AgriworldSA

Bulgaria is located in south-eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey. The total land area is 110,910 sq km.

Bulgaria occupies a unique and strategically important geographic location. Since ancient times, the country has been a major crossroad between Europe, Asia and Africa. Five of the ten Trans-European corridors run through its territory.

The country comprises portions of the classical regions of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia. The southwest of the country is mountainous with two alpine ranges - Rila and Pirin and further east are the lower but more extensive Rhodope Mountains. Rila mountain includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, at 2,925 meters (9,596 ft); the long range of the Balkan Mountains runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous Rose Valley.

Wine making traditions have endured during the Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule in Bulgaria. After the liberation from the Ottoman yoke wine making prospered. The economic progress after the Liberation laid the foundations of Bulgarian vinology. Fine wineries evolved. As a whole, however, Bulgaria continued the traditions of South and East European wine making, producing light, often over oxidized wines for immediate consumption.

During the time behind the "Iron Curtain" wine making was consolidated, monopolized, and turned into a state industry. Its target market, however, was restricted to the "Eastern Block" in the framework of the UEP (Union of Economic Partnership) of the socialist countries and standards remained low.

Until 1990 the wine industry in Bulgaria was state-owned and was operated by Vinprom and exported by its subsidiary Vinimpex. In the 80's import of American and Australian know-how laid the ground for production of high quality wines in Bulgaria. Coupled with centuries old traditions and enormous natural potential this tendency bore fruit and Bulgarian wines are gaining popularity among consumers in Western Europe, United States, Canada, and even as far as China and Japan. Bulgarian wine has been growing in popularity and is making its own niche on Western and World markets.

The potential for wine making in Bulgaria is enormous. The climate in the northern part of the country is continental with cool winters and hot summers. It is milder to the south due to the influence of the Black sea and the Mediterranean. Local hilly terrenes create ideal micro-climates and combined with good quality soils they produce extremely suitable conditions for growing best quality grapes. Bulgaria has several well developed viticulture and enology institutes, most notably in Plovdiv the second largest city in the country.

Northern region
The Northern region spans the area between the Danube River and the Balkan mountain range from North to South and between the Dobrudzha Valley and the Yugoslav border from East to West respectively. High quality wines are produced from a number of different grapes, red as well as white. The overwhelming majority of wines from this area are white, and they include varieties such as Chardonnay, Muscat, Sauvignon and Aligote, as well as the indigenous Balkan vines such as Misket (a cross between Rhine Riesling and Dimiat), Dimiat and Rkatsiteli. The reds are made from the local Gamza as well as from the noble Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties.

The region enjoys long, warm autumns which ripen the fruit to full maturity, retaining good levels of acidity, producing dry and semi-dry whites notable for their fruitiness and freshness. Sparkling wines also come from this sub-region. Controlled wines in this region include "Varna Chardonnay".

The summers are cooler. This mild climate, coupled with the excellent soil, have combined over the years to yield some of Bulgaria's finest quality dry and semi-dry white wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Johannisberg Riesling, Dimiat and Gewürztraminer from Novi Pazar, Shumen and Preslav.

Bulgaria's first brandy was made in this part of the country, and its production continues to this day.

Controlled wines in this region include "Treasure of Kralevo,' "Khan Krum Traminer", "Novi Pazar", "Chardonnay" and "Preslav Chardonnay".

Eastern Region
The Eastern Region covers the territory along the Black Sea coast between the Northern border with Romania and the Southern most point on the sea coast where Bulgaria shoulders Turkey. The wines from the Eastern region are made mostly from white grapes. Almost all renowned white grape varieties may be found along with the native Misket and Dimiat. The major wineries are Varna and Preslav.

This region comprises about one quarter of the country's vineyards, and is made up of three sub-regions. The Tracian Valley from the Balkan Range to the Greek border and boasts almost Mediterranean climatic conditions particularly good for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot production. The best Bulgarian variety grape-Mavrud grows in the Tracian Valley. Pomorie, Nessebar and, further south, Bourgas among its towns. Overall, it is significantly warmer than the other coastal areas, and the wines reflect this in their ripeness and fruitiness. Again, most of the local varieties are white, mainly Misket, Muskat Ottonel, Dimiat, Chardonnay, Ugni, Sauvignon and Aligote. Controlled wines in this region include "Rose from the Southern Coast", but some of the best Bulgarian red wines, comes from this region. Jambol and Haskovo are fine appellations. The major wineries are Jambol, Assenovgrad and Stambolovo/Haskovo.

The East Sub-Balkan Region, effectively the Sungurlare valley, grows mainly Misket from which light, white wines, best drunk young, are made. So too are vermouth and other aperitifs. Controlled wines in this region include "Sungurlare Misket".

The West Sub-Balkan Region, better known as the Valley of the Roses, is the native land of the oleaginous rose from which the renowned Attar of Roses is produced. The wineries spread around the towns of Karlovo and Maslovetz, produce wines from Misket, Muskat, Kadarka and Cabernet Sauvignon. Controlled wines in this region include "Misket from the Valley of Roses (Rozova Dolina)"

Southern Region
It is in the South that one can enjoy the endless beauty of Bulgaria. The Southern Region includes the Tracian Valley from the Balkan Range to the Greek border and boasts almost Mediterranean climatic conditions particularly good for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot production. The best Bulgarian variety grape-Mavrud grows in the Tracian Valley. Reds coming from this region are superb. Jambol and Haskovo are fine appellations.

South Western Region
The South Western region covers what is popularly known as Pirin Macedonia. The Struma Valley runs along it and brings strong Mediterranean influence in terms of climate. Fine Cabernets are produced there. The appellation of Melnik is home to the Melnik variety. An aromatic and hefty wine that ages very well. Damianitza Winery "reserves" are extremely good. Another interesting local variety is Keratzuda, a rose type produced only in the appellation of Kresna.

The region produces only a small proportion of Bulgaria's wine. This is a hotter, drier region, next to the Greek border, and vegetation is up to a month ahead of the rest of the country. The red wine is said to be redolent of fresh tobacco leaf, and it ages very well.

As still unpopular as it is, Bulgaria is the second largest exporter of bottled wine in the world, second only to France and it has four times the area, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, of California. 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 depending on the crop. In the Bulgarian wine industry, traditional classic technologies are applied, as well as refined, and modern ones borrowed from the leading wine producing countries like France.

In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark - the currency is now fixed against the euro - and the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady progress on structural reforms improved the business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 5.1% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.

Ferrous metallurgy is very important. The production of steel and pig iron is concentrated in Kremikovtsi and Pernik. There is also a third metallurgical base in Debelt. In production of steel and steel products per capita the country is first in the Balkans.

The largest refineries for lead and zinc are in Plovdiv (the biggest refinery between Italy and the Ural mountains), Kardzhali and Novi Iskar; for copper in Pirdop and Eliseina; for aluminium in Shumen. In production of many metals per capita, Bulgaria is first in South Eastern Europe and among the first in Europe and the world.

About 14% of the total industrial production is related to machine building and 24% of the people are employed in this field. Its importance decreased since 1989 but is growing again.

Electronics and electric equipment production is very well developed. The largest centres are Sofia, Plovdiv and surrounding area, Botevgrad, Stara Zagora, Varna, Pravets and many others. These plants produce household appliances, computers, CDs, telephones, medical and scientific equipment.

Many factories producing transportation equipment do not work at full capacity. The main centre of agricultural machinery is Ruse. Shipbuilding is concentrated in Varna, Burgas and Ruse. Arms production is mainly developed in central Bulgaria (Kazanlak, Sopot, Karlovo).

The property market has been boosted recently by foreigners seeking additional homes. Buyers come from right across Europe but most are British, encouraged by relatively cheap property and because the country is more accessible through cheap air travel.

There are summer resorts on the Black Sea at Sozopol, Nessebur, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Albena, St. St. Constantine & Helena and many others. Spa resorts such as Bankya, Hisarya, Sandanski, Velingrad, Varshets and many others are popular all over the year. Bulgaria is becoming an attractive destination because of the quality of the resorts and prices below those found in Western Europe.

Bulgaria has 3 national parks, 10 natural parks, 90 reserves, 429 reservation areas and 350 natural landmarks. In the European Union, Bulgaria is at second place (after Spain) by the number of the UNESCO Biosphere reserves, 16. The first nature reserve in the country was Silkosia in the Strandzha mountain, declared in 1931; followed by Parangalitsa, Rila in 1933.