Сливен (Sliven)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyards are situated at the foot of the southern slopes of the Grebenets mountain, where Eastern Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) begins.
• The area falls within the sub-Balkan valleys and has a moderately continental climate, with mild winters and relatively hot summers.
• A characteristic feature of the area is the local wind known as the Bora, and the total heat summation for the April–October period ranges between 3,400 and 3,800 °C.
• The mean daily temperature of the warmest month is 22.8 °C, and the mean annual precipitation totals 590 mm.
• The main soil types in the viticulture of the area are colluvial soils and cinnamon forest soils, leached and differentiated to varying degrees.

• The authorised grape varieties for white wines are Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Cherven Misket, Dimyat, and Aligoté, while for red wines and rosé the authorised varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pamid, and Shevka.
• The vine-training systems used are Umbrella, Moser, and mid-trunk double-arm cordon, and pruning is mixed and short, with a bud load of up to 54 buds per vine.

• The white wines combine fruity and floral aromas, with a palate showing an elegant body, freshness, and a long varietal finish.
• The red wines are distinguished by a powerful fruity aroma of red forest fruits and spices, with a palate showing a balanced structure, freshness, a light tannic grip, fullness, and softness.

• The moderately continental climate conditions, with the characteristic features of the sub-Balkan valleys sheltered to the north by Stara Planina, combined with the Bora wind typical of the area, the soil conditions, and the constraints of the human factor, define the area as suited to the production of both white and red wines.

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-A1190
• Official trade body site — НЛВК — Национална лозаро-винарска камара