Bulgarians have been making wine for centuries. The Thracians, a group of Indo-European tribes who inhabited present-day Bulgaria, were known for their wine making skills. Homer and Plato mentioned Thracian “unmixed” wine in their literary works (apparently, the Greeks mixed this dark, red wine with water).

Today, visitors can find the art of wine making alive and well in a typical Bulgarian home (although the European Union may put a stop to such practices). The front garden of many homes are covered with metal pergolas, from which bunches of grapes bob in the sunlight.

Bulgaria is comprised of five major wine regions: the Danubian Plains, the Black Sea, the Rose Valley, the Thracian Lowlands, and the Struma Valley. Bulgarian wines are considered Old World wines because winemakers emphasize conditions such as soil, climate, and topography—collectively, known as terroir—over science. Unique varietals include Gamza, Kadarka, Mavrud, and Melnik.

In the U.S., one can relax by doing as the Bulgarians do—enjoy a glass of wine accompanied by a small serving of sirene. Na zdrave!

Cultural Lesson: In general, Bulgarians drink wine during the cooler months and enjoy beer during the warmer months.

Filed under: Wine on October 20th, 2010