spaswinefood: Orbelus Winery: Spring into summer with Bulgarian organic wines

As springtime was transitioning into summer I returned to Orbelus Winery in the Struma Valley Wine Region. There are two things about this winery that immediately caught the attention of this Spaswinefood enthusiast. They are Orbelus Winery's 1) unique architecture, and 2) its organic wines. This winery's primary objective is to produce quality Bulgarian organic wines.

Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

The winery's stunning design is further enhanced by its hillside location. It is surrounded by vineyards and seven mountain peaks in the distance.

Return to Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

Returning to the Struma Valley brought back memories of my first visit to this winery. That visit was on a late evening in October 2015. Night was settling into the valley, the moon was already rising in the fall sky. Orbelus Winery was quite new given it had just opened in 2014. They started their vineyard plantings earlier. In fact Bulgarian and European Law had certified their vineyards planted in 2006-08, as meeting the requirements for organic grape production.

Fall 2015 Visit, Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

I was delighted to return. This time it was daylight; so I paused to view the surrounding vineyards and countryside.

Orbelus Winery Vineyards © Spaswinefood

Mountain and Vineyard Views, Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

Struma Valley's Orbelus Winery

I was excited to return to Orbelus Winery, a key player in the rebirth of the Struma Valley Wine Region. When we arrived at Orbelus the manager and the oenologist greeted us. They explained how the owners worked with an architect to achieve the winery's unique design. The half-barrel shape was conceived as being both 1) in harmony with natural environment, and 2) desire to strike a balance between tradition and modernity. Our hosts were happy to showcase the winery, and to share how they produce their organic wines.

Late Spring, Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

Connecting with Nature, Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

Half of the winery's construction is below ground. This has some advantages in the wine production, such a below ground wine cellar. It was a delight to do a very quick walk through this modern winery before proceeding to the tasting room.

Night Visit: Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

During the tour attention was also paid to some of the specific requirements for organic wine production. One example is, the winery is in compliance with the requirements for organic wine requirements for the vinification process.

Orbelus Winery's Tank and Barrel Area © Spaswinefood

Barrel Room, Orbelus Winery © Spaswinefood

Next, let's take a look at the wines.

 Obelus Wines: The Grape Story

Bulgaria grows about 120 grape varieties, which includes indigenous, international and hybrid grape varieties. In the case of Orbelus their organic wines are produced from indigenous, international and hybrid grape varieties. Melnik 55 (a hybrid of the indigenous grape Shiroka Melnishka Loza) is central to Orbelus's mission to value tradition while continuing to search for new ways. This grape, also known as Early Melnik, is used in its red wine blends. Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik) is native to the Struma Valley, taking its name from the town of Melnik. Wine made from Melnik grapes is highly prized for its full-bodied flavor, ruby-red color and its aging potential. Other red grapes that are cultivated by Orbelus include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Primitivo, Rubin, Marselan and Mourvedre.

Orbelus Melnik Organic Wine 2014 © Spaswinefood

Rubin, one of the best-known hybrids grown in Bulgaria, is also used in some of their wines. Rubin was developed by Wine and Viticulture Institute, Plever in 1940's by crossing Nebbiolo and Syrah. The grape was certified in 1961. The wine produced from this grape tends to take on the characteristics of both Nebbiolo and Syrah. The result is the wine tends to be spicy, with flavors of cherries, strawberries, black currents, violets and pepper.

Their white grape varieties include Chardonnay, Viognier, Sandanski Misket and Assyrtiko. Sandanski Misket is another Bulgarian hybrid approved in 1979. It was produced by crossing Tamianka and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is the wine tends to have a muscatel flavor, with floral aromas, and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. In the case of Assyrtiko it is a white wine grape from nearby Greece.

Orbelus Wines © Spaswinefood

Overall there is really a diverse variety of grapes used in the making of Orbelus's organic wines.

Let's spring into summer with Orbelus Wines

 This organic winery's unique architecture definitely creates a wine inspired setting for wine tasting. Moreover, the view from the tasting room that day was awesome.

View from Orbelus Tasting Room © Spaswinefood

It was the perfect setting to checkout the winery's three wine series. Orbelus is experimenting with the use of Melnik 55 in three red wine blends, namely Melnik, Prima and Getika. They added a rosé wine, Orbelus Paril in 2013. Their white wine blends are under the Orbelus Orelek label. In 2012 they added the Orbelus Hrumki series where the production is limited to one wine in this series each year.

Now let us take a quick look at the wines I tasted from Orbelus's wine series.

Obelus Wines Tasted © Spaswinefood

I delighted in getting to know these wines.

Explaining Orbelus Wines © Spaswinefood

We were most fortunate to have the oenologist available during the wine tasting. It was indeed an inviting lineup of wines included in the wine tasting.

Orbelus Wine Lineup © Spaswinefood

The white wines included:
1. Orbelus Hrumki Series

Orbelus Hrumki 2016 © Spaswinefood

A different wine is selected each year for this experimental series. For the 2015 vintage the wine selected was Sandanski Misket.

2. Orbelus Orelek Series (white wine series)
From this white wine series I tasted a Orbelus Orelek 2015 (a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Gris).

Orbelus Whites and Rose © Spaswinefood

There was a delightful Rosé wine.

Orbelus Paril 2015 & 2016

This rosé blend varies depending on the year. In the case of the 2015 vintage it is a blend of Marcela, Primitivo, Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Early Melnik.

3. Orbelus Melnik, Prima and Getika Series

From this red wine group I tasted a 2013 Melnik, a 2013 Getika, and a 2013 Prima Special Selection. These are all red wine blends. The red grapes used may vary, depending on the vintage.

The above vintages of the Melnik, Prima and Getika wines were available for viewing.

These are remarkable organic wines for a young winery that produced its first vintage in 2010. If you are looking for quality organic wines then Orbelus Winery is the Bulgarian winery to watch. I first heard good reports on Orbelus wines from fellow wine bloggers who tasted them at #dwcc15 in Plovdiv.

Our Orbelus winery visit was a most delightful way to begin a Struma Valley wine tour. This Southwest Bulgaria's Struma Valley Wine Region, situated between the Pirin Mountains and the Struma River, is a small but a very significant wine region. Both the Struma Valley and the Orbelus Winery have amazing future wine stories to tell. I continue to look forward to hearing many good things about this winery's organic wines. Some wine critics suggest that Bulgarian wines are not only back but also the wines are better than ever. Spaswinefood is looking forward to future wine adventures in Bulgaria. I invite you to join me in my travels in Bulgaria and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.

Sharon

June 2017

Melnik, Bulgaria

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Note: Special thanks to the Bulgarian Wine Export Association (BWEA) and our Bulgarian host who sponsored this visit.

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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Orbelus Winery: Spring into summer with Bulgarian organic wines

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