Долината на Струма (Dolinata na Struma)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyards lie in the valley of the Struma River in southwestern Bulgaria, surrounded by the Osogovo, Malashevska, and Belasitsa mountain ranges to the west and the foothills of the Rila, Pirin, and Rhodopes to the east.
• The terrain in the area is lowland-to-hilly, and the climate is continental-Mediterranean, strongly influenced by Aegean air masses that flow inland along the Struma River valley.
• This is the warmest region of Bulgaria, with mild, nearly snow-free winters and hot, dry summers.
• The total heat summation for the period when mean daily temperatures exceed 10 °C, spanning the months of April through October, ranges from 3,600 to 4,400 °C.

• The grape varieties permitted for the production of white wines include Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, Dimyat, Sauvignon Blanc, Cherven Misket, Ugni Blanc, Tamyanka, Kerasuda, and Sandanski Misket.
• Vine pruning is mixed and short, with a load of up to 54 buds per vine, and the training systems used are Umbrella, Moser, and mid-trunk double-arm cordon.

• The red wines from this region display a deep colour and an intense fruit bouquet combined with nuances of tobacco, dried fruit, cherry, and ground pepper.
• On the palate, the red wines are full-bodied, rich in tannins, and with considerable potential for extended ageing, while the white wines are full-bodied, powerful, and carry a sense of fruity sweetness.

• The hilly terrain, relatively poor soils, high annual temperatures, and dry climate favour the production of intensely coloured wines with characteristic fruit aromas that are harmonious, powerful, and high in density.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Bulgaria

Sources

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