When you think of wine you probably think of countries like Italy, France, and Spain, or if you favor new world wines, then perhaps Argentina, Australia, and Chile come to mind. But, Bulgaria? What does Bulgaria have to offer when it comes to wine? The answer will surprise you.
Bulgarians were making wine long before the Italians or French. Wine in Bulgaria was first made 7,000 years ago by the Thracians, known in ancient times for their superior ability as warriors (Spartacus probably being the most famous gladiator among them).
Thracians loved their wine, which took center stage in their rituals and religious ceremonies. They viewed wine as much more than fermented juice to make you smile-it was a conduit between people and gods; a divine drink consumed from fine golden vessels. The most famous archaeological evidence of this is from the Panagyurishte gold treasure-an exquisite beverage set made of 24-karat gold dating back to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC.
And Thracians loved their wine so much they would not mix it with water, as Romans did. “Drinking as a Thracian” was a phrase used by Romans to describe someone who was tough enough to handle drinking undiluted wine.
If ancient history is not enough, Bulgarian wines have made a huge comeback the past couple of years. Bulgaria’s Thracian Valley region has been selected as one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations for 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine (read the full article here) and Bulgarian wines have been continuously praised by leading wine experts not only for their exceptional quality at jaw-dropping prices but also for the many unique native grape varieties that you won’t find anywhere else.
So there it is an open invitation to a festival like no other, where three thousand years of wine history will be generously shared (because wine is meant to be shared, right?) during the annual three-day Young Wine Parade in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on 24-26 November 2017.
We invite you to join us, have fun and taste the best young Bulgarian wines in the most amazing setting: Plovdiv’s ancient Old Town, currently honored on the UNESCO heritage tentative list.
When in Plovdiv, do what the Thracians do (...though we can’t guarantee gold drinking vessels).
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Want to know more about Bulgarian wine? Check out what these wine specialists have to say about it:
The Wine Folly http://www.winemag.com/2017/01/05/thracian-lowlands-bulgaria-best-wine-destinations-2017/
Christy Canterbury, wine master http://christycanterbury.com/2017/09/19/a-tour-of-bulgaria-in-a-glass/
Wine Enthusiast Magazine http://www.winemag.com/2017/01/05/thracian-lowlands-bulgaria-best-wine-destinations-2017/
Hillary Zio, wine consultant http://www.hillaryzio.com/blog/2017/5/12/beautiful-bulgaria