Bulgaria is a lesser-known wine territory but in the heart of the Balkans lies a hidden gem of the wine world. With a history dating back thousands of years, the country’s wine culture has deep roots. Bulgaria has over 260 registered winemakers. In this article, we invite you on a sensory visit to the Silver-coast of Bulgaria and an extraordinary organic wine maker. We wanted to learn more by tasting Bulgarian wine.
At the Queen’s Winery House in the Palace Architecture & Park Complex in the Black Sea town of Balchik, we were met with a unique wine collection more than a century old. The oldest wine dates back to 1878. More than 150 original bottles from the end of 1800s to 1924 are part of the collection. The collection is, however, not for sale though a few collectors are keen to buy it.
We were warmly received by Anna Koleva at the winery’s Villa Prince Nikolai in the Botanical Gardens in Balchik, where visitors can taste their own selection of red, white rose, desert and fortified wines. Anna is an incredible woman who has been awarded several prestigious international prizes. She and her team experiment with unusual tastes and make exciting and unusual wines from not only grapes but even garlic, pomegranate, hot pepper and chocolate!
On the Queen’s Winery House website she claims that “each idea starts with a dream. When the dream finds its home, it turns into reality. Can you guess the explosion of flavors that one can get from the blending of the following four unusual ingredients: admiration for innovations, hard work, local terroir and the passion for wine…? Now imagine that you also add a catalyst in the form of a missive: “Do not be afraid to be unique!”. Anne Koleva really lives as she speaks.
We tried among other wines, Syrah blanc de noir and a hot pepper red! I bought some to bring back to Norway to be tested by my wine panel there. More on that later in the article.
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You may also like to read Discovering Scandinavian Wine Regions: Where To Get The Best Nordic Wine Experiences.
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The Black Sea coast region of Bulgaria
The Black Sea coast region of Bulgaria has a climate influenced by the proximity of the Black Sea. The wineries here enjoy a maritime climate, featuring mild winters and warm summers with a refreshing sea breeze. The unique geographical location and the cooling effect of the Black Sea create an excellent coastal environment for growing grapes. The finest Bulgarian dry and semi dry wines come from this wine region. In fact, approximately 30% of the vineyards in Bulgaria and 53% of the white grape varieties come from this Eastern Viticultural area.
Wine tasting back home
Syrah blanc de noir, 11% – limited collection of 2332 bottles.
Without question – rare! This is 100% Syrah (!) but instead of the expected deep red color, it’s saturated straw in color – a white Syrah wine. Queen’s Winery House has turned some of its Syrah into a blanc de noir – or white wine made from red grapes. Instead of the common fermentation and maceration that takes place to make red wine, these Syrah grapes have their skins removed while being pressed and drained.
Served chilled but enjoy as it warms in the glass while its silky tannins become more notable on the palate. To me, it tasted super delicious and intellectual.
The two other guys in the panel, Soumitra and Jon Arne, was not so sure. Was it a white, or was it a red? Separating the skin from the grape allows the juice to remain pale, hence the white wine. The result can vary from pale purple to deep golden yellow and ranges in flavor from light and fruity to rich and spicy. The Syrah blanc de noir was more on the fruity side, perhaps plums? It tended to be a dessert wine, they argued; a dessert wine without being too sweet. “Two birds with one stone,” said Soumitra.
Hot pepper red, 13,5% – limited collection of 3000 bottles.
Anna and her team are experimenting, continually trying to diversify from traditional winemaking by crafting unique wines with heart. To make the wine, the winery infuses hot pepper into a base for extraction. “It’s especially suitable to barbeque dinners,” said Anna. I would add, and for some cheese too.
It has a deep, strong smell of pepper. The taste, however, was surprisingly smooth, exhibiting a fine evolution, remarkable balance and an outstanding network of tannins that added elegance and body to the wine.
We all agreed, this wine is super for barbecue – or just as an aperitif. If I had more of this wine, I would have used it both as an aperitif and the wine accompanying the barbecue meal.
Tasting Bulgarian Wine – Conclusion
I have visited both the southern and northern parts of Bulgaria and tasted wines from different regions. I am convinced that Bulgarian wines deserve a prominent place on the world stage. The combination of ancient traditions and modern techniques creates a dynamic wine landscape appealing to connoisseurs as well as adventurous wine enthusiasts. The diversity of terroirs and grape varieties provides a truly unique tasting experience. As you savor the distinct flavors and aromas of Bulgarian wines, remember that each sip encapsulates the essence of a remarkable country.
Tasting Bulgarian Wine, written by Tor Kjolberg