The
recent success of the Bulgarian Wine Export Association in Shanghai, China and
Hong Kong and the kind words of many wine buyers and wine specialists from
these promising markets show the right direction of the quality of the
presented wines of New Wines of Ancient Thrace and the possibilities for
penetration on the American market.
Two important events are in the schedule of Bulgarian Wine Export Association (BWEA) – beginning of May the
wineries will attend the World Wine
Meeting Chicago and then in June they will return to Houston for the second
time participating in Wine & Food
Week.
The events will attract importers, distributors, major
retailers, media, supermarkets and restaurant owners, wine professionals from
Chicago and Houston area. Several events are included in the program of the
wineries’ representatives who believe that the wine business and the wine
loving audience in Chicago and Houston will be thrilled by the new wines,
coming in this growing wine market.
New Wines of Ancient Thrace is a
promotional campaign of the Bulgarian
Wine Export Association (BWEA), established in 2012 with the main objective
to actively introduce high-quality European wines to new markets. The main activities of the Association
include: wine promotion, organization of conferences, workshops and
seminars with promotional and informative purposes, support for the increase of
wine export through the creation and management of projects, financed by EU
funds, to penetrate to some of the most important
world wine markets, to show the new modern face of the old
Thracian wines.
“We are thrilled to return in the States with many more
activities this year!” says Galina Niforou, BWEA chairwoman. “The quality of
our wines was never so high, we have all the necessary elements for competing
in this important wine market – good quality, good price/quality ratio,
interesting new local varieties, great packaging and highly motivated
winemakers to do their best for making even better wines year after year. I’m
sure that all the wineries, participating in this project will find the right
distributor and will start selling their wines in the US market. Have you ever
tried Mavrud? Or Melnik, Rubin and Gamza? You will be amazed! Our wines are
really the well kept secret from the land of Spartacus!”
Thrace is one of the oldest wine
producing areas in the world with evidence of wine production dating back to
4 000 BC. The Thracians were numerous tribes who worshipped wine as a
divine drink. Thracian wine was even mentioned in Homer’s The Illiadas
the finest wine there was.
It
is believed that the world’s first documented wine appellation was designated
in nowadays in this land when in
II century AD emperor Antonius Pius proclaimed the vineyards in Lower Mizia
(part of Thrace) as protected.
New
Wines of Ancient Thrace proudly highlights the facts that wine has been made in this land
for 6 thousands years. Cult of the god
of wine Dionysus actually originated from ancient Thrace. The Thracians
drank their wine undiluted with water; this was the main difference from
the ancient Greeks who poured 3 parts of water and one part of wine into their
Phiale.
For the Thracians, wine was a sacred element of
religious practice. The best-known pieces of gold and silver, which depict
ritual wine drinking situations with the god Dionysus, are found in this land.
Actually Thrace is the oldest place of wine
making in Europe. Its vineyards
share some of the same soil characteristics and latitude of famous wine growing
regions in Bordeaux, the South of France and Central Italy.
Its tradition along with the modern state
of art wineries are giving the brilliant results of high quality wines produced
from indigenous grape varieties like Mavrud,
Melnik, Rubin, Gamza, Dimyat, Red Misket, etc.
The international grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot
Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc are also widely planted there and giving
some word class examples.
The country is devided into 5 wine regions,
each with its specific terroir and climate conditions, but all of them suitable
for high quality winemaking.
Grape varieties
Mavrud
Considered to date back to Ancient Thrace times, Mavrud is a red
wine grape, which for centuries has been exclusively grown in the region of the
ancient Filippopolis, north of the Rhodoppe Mountains. This variety is normally
used for making dark wines with deep color and soft taste. Its cultivation is difficult and
requires special dedication. However, the unique quality of the wine made of
Mavrud is worth the effort!
Melnik
The Melnik vine is a red grape variety, grown in the region of
the Struma valley, which is characterized with Mediterranean climate. According
to a legend, the wine made of Melnik vine was among the favourite wines of
Winston Churchill. This variety can produce increasingly powerful wines with
rich texture, exotic perfume and soft tannin.
Gamza
Cultivated since ancient times, the grape variety of Gamza, also
known as “Kadarka”in many Balkan countries, is best grown in the Danube region.
It produces vivid red wines with pleasant fruit taste and distinct freshness.
This variety requires very specific climate conditions, which is why it is
predominantly cultivated in the region of the Danube valley.
Dimyat
Known for its aromatic grapes, Dimyat has been grown for centuries
in the Black Sea region. Dimyat wines have a sweet taste, strong aroma and
light color. The grapes of Dimyat
ripe in late September. This grape variety is the most popular one in the Black
Sea Region.
Pamid
According to the legends, ancient Thracians have been very keen
consumers of Pamid wines, characterized with pleasant light and fruit taste.
While it has been widely cultivated by Thracians over a number of centuries,
nowadays it continues to be grown specifically in the region of the Thracian valley.
Rubin
A successful
crossing between Syrah and Nebbiolo
A dark blue-colored wine grape variety, Rubin is the mostly
planted in the Thracian valley region. The vines of Rubin , planted along the
Thracian valley and bordered by the Strandzha Mountains, tend to produce wines
with explicitly rich taste and color. Taste them and you will be amazed!
For more information about the New Wines of
Ancient Thrace promotional campaign:
