Wine Enthusiast magazine names Bulgaria’s Plovdiv area among 10 best wine travel destinations of 2017
Wine Enthusiast magazine has named the Bulgaria’s Thracian Lowlands area, around Plovdiv, as among its choice of the 10 best wine travel destinations of 2017.
Wine Enthusiast’s entertainment and lifestyle editors Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen noted that “bounded by the Black Sea to the east and Greece to the south, Bulgaria’s Thracian Valley combines archaeological wonders with modern wines”.
It advised readers: “Plan to travel before 2019, when Plovdiv holds the honour of European Capital of Culture and will be more crowded than usual”.
Quality winemaking may have suffered during the communist era, but today’s young, post-Soviet winemakers are producing excellent wines from indigenous varieties, the article said.
“Mavrud is one of the leading red grapes. It produces a powerful and tannic red wine that can stand alone or be blended with international grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Merlot. Wines are also made from Rubin, a spicy red grape. White wines are produced from native Misket and Dimyat as well as more familiar Chardonnay and Viognier. They can be made in a crisp, stainless steel-fermented style or a fuller oak-aged version.”
Plovdiv hosted the prestigious wine industry event, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, in 2016. The city also hosts the annual Vinaria exhibition of wine and vine, the largest-scale such event on the Balkans.
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/Leisure
