Villa Melnik Winery, Harsovo is a family-owned boutique winery. The winery is located just 7 kilometers south of the town of Melnik, in Struma River Valley wine region. This Southwest Bulgarian wine region, situated between the Pirin Mountains and the Struma River, is a small but a very significant wine region. Its significance is because of the indigenous grape Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik) that is found there. The grape takes it name from the town of Melnik. Wine made from Melnik grapes is highly valued for its full-bodied flavor, ruby-red color and its aging potential. The Mediterranean influenced climate also makes it ideal for growing international grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
After a long drive from the Rose Valley we were met by the owners of Villa Melnik when we arrived in Melnik. Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, with a population of less than 400 people, is a charming Struma Valley town.
Immediately upon arrival in Melnik we were served a typical Bulgarian meal for lunch.
At the end of our Kordopolova House tour we tasted one of their wines. T
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| Villa Melnik Winery © Spaswinefood |
Immediately upon arrival in Melnik we were served a typical Bulgarian meal for lunch.
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Lunch in Melnik © Spaswinefood
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Lunch was a wonderful dining experience. It one of the best meals that I had in Bulgaria. The wines available at lunch included Villa Melnik, Bergulé Viognier Chardonnay 2013 and a red table wine.
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Villa Melnik, Bergulé Viognier Chardonnay 2013 © Spaswinefood
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After lunch we explored Melnik, stopping for a visit at Kordopolova House, a 200-year-old historic house from the National Revival Period.
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Kordopolova House, Melnik © Spaswinefood
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Villa Melnik Winery
Villa Melnik Winery sits on a hill, overlooking 30 hectares of estate vineyards. The winery specializes in small lot single varietals and blends. During our visit we viewed the vineyards, toured the modern winery facilities, and the underground cave-like cellars.
There just happened to be Melnik grapes being processed when we arrived at the winery.
During our quick tour of the winery we viewed the tanks, bottling area, the cellar and the barrel room.
We could not resist stopping briefly in the barrel room to take a few photos.
Nikola Zikatanov, winery proprietor is surrounded by a very talented group of women. Lyubka T Zikatanov (wife), manages the winery, Militza Zikatanov (daughter) is the commercial manager and Roumyana Stoilova is the head winemaker.
A modern winery with a competent, well educated leadership team is the recipe for success.
Villa Melnik Wines
Our wine tasting at Villa Melnik included both international and indigenous varieties (Broadleaf Melnik, Melnik 55, Ruen and Mavrud). Specifically, the Bulgarian indigenous grape varieties included:
There were some tempting cheeses and meats to nibble on while wine tasting.
Villa Melnik wines we tasted at the winery included:
1. Bergulé Rosé 2014
2. Bergulé Ruen 2013
3. Bergulé Melnik 2013
4. Bergulé Melnik & Pinot Noir 2013
5. AplauZ Mavrud Reserve 2013
6. AplauZ Syrah Reserve 2013
7. AplauZ Melnik 55 Reserve 2013
Melnik 55 Reserve 2013 was a very big hit with our group. If you get a chance to taste this wine please do. It is a winner. One of the winery's primary goals is to focus of producing high quality wines from the local grapes, in particular Melnik. I was very impressed by the overall quality of the Villa Melnik wines that I tasted. These wines were made by the talented winemaker, Roumyana Stoilova who holds a master's in Oenology and Viticulture from Victor Segalen University, Bordeaux, France. Villa Melnik wines are available in the US from Kristova Family Partners.
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Villa Melnik Vineyards © Spaswinefood
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| Melnik Grapes, Villa Melnik Winery © Spaswinefood |
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| Processing Melnik Grapes, Villa Melnik Winery © Spaswinefood |
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Tanks, Villa Melnik Winery © Spaswinefood |
Bottling Area, Villa Melnik Winery © Spaswinefood
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| Villa Melnik Winery Leadership © Spaswinefood |
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Militza Zikatanov, Villa Melnik's Commercial Manager © Spaswinefood
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Villa Melnik Wines
Our wine tasting at Villa Melnik included both international and indigenous varieties (Broadleaf Melnik, Melnik 55, Ruen and Mavrud). Specifically, the Bulgarian indigenous grape varieties included:
- Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik, a Bulgarian red grape variety found near Melnik in the Struma River Valley. Wines produced from these grapes have been compared to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Winston Churchill has been reported to have been extremely fond of this wine.
- Melnik 55 (Early Melnik), a hybrid Bulgarian grape developed because the Broadleaf Melnik grape often ripens late when the weather is cold and damp. The hybrid was produced using Valdiguié pollen.
- Ruen is a cross between Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik) and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is an expressive wine that has described as having flavors of black cherry, liquorice, cigar and nuts.
- Ruen is a cross between Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik) and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is an expressive wine that has described as having flavors of black cherry, liquorice, cigar and nuts.
- Mavrud comes from the Greek word (mavro) meaning black. The wine made from this grape has a dark ruby color. It has been described as having high tannins and excellent acidity. On the palate it tends to be spicy, with stewed fruit and herbal flavors.
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| Tasting Villa Melnik Wines © Spaswinefood |
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| Snacks, Villa Melnik © Spaswinefood |
Villa Melnik wines we tasted at the winery included:
1. Bergulé Rosé 2014
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| Villa Melnik, Bergulé Rosé 2014 © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, Bergulé Ruen 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, Bergulé Melnik 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, Bergulé Melnik & Pinot Noir 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, AplauZ Mavrud Reserve 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, AplauZ Syrah Reserve 2013 (center) © Spaswinefood |
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| Villa Melnik, Aplauz Melnik 55 Reserve 2013 © Spaswinefood |
Melnik 55 Reserve 2013 was a very big hit with our group. If you get a chance to taste this wine please do. It is a winner. One of the winery's primary goals is to focus of producing high quality wines from the local grapes, in particular Melnik. I was very impressed by the overall quality of the Villa Melnik wines that I tasted. These wines were made by the talented winemaker, Roumyana Stoilova who holds a master's in Oenology and Viticulture from Victor Segalen University, Bordeaux, France. Villa Melnik wines are available in the US from Kristova Family Partners.
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| Villa Melnik Wines © Spaswinefood |
By the time we left Villa Melnik that evening it was already getting dark. The sun was setting in the Struma Valley.
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| Sunset, Struma Valley © Spaswinefood |
There is a long tradition of wine making in Bulgaria's Struma River Valley. In recent years there has been a revival of wine making in this wine region. Several new, modern wineries, such as Villa Melnik Winery have been built. What is so exciting is that these wineries are producing high quality wine from local and international grape varieties. Villa Melnik was my first introduction to this wine region. Wineries, like Villa Melnik, suggest to me that the Struma River Valley wine region has amazing potential. It is certainly a Bulgarian wine region that I expect to shine.
Spaswinefood is so looking forward to writing future posts on my Bulgarian wine adventures. I invite you to join me in my travels in Bulgaria and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Spaswinefood is so looking forward to writing future posts on my Bulgarian wine adventures. I invite you to join me in my travels in Bulgaria and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
October 2015
Melnik, Bulgaria
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