Bulgarian Wines at Chef Geoff’s
December 4, 2015Bulgarian Wines at Chef Geoff’s
World’s oldest wines, perfect for any holiday
by Alex Barron of DC Spotlight 11/17/2015
Italy and France are synonymous with European wine, but the world’s oldest wine growing is thought by some to be further east. The Thracian Valley is a fertile area of present-day Bulgaria. Just how old are these wines? Homer gives them a shout-out in the Iliad. These days, the region is obscure to the casual drinker, but thanks to G&B Importers and its partnership with several area restaurants and shops, it is rapidly putting itself back on the map.
Chef Geoff’s Wines
Chef Geoff’s, which now offers a Bulgarian house wine, has embraced the Thracian Valley wholeheartedly. On its surface, this is a somewhat odd marriage; the downtown eatery is known for solid, unpretentious American standards. But one of the reasons for its enduring popularity is its affordability, especially relative to other restaurants in the area. That’s where Bulgarian wines come in: at $8-12 per bottle, they represent an outstanding value.
G&B distributes wines from several Bulgarian vineyards, the most highly touted of which is Bulgariana, which boasts five wines with ratings of 86 or more from Wine Enthusiast. Bulgariana excels at deep, rich reds, like a highly regarded 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, which finishes with hints of chocolate and espresso, and a fruitier 2012 Cabernet. K Cellars, another of G&B’s most popular wineries, also offers several winners, such as its complex 2012 Merlot.
Most of these varietals, especially the darker ones, would make a fine accompaniment for a traditional Bulgarian kebapche (grilled minced meat, not unlike a sausage), but they also go just fine with a large American steak. Plenty of liquor stores in and around the beltway now carry the entire line of options from both Bulgariana and K Cellars, but Chef Geoff’s might be the best spot in town to discover a wine tradition old enough to be familiar to the likes of Alexander the Great.
