🇧🇬BULGARIA

BULGARIA IS–   Regions- 5     PGI.- 4      PDO.- 42       @Sofia

• WHITE= Misket Cherven 7% AKA=Red Muscat, Armira, Dimyat, Keratsuda, Misket Varnenski, Misket Vrachanski, Parmak Cerven
  • –International– Muscat Ottonel 7%, Chardonnay 6%, Dunavski Lazur, Gewurztraminer, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Blanc, Tamianka, Viognier
• RED= Pamid 10%, Buket, Evmolpia, Gamza AKA=Kadarka, Mavrud, Melnik, Ranna Melnishka Laza, Rubin, Ruen, Shevka, Shiroka Melnishka, Storgozia
  • –International– Cabernet sauvignon 17%, Merlot 17%, Rkatsiteli 9%, Cabernet Franc, Kakarka AKA=Gamza, Pinot Noir, Plovdivska Malaga, Syrah

GEOGRAPHY– REGION-Central Europe, COUNTY-Bulgaria, LATITUDE: 42.7° ‘N’

• BORDERS-Romania(North/ Across Danube), Serbia(North-West), Macedonia(South-West), Greece(South), Turkey(South-East)
• REGIONS-Black Sea Coast(East),  Danubian Plains/North Region(North),  Struma Valley(South-West),  Rose Valley(Central),  Thracian Valley Lowlands(South)

TOPOGRAPHY– Features– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly/ Valley(Danube)”

• SLOPES/ Carpathian Mountains, Balkan Mountains, Rila Ranges, Rhodope Ranges, +Alt. ?
• On~Danube~River~/ On~Black~Sea~(East)
• ON PLAIN/ Pannonia(Eastern Edge)/ Thracian, LOWLANDS/ Thracian

VITICULTURE– 60,000 ha., (41% White/ 59% Red)

• Bulgaria is: #22 In Grape Production/ #21 In Wine Consumption In the World.

VINICULTURE– Distilled/ Alembic, Copper Still

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”

• Alluvium In Valleys, Black Carbonate & Sand at Coast.
• **Refer to “TERROIR/ Geology & Soil” For Detailed Information On Soils

CLIMATE–  “Continental” With “Mediterranean” Influences

• *Summers– Warm, Cooler in North   |   *Winters– Cold, Wet

HISTORY–

CULTURE–   GASTRONOMY…       |    CHEESE…

• ASSOCIATIONS~ ~Bulgaria National Vine and Wine Chamber~
• FESTIVALS~ ~Rose Wine Expo~ (June)
• FESTIVALS~ ~Black Sea Winemaking  Forum~ (June)
• FESTIVALS~ ~“Jubilee” Young Wine Festival~ (November)

BULGARIA WINE LAW–  (Since 1978)

• GOVERNING BODY-
• VINO ot DEKLARIRAN GEOGRAFSKE- Declared Geographic Origin DGO.
• CONTROLIARN WINES- Superior Controlled Appellation of Origin Within a DGO.
• LAWS GOVERNING- Geographic Boundaries, Topography
  • Label Requirement-
    • Geographic/ Boundaries-
    • Topography-
• BURGARIA WINE CLASSIFICATION
  • Protected Geographical Indication PGI.
  • Protected Designation of Origin PDO.
• WINES FOR CURRENT CONSUMPTION/ TABLE WINES
  • Table Wine/ Vin de Masa
  • Superior Table Wine/ Vin de Masa Superior
• QUALITY WINE
  • Quality Wines With a Geographic Designation/ Vin de Calitate Superioara (PGI.)
  • Denumire de Origine Controlata (PDO.)
  • DOC.- CMD.- Grapes Harvested at Full Maturity
  • DOC.– CT- Late-Harvest Grapes
  • DOC.– CIB- Botrytis-Affected Grapes

BULGARIA WINE TERMS

• Barik– Fermentation In Oak Casts
• Special Selection– 1/ 2 Years of Aging

GEOGRAPHIC DISCLAIMER~ “To Benefit From “Demystifying “The Vine” and the World of Wine a Understanding of Bulgaria’s Geography and Topography is Needed and the Ability to Visualize Its Wine Regions.  Chapters Are Organized In a “North to South”/ “East to West” Orientation and is Intended to Be Researched as So.”

DANUBIAN PLAINS/ North Region PGI. “Region”   @

• WHITE=   RED= **Refer to “PDO./ DOC.” For Grape Information.
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria(North-West), REGION-Danubian Plains, BORDERS-Romania
  • SUB-REGIONS-Lovech, Montana, Pleven, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Danube~River~(South)

VIDIN PDO.      @Vidin

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(North-West), SUB-REGION-Vidin
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• SOILS- 
• CLIMATE- 
• NOVA SELO DOC.       @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(West)
• LOMT DOC.       @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Lomt~River~
• VIDIN DOC.       @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(West)

MONTANA PDO.     @Montanta

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(West), SUB-REGION-Montana
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

VRATSA PDO.        @Vratsa

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(West), SUB-REGION-Vratsa
• TOPOGRAPHY-  “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Skut~River~

PLEVEN PDO.      @Pleven

• GEOGRAPHY– Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East), SUB-REGION-Pleven
  • LOZITSA-
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• GOING THERE- ~Pleven Wine Museum~

LOVECH PDO.     @Lovech

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East), SUB-REGION-Lovech
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

VELIKO TARNOVA PDO.       @Veliko Tarnova

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East), SUB-REGION-Veliko Tarnova
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
  

  ---

• PAVLIKENI DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East)
    • SUB-REGION-Veliko Tarnova
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• SVISHTOV DOC.       @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East)
    • SUB-REGION-Veliko Tarnova
  • TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Danube~River~
• LYASKOVETS DOC.       @Veliko Tarnova
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East)
    • SUB-REGION-Veliko Tarnova
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

RUSE PDO.     @Ruse

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Danubian Plains(East), SUB-REGION-Ruse
• TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Danube~River~

Sub-Balkan Region

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, South of Balkan Mountains
  • Western Sub-Balkans- Rose Valley
  • Eastern Sub-Balkans- Sungurlare Valley

STRUMA VALLEY/ South-West Region PGI. “Region”      @

• WHITE=  |   RED=  **Refer to “PDO./ DOC.” For Grape Information.
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria(South-West), REGION-Struma Valley
  • SUB-REGION– Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, ON PLAIN/ Struma, On~Struma~River~

KYUSTENDIL PDO.       @Kyustendil

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Struma Valley, SUB-REGION-Kyustendil
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

BLAGOEVGRAD PDO.      @Blagoevgrad

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Struma Valley, SUB-REGION-Blagoevgrad
  

  ---

• SANDANSKI DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Struma Valley, SUB-REGION-Blagoevgrad
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• MELNIK/ HARSOVO DOC.      @
  • WHITE=           |   RED= Melnik
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Struma Valley, SUB-REGION-Blagoevgrad
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

ROSE VALLEY/ Sub-Balkan Region PGI. “Region”   @

• WHITE=    |    RED= **Refer to “PDO./ DOC.” For Grape Information.
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria(Central) South of Balkan Mountains, “Non-Contiguous(11+)”
  • SUB-REGION– Burgas(Laps)Black Sea“Region”, Stara Zagora(Laps)Thracian Valley“Region”, Sliven, Yambol
• CULTURE- Famous For Rose Growing Industry.

PLODIV PDO.     @

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley/(Laps)Thracian Valley
  • SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
• KARLOVO DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• HISARYA DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

SILVEN PDO.     @Silven

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, (Laps)Thracian Valley
  • SUB-REGION-Silven
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Tundzha~River~
  

  ---

• ORYAHOVITSA DOC.    
• • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Silven(West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- On~Tundzha~River~
• SHIVACHEVO DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Silven(North)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”
• SILVEN DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Silven(East)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

KARNOBAT/ SOUGNOURLARE DOC.     @

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Rose Valley, SUB-REGION-Burgas(North-East)
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

THRACIAN VALLEY LOWLANDS/ South Region PGI. “Region”

• WHITE= Aligote, Chardonnay, Dimyat, Muscat(Ottonel), Sauvignon Blanc, Silvaner, Tamianka, Viognier, Vrachanski Misket, 
• RED= Bouquet Shevka, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamza, Merlot, Mavrud, Pamid, Plovdiv Malaga, Rubin, Rubin Evmolpia, Syrah
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria(South-Central), REGION-Thracian Valley Lowlands
  • SUB-REGIONS-Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv(Laps)Rose Valley“Region”, Stara Zagora
  • BORDERS-Balkan Mountains(North), Black Sea(East), Greece(South)
• TOPOGRAPHY- “Hills” & “Flat” Lands, +Alt. 100mt.- 500mt.
• CLIMATE- “Continental” INFLUENCED/ Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea
  • *Summers– Warm Long Growing Season
• VITICULTURE-
  • Estate/ Producer- Bulgariana, Eduardo Miroglio, Minkov Brothers, Rough Day, Telish Castra Rubra, Zagreus

PAZARDZHIK PDO.     @

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-West)
  • SUB-REGION-Parardzhik
• TOPOGRAPHY– On~Maritsa~River~
  

  ---

• SEPTERNVRI DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-West)
    • SUB-REGION-Parardzhik

PLOVDIV PDO.      @Plovdiv

• WHITE=            |   RED= Mavrud, Rubin
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(North-West),
  • SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
• TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Maritsa~River~
• VITICULTURE-
  • Estate/ Producer- Villa Vinifer
    

    ---

• PEROUSHITITSA DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-West)
    • SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
• BRESTNIK DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-West)
    • SUB-REGION-Plovdiv
• ASENOVGRAD DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-West)
    • SUB-REGION-Plovdiv

STARA ZAGORA PDO.      @Stara Zagora

• WHITE=            |   RED= Mavrud, Rubin
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(North-Central)
  • SUB-REGION-Stara Zagora, “Non-Contiguous(4)”
    

    ---

• HASKOVO PDO.     @Haskovo
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-East)
    • SUB-REGION-Haskovo
• HASKOVO DOC.     @Haskovo
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-East)
    • SUB-REGION-Haskovo(West)
• SAKAR DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-East)
    • SUB-REGION-Haskovo(West)
• LYUBIRNETS DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-East)
    • SUB-REGION-Haskovo(Central)
• VAYLOVGRAD DOC.     @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(South-East)
    • SUB-REGION-Haskovo(East)

NOVA ZAGORA PDO.      @

• WHITE= Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer
• RED= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(North-East)
  • SUB-REGION-Sliven
• VINICULTURE- SPARKLING/ Traditional
  • Estate-Producers- Eduardo Miroglio

YAMBOL PDO.      @Yambol

• WHITE=            |   RED= Mavrud, Rubin
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Thracian Valley(North-East)
  • SUB-REGION-Yambol/ (Laps)Sliven

BLACK SEA COAST/ East Region PGI.  “Region”    @

• WHITE=     |   RED=  **Refer to “PDO./ DOC.” For Grape Information.
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria(East), REGION-Black Sea Coast
  • SUB-REGIONS-Burgas, Dobrich, Shumen, Silistra, Targovishte, Varna
• TOPOGRAPHY– “Rolling”,  On~Black~Sea~(West)

SILISTRA PDO.     @

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Silistra
• TOPOGRAPHY– “Rolling”, On~Danube~River~

SHUMEN PDO.    @Shumen

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Shumen
  

  ---

• NOVI PAZAR DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Shumen
    • BORDERS-Black Sea
• HAN KRUM DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast,
    • SUB-REGION-Shumen/ (Laps)Targovishte

TARGOVISHTE PDO.    @Targovishte

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Targovishte

• ---

  HAN KRUM DOC.      @

  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast
    • SUB-REGION-Targovishte/ (Laps)Shumen
• VARBITSA DOC.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast
    • SUB-REGION-Targovishte

VARNA PDO.      @Varna

• WHITE= Chardonnay, Varna Miskat
• RED= Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pamid, Syrah
• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Varna
  • BORDERS-Black Sea
    

    ---

• EUXINOGRAD DOC.      @
  • • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Varna
      • BORDERS: Black Sea
• BYALA PDO.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Varna
    • BORDERS-Black Sea

BURGAS PDO.     @Burga

• GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast(South), SUB-REGION-Burgas
  • BORDERS-Black Sea, “Non-Contiguous(4)”
    

    ---

• PORMORIE DOC.       @
  • • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Burgas
      •  BORDERS-Black Sea
• PRIMORSKO PDO.      @
  • GEOGRAPHY- Bulgaria, REGION-Black Sea Coast, SUB-REGION-Burgas
    • BORDERS-Black Sea

DUNAVSKA RAUNINA PDO.      @

• WHITE=          |   RED=
• GEOGRAPHY- Burgaria, REGION-Northern Region

TSCHERNOMORSKI RAION PDO.      @

• WHITE=          |   RED=
• GEOGRAPHY- Burgaria, REGION-Eastern Region

PODBALANSKI RAION PDO.     @

• WHITE=      |  RED=
• GEOGRAPHY- Burgaria, REGION-Sub-Balkan Region

JOLINAKA NA STRUMA PDO.     @

• WHITE=         |   RED=
• GEOGRAPHY- Burgaria, REGION-Southwestern Region

THRAKIISKA NIZINA PDO.     @

• WHITE=             |   RED=
• GEOGRAPHY- Burgaria, REGION-Southern Region

NOVO SELO PDO.

SAKAR PDO.

STAMBOLOVO PDO.

LYAKOVETS PDO.

SUHINDOL PDO.

NOVI PAZAR PDO.

KHAN KROUM PDO.

BRESTINIK PDO.

YAMBOL PDO.

BOLYAROVO PDO.

IVAILOVGRAD PDO.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.