Долината на Струма (Dolinata na Struma)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyards are situated in the Struma Valley in south-western Bulgaria, enclosed to the west by the Osogovo, Malashevo, and Belasitsa mountain ranges, and to the east by the spurs of the Rila, Pirin, and Rodopi massifs.
• The terrain is lowland-to-hilly, and the soils are relatively poor, which favours the production of deeply coloured, high-density wines.
• The climate is continental-Mediterranean, strongly influenced by Aegean air masses that funnel up the Struma Valley, making the region the warmest in Bulgaria.
• The total heat summation for the period with mean daily temperatures above 10 °C (April–October) ranges from 3,600 to 4,400 °C.

• The permitted varieties for red wines and rosé include traditional local varieties such as Shiroka Melnishka Loza, Ranna Melnishka Loza, Melnishki Rubin, and Rubin.

• The white wines display a fruity character on the nose, with a full, powerful palate and a sense of fruit-driven sweetness.
• The red wines show a deep colour, an intense fruit-forward nose with nuances of tobacco, dried fruit, cherry, and ground pepper, and are full-bodied, tannin-rich, and capable of extended ageing over many years.

• The hot, dry summers in the Struma Valley give the red wines the potential for extended ageing over many years.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• National product specification (PDF) — iavv
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-BG-A1473
• Official trade body site — НЛВК — Национална лозаро-винарска камара