Bulgaria is a small country in Southeastern Europe, with only 520 km from the western border to the Black Sea, and 330 km from Romania to the north and Greece and Turkey to the south. With the exception of the Balkan mountain range, which runs west to east almost in the middle of the country, vines are planted all over Bulgaria.
Summers are usually hot, with temperatures up to 40 C, and winters are cold, with temperatures occasionally going down to -20 C. The Black Sea and the two big rivers, Danube and Maritsa, soften the effect of the extreme differences in temperature. The most wide-spread climatic risks for vines are fungal diseases because of the high humidity. Annual precipitation ranges roughly from 47 cm to 95 cm. Normally, irrigation of vines is not necessary.
Bulgaria has got a centuries-old vine-growing and wine-producing heritage through its Thracian heritage as Thrace was an important wine region in Southeastern Europe in ancient times. The country’s present wine industry is less than a century old, and has undergone many changes in the last 100 years.
Bulgaria’s vineyards are still dominated by popular international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Mavrud and broad-leafed Melnik are indigenous red grape varieties.
Since 1 January 2007, Bulgaria has been a member of the EU and adheres to the rules and regulations of the vine-growing and wine-producing sectors of the EU.
