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FOOD & DRINK<br />
MAY 20<strong>18</strong> MAY | ISSUE 20<strong>18</strong> #67 | ISSUE | FOOD #67 & DRINK<br />
mainly white wines, the most important being<br />
Tirnave, wines similar to Mosel in Germany.<br />
Crisana - To the west and influenced by the<br />
Adriatic producing crisp white wines.<br />
blight in the late <strong>18</strong>80’s affected it and led to a lot<br />
of replanting. The French were consulted about<br />
what to replant. It was agreed that several local<br />
varieties such as the red Mavrud, Pamid, Gamza<br />
(Kadarka) and white Miskat (Muscat) be retained.<br />
Silvania - North of Transylvania and moderate<br />
climate.<br />
Moldavia - Cotnari one of the oldest regions.<br />
Famous for sweet wines.<br />
Muntenia - North of Bucharest with the area<br />
called Dealul Mare, this provides good red wines<br />
using French varieties.<br />
Oltenia - West of Bucharest and dating from<br />
Roman times. The Sauvignon Blanc<br />
does well here.<br />
Banat - Near Serbia and the<br />
Danube it has a mixture of local<br />
grapes and imported ones.<br />
Dobrudja - Near the Black Sea<br />
with Murfatler being the most<br />
important part. Many French<br />
varieties making good wine as well<br />
as a supply of table grapes.<br />
Indigenous grapes - Many are still used mainly<br />
Feteasca, Rkatsiteli and Grasa among many<br />
others.<br />
Bulgaria...<br />
Wine has been made in Bulgaria for at least 3000<br />
years. It was probably mostly sweet wine and<br />
sold to the Greeks. Even during the crusades it<br />
was spared because of its wine. The phylloxera<br />
The Ga<strong>may</strong> Noir and Syrah from France were also<br />
planted. The Bulgarian Wine Institute was formed<br />
in Pleven in 1902. The 20’s and 30’s saw the<br />
growth co-operatives but with Communist rule in<br />
the 60’s and 70’s much export wine was<br />
mass produced creating a plonk regime.<br />
In 1989 with the fall of communism<br />
privatisation ensued leading to better quality<br />
wine production.<br />
Main Regions...<br />
There are 5 viticultural Regions...<br />
The Danubian Plain - Good conditions<br />
for Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon,<br />
Merlot, Chardonnay, Pamid and the<br />
Gamza.<br />
Black Sea - Riesling, Muscat,<br />
Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer<br />
are grown here.<br />
Rose Valley - The Sungurlare Valley is famous<br />
for a red Misket grape variety.<br />
Thracian Lowland - A temperate climate and<br />
adequate rainfall produce good red wine from<br />
Mavrud, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat and<br />
Pamid grapes.<br />
Struma River Valley - In the South West. From<br />
the historical region of Macedonia with some<br />
local grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.<br />
Conclusions...<br />
Give them both a try as they historically, have been in the top league of wine producers.<br />
Especially look for some of the local grape varieties such as Gamza, Feteasca, Mavrud and<br />
Rkatsiteli. I have tasted some fine Pinot Noir as well.<br />
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