Wines

Archaeology, folklore and literature have left numerous evidences of vine planting and wine production on the Bulgarian territories since ancient times.  The Thracian wines from the Black Sea region or the city of Ismarus along Struma river was first mentioned by Homer in both the Iliad and the Odyssey.
In the Middle ages the greater part of the vineyards was the possession of the monasteries. The produced wine was famous of their high qualities, glorified by the poets.  To preserve the wine, wine-cellars were “built” in the gold crypts of the Bulgarian monasteries.  
In 1978 Bulgaria is recognized as the fourth largest wine producer in the World.
Nowadays Bulgaria has 160 thousands ha of vineyards divided into 100 thousand ha for industrial wine production and 60 thousands ha for home made wine. 

The respect to wine has found wide reflection in every Bulgarian holiday. A holiday without a wine is unthinkable. With special solemnly is celebrated the day of the viticulturist and wine-producer St. Trifon Zarezan. This original Bulgarian holiday takes place annually on the 14th of February. From times immemorial on this date the people go to the vineyards playing music. The best viticulturist cuts the wine and pours it with wine. A hoop is made from the twigs which are put on the shoulders of the chosen King of the Vineyards thus expressing their gratitude to the protector of viticulturists Saint Trifon.
The legend tells that Saint Trifon while cutting the vines mocked at the Holy Mother and she cursed him to cut his nose and so it happened.

Apart from the well known European sorts of wine, Bulgaria produces typically Bulgarian wine sorts which are of international quality.
Among the Bulgarian white wines the Red Misket and Dimyat is famous. A number of white European sorts are cultivated in Bulgaria, such as: Aligote, Muskat Ottonel, Rkatzitely, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc.
Among the Bulgarian red wine sorts Mavrud is the leader. Another good red wine sort is the Wide Melnik Vine. It is presumed that this is an ancient Thracian sort and bears its name from the region where it is most widely distributed – the town of Melnik. Pamid is one of oldest Bulgarian sorts. Its distribution is mainly in Southern Bulgaria. The European red wine sots cultivated in Bulgaria are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pino Noir.

The Black Sea Region includes around 30% of the Bulgarian vineyards and 53% of the white wine sorts are concentrated in this region. The local regional sort is the Red Misket.

The South Bulgarian Region is characterized by a moderate continental climate and good distribution of the precipitation during the period of vegetation. It includes around 35% of the vineyard massifs and approximately 69% of the red wine sorts. The local regional wine sorts are Mavrud and the red Misket.