Regional grape varieties

Gamza, Gergana, Dimyat, Tamyanka, Rubin, Evmolpia…

Perhaps you know these varieties, but perhaps you are wondering what they are and what to expect from them. More and more often, travelers, wine lovers, and adventurers want to try local grape varieties. Of course, this is natural, since you can try Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot everywhere, but there is hardly another place in the world where Gamza or Gergana grows. Here we share a veiled story about the local varieties of the Northeast, and if you are interested, you can try all of them in the region.

Rubin

The Bulgarian child of the mixed marriage between the French Syrah and the Italian Nebbiolo is a unique amalgam of the best sides of both parents. It is not only an emblem of the region, but also of all of Bulgaria’s wine. The young wines have a deep ruby ​​color and a specific aroma of juicy dark berries for the variety. They have a little bit of everything: freshness, dense bodies with firm but present tannins, which soften and become rounded in the aging process. It is worth trying Rubin without makeup from the Yalovo winery, a product of natural fermentation and without added sulfites.

Evmolpia

The variety was selected in Bulgaria and is a cross between Mavrud and Merlot. The wine from Evmolpia has a dense ruby-red color, a discreet fruity aroma and a harmonious taste. The Tsarev Brod Winery has its own vineyards planted with the variety, and the result, turned into wine, is more than impressive – Evmolpia of Tsarev Brod.

Dimyat

One of the most characteristic white varieties for the region is also grown under different names in Romania, Serbia, Macedonia. As a wine variety, it is mainly used to produce pleasant, table, dry white wines, which are distinguished by a discreet vanilla tone in the aroma, spices, black pepper, yellow fruits such as apricot. You can try several Dimyata from the Northeast. One bold suggestion is Maryan Dimyata Orange Barrel Fermented.

Tamyankata

Reveals complex fruit nuances. The most elegant and high-quality representative of the muscat family is undoubtedly the Small-Grained Muscat (muscat blanc à petits grains). It is found almost everywhere in the world, but it is most popular in the Balkans, in France, Australia, South Africa and Northwestern Italy as a sparkling Muscat Bianco. Tamyanka is its local name in Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia. Tamyanka Mladenova Winery

Gergana

A cross between Dimyata and Muscat Ottonel. Tsarev Brod is the only winery in Bulgaria that works with this variety. The wines are clear, with a beautiful light yellow color with a greenish tint, a light fruity aroma, good density, freshness and harmony, an intense floral and fruity nose of fresh apricot with vanilla. Fresh and light with very well preserved ripe yellow fruit Gergana Tsarev Brod

Gamza

Аn old local variety, grown since ancient times in Northern Bulgaria. In Hungary, Slovakia, France, Romania, Yugoslavia, Austria, Turkey it is known under the name Kadarka. Lively, although not very dense ruby ​​color, a pleasant aroma of small red fruits, dominated by raspberry, pronounced but soft freshness and pleasant tannins, fine resinous tone, soft freshness and light structure.

Learn more about these varieties and discover exceptional wine experiences at place:Wineries.