Bulgarian Wine
Bulgarian Wine Industry
In the 80's import of American and Australian know-how laid the ground for production of high quality wines in Bulgaria. Until 1990 the wine industry in Bulgaria was state-owned and was operated by Vinprom and exported by its subsidiary Vinimpex.
After the fall of the totalitarian states in 1990 privatization of state owned Bulgarian wine companies and land restitution went under way in Bulgaria. Through the past years the land in Bulgaria is being returned to its original owners and many wineries are privatized. That helps the Bulgarian wine industry to become more and more competitive on the basis of high wine quality and moderate wine prices.
In the 80's import of American and Australian know-how laid the ground for production of high quality wines in Bulgaria. Until 1990 the wine industry in Bulgaria was state-owned and was operated by Vinprom and exported by its subsidiary Vinimpex.
After the fall of the totalitarian states in 1990 privatization of state owned Bulgarian wine companies and land restitution went under way in Bulgaria. Through the past years the land in Bulgaria is being returned to its original owners and many wineries are privatized. That helps the Bulgarian wine industry to become more and more competitive on the basis of high wine quality and moderate wine prices.
The weather in Bulgaria creates ideal micro-climates and combined with good quality soils they produce extremely suitable conditions for growing best quality grapes. The best wines are produced from the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, high quality, rich, and Bordeaux-like. Local grapes include:
- Gamza Red Wine - the most widespread sort produces earthy, light bodied red wine good for simple fare. In Romania and Hugary it is known as Kadarka.
- Mavrud Red Wine - is a full bodied wine, spicy red that can age to more than 8 years
- Melnik Red Wine - grown in the southernmost part of the country makes hefty red wines that age very well
- Pamid Red Wine - rustic and hardly unforgettable but still good enough "commercial" for daily drinking.
White Bulgarian wines are produced from renowned varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling as well as from the local: Misket, Ottonel, and Dimiat. White Bulgarian wines are not nearly as good as Red Bulgarian Wines but they are rapidly improving and recently some very nice surprises from Rouse winery have appeared. It appears to be the fastest growing new-comer on the market. The annual average production of wine in Bulgaria ranges between 200-220 million litres.
- Gamza Red Wine - the most widespread sort produces earthy, light bodied red wine good for simple fare. In Romania and Hugary it is known as Kadarka.
- Mavrud Red Wine - is a full bodied wine, spicy red that can age to more than 8 years
- Melnik Red Wine - grown in the southernmost part of the country makes hefty red wines that age very well
- Pamid Red Wine - rustic and hardly unforgettable but still good enough "commercial" for daily drinking.
White Bulgarian wines are produced from renowned varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling as well as from the local: Misket, Ottonel, and Dimiat. White Bulgarian wines are not nearly as good as Red Bulgarian Wines but they are rapidly improving and recently some very nice surprises from Rouse winery have appeared. It appears to be the fastest growing new-comer on the market. The annual average production of wine in Bulgaria ranges between 200-220 million litres.
