It is a pleasure to announce that New Wines of Ancient Thrace will continue its USA promotional program in 2017.
If you have
yet to discover the New
Wines of Ancient Thrace then you must put it on your list. New Wines of Ancient Thrace is a promotional campaign of
the Bulgarian Wine Export Association (BWEA). The upcoming promotional
program in the USA will include two important events:
2. Then in June they will return to Houston for the second time
participating in the Wine & Food Week.
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| Ancient Thrace: Today's Struma Valley © Spaswinefood |
New Wines of Ancient Thrace
The New Wines of Ancient Thrace includes wines from the
following five wine regions:
1. Thracian Lowland,
2. Rose Valley,
3. Danube Plain,
4. Black Sea Region, and
5. Struma Valley.
Wine
has had a long history in these areas, dating back to the Thracians. Moreover, the cult
of Dionysus, the god of wine, is believed to have originated in ancient Thrace.
Homer once described ancient Thrace as a region of good wine. Artifacts
indicate that thousands of years ago, the ancient Thracians drank wine. Wine was
a part of everyday life, from birth to death for everyone, from salves to
rulers. Clearly wine was important to ancient Thracians. Today these wine
regions are experiencing a rebirth. Some wine critics suggest the wines are not
only back but also the wines are better than ever. This makes now the
perfect time to discover New
Wines of Ancient Thrace.
 |
| Ancient Thrace: Today's Rose Valley © Spaswinefood |
Ancient Thrace's Rose and Struma Valleys
The
same passion for wine making that was part of Ancient Thrace continues today in
modern Bulgaria. An earlier Spaswinefood visit to the Rose and Struma Valley wine regions gave
me the opportunity to discover what is so
special about the New Wines
of Ancient Thrace. I was introduced to
wines made from exciting indigenous grape varieties, such as Mavrud, Melnik, and
Ruen. I also tasted excellent wines from
international grape varieties, like Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The
cultivation of some indigenous grape varieties in this area dates back to the
ancient Thracians.
 |
| Melnik Grapes © Spaswinefood |
The upcoming promotional events in USA will be a great
opportunity to taste wines from Ancient Thrace. Once you have tasted New Wines of Ancient Thrace you will want to continue this
special wine journey onwards.
 |
| Discovering Ancient Thrace Wines © Spaswinefood |
My
earlier introduction to Rose and Struma Valley wines has inspired me to
continuing my New Wines of
Ancient Thrace journey. Needless to say I was delighted to discover that these wines
are being promoted in the US. Further details on New Wines of Ancient Thrace are provided at the end of this article. I invite
you to join me in my future wine adventures in wine regions of Ancient Thrace
at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
San
José, California
December
2016
©
Spaswinefood
Note: Earlier within country travels were part of a press trip
was sponsored by #dwcc15 and our New Wines of Ancient Thrace hosts.
New Wines of Ancient Thrace
to continue its promotional program in Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas,
USA
After the successful
launching of the promotional program New Wines of Ancient Thrace in Houston,
Texas, Bulgarian Wine Export Association will continue its activities on the US
market in Chicago and Houston again.
Two important events are
in the schedule of Bulgarian Wine Export
Association (BWEA) – beginning of May the wineries will attend the World Wine Meeting Chicago and then in
June they will return to Houston for the second time participating in Wine & Food Week.
The events will attract
importers, distributors, major retailers, media, supermarkets and restaurant
owners, wine professionals from Chicago and Houston area. Several events are
included in the program of the wineries’ representatives who believe that the wine
business and the wine loving audience in Chicago and Houston will be thrilled
by the new wines, coming in this growing wine market.
New Wines
of Ancient Thrace is a promotional campaign
of the Bulgarian Wine Export Association
(BWEA), established in 2012 with the main objective to actively introduce
high-quality European wines to new markets. The main activities of the Association include: wine promotion, organization
of conferences, workshops and seminars with promotional and informative
purposes, support for the increase of wine export through the creation and
management of projects, financed by EU funds, to penetrate to some of the most
important world wine markets, to show the new modern face of
the old Thracian wines.
BWEA is continuing its program in
China – Shanghai and Hong Kong -
participating in the most important Asian wine fairs – ProWine China and Hong
Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair. The project includes activities in
Japan as well.
“We
are thrilled to return in the States with many more activities this year!” says
Galina Niforou, BWEA chairwoman. “The quality of our wines was never so high,
we have all the necessary elements for competing in this important wine market
– good quality, good price/quality ratio, interesting new local varieties,
great packaging and highly motivated winemakers to do their best for making
even better wines year after year. I’m sure that all the wineries,
participating in this project will find the right distributor and will start
selling their wines in the US market. Have you ever tried Mavrud? Or Melnik,
Rubin and Gamza? You will be amazed! Our wines are really the well kept secret
from the land of Spartacus!”
New Wines of Ancient Thrace
proudly highlights the facts that wine has been made in this land
for 6 thousands years. Cult of
the god of wine Dionysus actually originated from ancient Thrace. The
Thracians drank their wine undiluted with water; this was the main
difference from the ancient Greeks who poured 3 parts of water and one part of
wine into their Phiale.
For the Thracians, wine
was a sacred element of religious practice. The best-known pieces of gold
and silver, which depict ritual wine drinking situations with the god Dionysus,
are found in this land.
Actually
Thrace is the oldest place of wine making in Europe. Its vineyards share some of
the same soil characteristics and latitude of famous wine growing regions in
Bordeaux, the South of France and Central Italy.
Its
tradition along with the modern state of art wineries are giving the brilliant
results of high quality wines produced from indigenous grape varieties like Mavrud, Melnik, Rubin, Gamza, Dimyat, Red
Misket, etc.
The
international grape varieties like Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc are also
widely planted there and giving some word class examples.
The
country is devided into 5 wine regions, each with its specific terroir and
climate conditions, but all of them suitable for high quality winemaking.
Grape varieties
Mavrud
Considered to date back
to Ancient Thrace times, Mavrud is a red wine grape, which for centuries has
been exclusively grown in the region of the ancient Filippopolis, north of the
Rhodoppe Mountains. This variety is normally used for making dark wines with
deep color and soft taste. Its
cultivation is difficult and requires special dedication. However, the unique
quality of the wine made of Mavrud is worth the effort!
Melnik
The Melnik vine is a red
grape variety, grown in the region of the Struma valley, which is characterized
with Mediterranean climate. According to a legend, the wine made of Melnik vine
was among the favourite wines of Winston Churchill. This variety can produce
increasingly powerful wines with rich texture, exotic perfume and soft tannin.
Gamza
Cultivated since ancient
times, the grape variety of Gamza, also known as “Kadarka”in many Balkan
countries, is best grown in the Danube region. It produces vivid red wines with
pleasant fruit taste and distinct freshness. This variety requires very
specific climate conditions, which is why it is predominantly cultivated in the
region of the Danube valley.
Dimyat
Known for its aromatic
grapes, Dimyat has been grown for centuries in the Black Sea region. Dimyat
wines have a sweet taste, strong aroma and light color. The grapes of Dimyat ripe in late September. This grape
variety is the most popular one in the Black Sea Region.
Pamid
According to the legends,
ancient Thracians have been very keen consumers of Pamid wines, characterized
with pleasant light and fruit taste. While it has been widely cultivated by
Thracians over a number of centuries, nowadays it continues to be grown
specifically in the region of the Thracian valley.
Rubin
A successful crossing between Syrah and Nebbiolo
A dark blue-colored wine
grape variety, Rubin is the mostly planted in the Thracian valley region. The
vines of Rubin , planted along the Thracian valley and bordered by the
Strandzha Mountains, tend to produce wines with explicitly rich taste and
color. Taste them and you will be amazed!
For
more information about the New Wines of Ancient Thrace promotional campaign:
contact:
eng. Galina Niforou, Wine MBA - BWEA
chairwoman: niforou@oinorama.com,
www.winesofthrace.bg
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