Bulgarian Wines Seek Spot on DMV Wine Lists
October 12, 2015Thinking of Drinking
by Mark Heckathorn of DC on Heels
Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing the Black Sea coastline, rivers including the Danube and a mountainous interior. The country has a long history of grape growing and wine production, dating back to the times of Alexander the Great. Its rich fertile valley was occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans for a period of more than 2,000 years. One of the reasons so many empires coveted the territory was the quality and quantity of the wines it produced.
While Bulgaria has been making wine for at least 7,000 years, it’s still not widely known in the U.S. Although, it is becoming better known for its quality, value and variety. Last week, the Bethesda-based G&B Importers invited sommeliers, wine buyers and the press to sample some Bulgarian wines and learn more about it.
Founded in 2011, G&B is a direct importer and distributor of wines from Bulgaria and other emerging markets. The company contracts with family-owned and operated wineries to produce wines under their proprietary labels. They also import wine under their partners’ labels.
Bulgaria is finding its identity as a modern wine-producing nation. It’s discovering new terroirs, grape varieties and styles. It produces varietals such as Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat. French varieties were brought to Bulgaria in the 1960s at the height of communist rule. Although, the country still produces traditional varieties such as as Kadarka Gamza, Mavrud and Melnik.
