery was the first Macedonian company to be floated on its stock exchange .