Bulgaria Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
Bulgaria: Wines of origin
A
Declared Geographic Origin wines from Bulgaria - their PDO.
2
Q
Bulgaria: Controliran
A
Controliran
-
Superior controlled appellation of origin within a DGO
- Defines Max Yields and RS for each region
- Can only be produced w/ authorized grape varieties (per region)
- 52 zones in total for Controliran and DGO wines
3
Q
Bulgaria: ‘Reserve’ labeling
A
1 year of aging
4
Q
Bulgaria: ‘Special Selection’ labeling
A
2 years of aging
5
Q
Bulgaria: ‘barik’ labeling
A
Quality wines aged in oak casks of 500L or less
6
Q
5 larger regions of wine production in Bulgaria
Which are recognized by the EU?
A
- *Danubian Plain (N)
- *Thracian Lowlands (S)
- Black Sea Region (E)
- Struma River Valley (W)
- Rose Valley (Central)
*Danubian Plain, Thracian Lowlands - recognized by the EU as Geographical Indications
7
Q
Suhindol and Svichtov
A
Top wine producing villages in the Danubian Plain
8
Q
Sungulare
A
Top wine producing village in Rose Valley
9
Q
Harsovo
A
Top wine producing village in Struma River Valley
10
Q
Khan Krum
A
Top wine producing village in Black Sea Region
11
Q
Red Grapes of Bulgaria
A
Red grapes account for more than 1/2 of Bulgaria’s acreage
- International:
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Most widely grown:
- Gamza (Kadarka), Mavrud - deep colored
- Melnik - tannic, exclusive to Struma River Valley, in DGO of same name
- Pamid - thin-skinned, one of 1st varietals to be harvested
- Rubin - crossing of Nebbiolo x Syrah
12
Q
Gamza
A
- Bulgarian name for Kadarka
- Widely grown native varietal as with Mavrud
13
Q
Melnik
A
Tannic red varietal exclusuly cultivated in the Struma River Valley, particularly in the DGO of the same name
14
Q
Rubin
A
Crossing of Nebbiolo x Syrah
15
Q
Pamid
A
- Thin-skinned red varietal
- One of first to be harvested
- Produces fresh wines suitable for youthful consumption
16
Q
Red Misket
A
Red Misket
- Aromatic white grape, unrelated to Muscat
- Speciality of Sungulare in Bulgaria
17
Q
Most planted white grapes in Bulgaria
A
- Rkatsiteli
- Dimiat
18
Q
Bulgaria: What are DGO wines?
A
Declared Geographic Origin wines from Bulgaria - their PDO.
19
Q
Bulgaria: What is Controliran?
A
Controliran is a superior controlled appellation of origin within a DGO, and can only be produced with authorized grape varieties (per region).
20
Q
What does Reserve indicate in Bulgaria?
A
One year of aging
21
Q
What does Special Selection indicate in Bulgaria?
A
Two years of aging
22
Q
What does barik indicate in Bulgaria?
A
Quality wines aged in oak casks of 500L or less.
23
Q
What are the five larger regions of wine production in Bulgaria? Which are recognized by the EU?
A
Danubian Plain (North) Thracian Lowlands (South) Black Sea Region (East) Struma River Valley (West) Rose Valley (Central)
Danubian Plain and Thracian Lowlands are recognized by the EU as Geographical Indications.
24
Q
Where are Suhindol and Svichtov?
A
The Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)
25
Where is Sungulare?
Rose Valley
26
Where is Harsovo?
Struma River Valley (Bulgaria)
27
Where is Khan Krum?
Black Sea Region (Bulgaria)
28
Bulgaria: What is Gamza?
Kadarka
29
Where is Melnik cultivated?
The Struma River Valley in Bulgaria (exclusively).
30
What is Red Misket?
An aromatic white grape, unrelated to Muscat; a speciality of Sungulare in Bulgaria.
31
What are the most planted white grapes in Bulgaria?
Rkatsiteli and Dimiat
32
Rubin (native grape) is a hybrid of what grapes?
Nebbiolo x Syrah
33
Quality wines may be labelled "barik" if ____
the fermentation ocurred in oak casks of 500L or less in volume
34
Where is Suhnindol Valley?
Danubian Plain
35
Synonym for Kadarka?
Gamza
36
What two Bulgarian regions does the EU recognize as GI designations?
Danubian Plain
Thracian Lowlands
37
Noteworthy Controliran appellations in Bulgaria:
Suhindole, Svichtov (Danubian Plain)
Sungulare (Valley of the Roses)
Harsovo (Strum River Valley)
Khan Krum (Black Sea Region)
38
Wine-producing villages of Valley of the Roses?
Karlovo
Silven
Sungulare
39
Where is the Thracian Lowlands geographically located?
Southern Zone, bordering Turkey
40
The northern Danubian Plain borders what country?
Romania
41
Producer of Bulgarian Cabernet:
Bulgariana
42
4 Major regions of Bulgaria:
Danubian Plain (Northern)
Thracian Plain (Southern)
Struma River Valley (Southwestern)
Sub-Balkan Zone
43
Another name for the sub-Balkan zone?
Valley of the Roses
44
What mountain range borders the Struma River Valley?
Zapadmi Rodopi Mountains
45
Wine-producing villages of the Struma River Valley?
Blagoevgrad
Melnik
Damianitza
Harsovo
46
What mountain range bisects Bulgaria?
Stara Planina
47
What is "Vinprom"?
- Soviets established in 1948
- managed vineyard expansion/promotion
- planted on flatter ground, more fertile
- mechanical farming
48
When did Gorbachev's anti-alcohol reforms happen?
1985
49
What year did Bulgaria enter the EU?
2007
50
Bulgarian Wine Law:
- Wine Act of 1978
- established Controliran system outlining the best regions and styles
- Now obsolete
- Adheres to EU standards
51
Bulgaria - 2 defined levels of quality?
- Table wine and Quality Wine
- within Quality Wine: 2 PGI's, Danubian Plain and Thracian Lowlands
52
How many PDO's in Bulgaria? How many are in use?
52 PDO's
5 or 6 in use
53
_____% of Bulgarian wine is released as PDO wine?
less then 1% of 2016 harvest
70% is considered Table Wine
54
How is the Struma River climate different than the other regions of Bulgaria?
Mediterranean climate, rest of Bulgaria is Continental
55
What is Pamid?
- a very historic grape
- accounts for 10% of all plantings
- one of the first red varieties to be harvested
- thin-skinned
56
Native Red grapes of Bulgaria:
Pamid (10% of plantings)
Gamza (Kadarka)
Mavrud
Rubin (Nebbiolo x Syrah)
Shiroka Melniska
57
Native White grapes of Bulgaria:
Red Misket (Misket Cherven)
Rkatsiteli
Dimiat (Dimyat)
Muscat Ottonel
58
Synonym for Red Misket:
Misket Cherven
59
What is the "aromatic specialty" of Sungulare?
Red Misket (Misket Cherven)
60
What 2 varietals are responsible for half of all reds planted?
Cabernet & Merlot
61
Red grapes account for ___% of area under vine:
60%
62
How many current producers are there in Bulgaria?
250
63
What river influences the Danube Plain?
The Danube River
64
What grape is Dimyat related to?
Chardonnay and Aligote by ancestor grape, Gouias Blanc
65
Synonym for Rkatisiteli:
Rikat
66
Where are 75% of Bulgaria's vineyards found?
Thracian Valley PGI
67
Temperatures in the summer are moderated by____
The Black Sea
- mild summers, maintains acidity
68
What is Melnik 55?
"Early Melnik"
- a genetic cross between the local broad-leafed Melnik and French Valdeguie
69
What does "Reserve" or "Special Selection" indicate?
A single variety has seen one or two years, respectively, in aging before release.
Reserve = 6-8 months oak aging, 6 months in bottle before release
70
Cherno More is what region?
Black Sea
- Western coast of the Black Sea
71
In what wine producing region of Bulgaria would you find the subregion Melnik?
Struma Valley
72
One of us should put together a chart of all these variants but what is the Bulgarian name for their equivalent of fine or marc?
rakia
73
Why the hell was there Bulgarian Rosé BTG on Congressional CC’s list in 2018?
Because someone didn’t apply the Conflict of Interest Policy effectively.
74
What well-known company invested in Bulgaria in the 1970’s helping establish their modern wine industry?
PepsiCo.
75
Which of Bulgaria’s wine regions enjoys a Mediterranean climate, whereas the rest are cooler continental?
The Danube Plains
The Thracian Plain
The Black Sea Coast
The Valley of The Roses
The Struma River Valley $$$$
76
What does reserve mean under Bulgarian wine law?
min 1 year aging
77
What are the top region of the Struma River Valley?
Harsovo
78
Top Regions, Danubian Plain?
Suhindol, Svichtov
79
Top Region, Black Sea?
Khan Krum
80
What Bulgarian term denotes 2y of aging?
Special Selection
81
What is the maximum cask size for a Bulgarian wine labeled ‘barik’?
<500L
82
Name 3 producers in Bulgaria?
Boyar, Santa Sarah, Enira
83
What grape is Dimyat related to Chardonnay and Aligote?
Gouais Blanc
84
What mountain range bisects Bulgaria?
Stara Planina
85
How is the Struma River climate different than the other regions of Bulgaria?
It's the only Mediterranean climate in Bulgaria
86
Where are 75% of Bulgaria's vineyards found? Where is it geographically located?
Thracian Valley PGI, southern zone, bodering Turkey
87
Where is **Struma Valley** on the compass in Bulgaria?
SW corner, borders Macedonia
88
Where is **Danube Plains** on the compass in Bulgaria?
North, borders Romania, separated by Danube River
89
Where is the **Thracian Plains** on the compass in Bulgaria?
South, borders Greece and Turkey
90
Name the 2 PGI of Bulgaria:
Danubian Plain
Thracian Lowlands
91
What are the 2 Quality Levels of Bulgaria?
DGO = Subregion, District, Village, Appellation
Controliran = Premium Quality, made from specified grapes in DGO
92
What is Smederevka called in Bulgaria and what colour is it?
White Grape Variety, called Dimiat
93
What is the Mountain Range in Bulgaria called?
Stara Planinia Mountains
94
What are 5 Districts of the Black Sea Costal Region in Bulgaria?
Shumen
Novi Pazar
Khan Krum
Varna
Preslav
95
Name the 4 Main Regions of Bulgaria:
Danube River Plains
Black Sea Coastal Region
Struma River Valley
Thracian Valley (sub: Valley of Roses)
96
Name the Districts of Thracian Valley:
Assenovgrad
Plovdiv
Sliven
Stara Zagora
Oriachovitza
97
In which region is Gamza grown?
Suhindol
98
In which region is Red Misket mostly grown in ?
Sungulare, Bulgaria
