Bulgaria

Question 1

What is the historical significance of Bulgaria’s wine industry?

Answer 1

Bulgaria’s wine history dates back about 3,000 years

Question 2

What impact did the Ottoman Empire have on Bulgaria’s wine industry?

Answer 2

The Ottoman Empire impeded the industry’s growth

Question 3

What happened to Bulgaria’s wine culture after the fall of the Ottomans?

Answer 3

Wine culture resumed, and cooperatives were swiftly established

Question 4

What organization was formed in 1948 to manage vineyard expansion in Bulgaria?

Answer 4

Vinprom

Question 5

What was the goal of establishing vineyards on flatter, more fertile grounds in Bulgaria?

Answer 5

To produce higher yields and allow for mechanized farming

Question 6

By the late 1950s, what was Bulgaria’s rank in global wine exports?

Answer 6

Fourth largest global wine exporter

Question 7

What was the significance of PepsiCo’s involvement in Bulgaria during the 1970s?

Answer 7

PepsiCo paid for its cola concentrate with Bulgarian wine

Question 8

Who did PepsiCo hire to help improve the quality of Bulgarian wine?

Answer 8

Professor Maynard Amerine of UC Davis

Question 9

What were the effects of Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol reforms in 1985 on Bulgaria’s wine industry?

Answer 9

Stymied the industry, raising and fixing grape prices

Question 10

What was the pace of privatization in Bulgaria after the collapse of the Communist regime in 1990?

Answer 10

Moved at a slow pace

Question 11

Which group lent prestige to Bulgaria’s wine industry in 2002?

Answer 11

France’s Belvedere Group

Question 12

What significant change occurred in Bulgaria’s wine industry by 2007?

Answer 12

Bulgaria entered the EU

Question 13

What opportunities arose for small wineries in Bulgaria after entering the EU?

Answer 13

Agricultural funding became available for establishing and improving wineries

Question 14

How many wine producers were there in Bulgaria by 2018?

Answer 14

Over 250 producers

Question 15

What legislation governs Bulgarian wine law?

Answer 15

Wine Act of 1978

Question 16

What does the Controliran system outline?

Answer 16

The best regions and styles for wine

Question 17

What are the two defined levels of quality for Bulgarian wine?

Answer 17

Table wine and quality wine

Question 18

What are the two PGIs in Bulgaria?

Answer 18

• Danubian Plain
• Thracian Lowlands

Question 19

How many PDOs does Bulgaria have?

Answer 19

52 PDOs

Question 20

What percentage of the 2016 harvest in Bulgaria was declared PDO wine?

Answer 20

Less than 1%

Question 21

What are the five large regions of wine production in Bulgaria?

Answer 21

• Northern Danubian Plain
• Eastern Black Sea coast
• Southern Thracian Plain
• Sub-Balkan zone (Valley of the Roses)
• Southwestern Struma River Valley

Question 22

What climate does the Struma River Valley enjoy?

Answer 22

Mediterranean climate

Question 23

What does the term ‘barik’ indicate on a wine label?

Answer 23

Fermentation occurred in oak casks of 500L or less

Question 24

What do the terms ‘Reserve’ and ‘Special Selection’ indicate?

Answer 24

Aging of a single variety for one or two years, respectively

Question 25

What percentage of Bulgaria's area under vine is dedicated to red grapes?

Answer 25

About 60%

Question 26

Which two grape varieties account for over half of all red grapes planted in Bulgaria?

Answer 26

* Cabernet Sauvignon * Merlot

Question 27

What historic grape accounts for 10% of all plantings in Bulgaria?

Answer 27

Pamid

Question 28

What is the native grape variety that composes about 3% of plantings in Bulgaria?

Answer 28

Gamza (Kadarka) and Mavrud

Question 29

What grape variety is a crossing of Nebbiolo and Syrah and shows great potential?

Answer 29

Rubin

Question 30

What are the most planted white grape varieties in Bulgaria?

Answer 30

* Red Misket (Misket Cherven) * Rkatsiteli * Dimiat

Question 31

Map

Answer 31