1.Pamid Pamid is very ancient wine variety, cultivated it the Bulgarian lands since ancient Thraces. Before the Philoxera's invasion at the end of XIX, Pamid variety was widespread in Bulgaria, because of it’s stability to soil characteristics and climatic conditions (Pamid sort is frost-resistant), and because of its high yields. Nowadays, the areas planted with Pamid are limited, and it is being replaced with French wine varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. That makes Pamid wines very hard to find. In good years the yields could reach 8000 - 10000 kg. per hectare, still retaining good quality and characteristics of grapes. Pamid wines are light, palatable and mature quickly. Usually, the Pamid wine is ready for consumption as early as November in the same year of produce. 2.Regios Bulgaria can be geographically divided into five wine producing regions. Each one has its own distinct features and peculiarities and is somehow different from the rest. 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 reds are made from the local Gamza as well as from the noble Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc are the most prominent whites. This region is home to the fine wineries of Suhindol and Rousse. Eastern Region The Eastern Region covers the territory along the Black Sea coast between the Northern border with Romania and the Southernmost 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. To my personal opinion the whites from this region are a little too spicy to the Western palate, yet they are greatly appreciated by Bulgarians and East and South Europeans in general. Sub Balkan Region The Sub Balkan Region contains the kettles at the Southern foot of the Balkan Mountain. These deep valleys produce unique micro climates. The famous in Bulgaria Sungurlare Misket comes from there as well as the excellent Sungurlare Eau deVie. White wines from different grapes are local specialty. Slavjantzi is a popular winery from this region. Southern Region 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 Thracian 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 is the winery to note. Their "reserves" are extremely good and my personal favorite. Another interesting local variety is Keratzuda, a rose type produced only in the appellation of Kresna. 3.Bulgarian Sparkling Wines The name Champagne comes from France. The Champagne covers wine gardens from one specific part. The fable tells us that this wine is discovered by accident - originally it has made from a monk called Dom Perignon who by mistake has bottled a wine with sugar. Afterwards he has found out that the wine has "spoiled"- has oxidised in the small barrel where he has had idea to keep it. Very soon this "mistake" has become a regular practice. Sparkling wines are light and soft. The fermentation takes place in small closed barrels - the smaller the barrel, the better (and more expensive the wine). The Champagne is used always at exclusive moments. The classification with Champagne is as follows: it has a sign of very dry if it is "brute-de-brute"; sugar up to 5gl is the description of Brute, followed by dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, with increasing sugar consistence. One famous Bulgarian producer of sparkling wines is Chirpan, location the Thrace Valley. 3.Gamza Gamza is a typical local Bulgarian grape variety. It is mainly cultivated in the North-Bulgaria, in the region of Donau Valley. Gamza grape sort, also locally called Kadarka, has high yields - up to 8000 - 10000kg. per hectare. The best wines come from Suhindol, Novo selo (the Declared Geographic Region of Vidin), Pavlikeni and Pleven. In terms of quality we can compare the sort Gamza with the Hungarian Kadarka. The grapes have light, soft structure, they are not really spicy, but still have the deep colour. Usually the Gamza wine is consumed 2-3 years from its production. These redish wines have ruby color, smooth fruit flavor, and unique freshness. Gamza sort represents the Bulgarian soft-wines. 4.Mavrud We can call the Mavrud wines - one typical Bulgarian sort, and "The king of the red Bulgarian wines" as well. The grape of that brand needs exclusive conditions in order to grow and mature. Mavrud "feels at home" in hilly regions as well as in the hilly outskirts of the Rhodopes Mountain. Its main wine producers are in Assenovgrad, Brestovitza and Perushtitza. In case of optimal maturing process, the wines become intense in colour, with typical for this sort rich flavour and tannin structure. Bulgarian Mavrud wines have strong and but balanced flavour along with its compact and soft in taste. 5.Merlot Merlot is originally French sort of grape and the second most popular right after the Cabernet Sauvignon brands in Bulgaria. Both - Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon - came to Bulgaria from France in the mid-sixties. Typically, Merlot wines are "powerful", "warm" and have deep-red colour. Due to the contact with the oak barrels the wine gains rich and complex flavour with soft tannine scent. In Bulgaria the Merlot wines are with exceptional qualiry, espacialy in the South Bulgaria, in the Thrace Valley Region. 6.Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is called "The king of the red wines". Its country of origin is France. Features of this wine are the intensive colour and a good balanced tannin structure. The young wine is rich in aroma and becomes usually dry already since the beginning of the maturing process. During the ageing into oak barrels gets one rich taste combined with nuances of herbs and fruits and a guaranteed dry taste. However this dry taste is soft and you remember it for a long time. Produced in the North, this wine has fruits` aroma and it is soft in taste. This wine if produced in the Southern regions of the land has somehow stronger taste, heavier and with more intensive colour than the same type of wine coming from the rest of the country. 7.Bulgarian White Wine from grape sort Traminer Originaly Traminer brand originaly comes from France (Elzas), and it is also imported during the mid `70. Nowadays famous producers of wine from this sort are the Khan Krum Winery, Targovishte Winery and Shumen Winery. It is really attractive, popular sort wines and it is preferred among many others. Usually, the colour is light, yellow to yellow-green and has often more nuances of roses. These wines are fine, elegant with good balance between light fruits and strength in taste. 8.Bulgarian white wine from grape sort Muskat Muskat grape brand was imported from France. The wine has attractive and strong flavour as well as rich savour. During the ageing process, especially in oak barrels, the flavour does not develop further but becomes rich in nuances. These grapes are appropriate for a long-lasting ageing process. 9.Wine Classification According to the Wine Law, wines in Bulgaria fall into the following categories: 9.1. Wines of Declared Geographical Origin (D.G.O.) These are wines made from selected grapes originating from a particular geographical region. Origin is declared by the producer. This category constitutes 70% of the quality wines. 9.2. Regional Wines, also called Country Wines. These wines possess the original properties of the grape varieties they are made from Two varietal names can be mentioned on the label. They correspond to the category VIN DE PAYS (France) and LAND WEINE (Germany). These wines constitute 18% of the total production of quality wines. 9.3. Wine without Declared Origin, but of declared variety or registered brand name. They constitute 5% of the total production of the quality wines. 9.4. Wines Of Controlled Appellations of Origin (A.O.C) These wines are made from grapes, originating from strictly defined and controlled micro-regional vineyards with a limited maximum yield of grapes per hectare and defined minimum sugar contents. These wines constitute about 2% of the total production of quality wines. 9.5. "Reserve" Category This is a special category of wines aged in small oak casks with the purpose of extracting phenolic compounds from the wood, and then in larger oak casks. Reserve wines can be either of declared geographical origin, or of controlled appellation of origin.