Bulgaria Flashcards

1
Q

Bulgaria: Wines of origin

A

Declared Geographic Origin wines from Bulgaria - their PDO.

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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
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3
Q

Bulgaria: ‘Reserve’ labeling

A

1 year of aging

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4
Q

Bulgaria: ‘Special Selection’ labeling

A

2 years of aging

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5
Q

Bulgaria: ‘barik’ labeling

A

Quality wines aged in oak casks of 500L or less

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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

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7
Q

Suhindol and Svichtov

A

Top wine producing villages in the Danubian Plain

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8
Q

Sungulare

A

Top wine producing village in Rose Valley

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9
Q

Harsovo

A

Top wine producing village in Struma River Valley

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10
Q

Khan Krum

A

Top wine producing village in Black Sea Region

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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
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12
Q

Gamza

A
  • Bulgarian name for Kadarka
  • Widely grown native varietal as with Mavrud
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13
Q

Melnik

A

Tannic red varietal exclusuly cultivated in the Struma River Valley, particularly in the DGO of the same name

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14
Q

Rubin

A

Crossing of Nebbiolo x Syrah

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15
Q

Pamid

A
  • Thin-skinned red varietal
  • One of first to be harvested
  • Produces fresh wines suitable for youthful consumption
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16
Q

Red Misket

A

Red Misket

  • Aromatic white grape, unrelated to Muscat
  • Speciality of Sungulare in Bulgaria
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17
Q

Most planted white grapes in Bulgaria

A
  • Rkatsiteli
  • Dimiat
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18
Q

Bulgaria: What are DGO wines?

A

Declared Geographic Origin wines from Bulgaria - their PDO.

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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).

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20
Q

What does Reserve indicate in Bulgaria?

A

One year of aging

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21
Q

What does Special Selection indicate in Bulgaria?

A

Two years of aging

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22
Q

What does barik indicate in Bulgaria?

A

Quality wines aged in oak casks of 500L or less.

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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.

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24
Q

Where are Suhindol and Svichtov?

A

The Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)

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25
Q

Where is Sungulare?

A

Rose Valley

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26
Q

Where is Harsovo?

A

Struma River Valley (Bulgaria)

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27
Q

Where is Khan Krum?

A

Black Sea Region (Bulgaria)

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28
Q

Bulgaria: What is Gamza?

A

Kadarka

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29
Q

Where is Melnik cultivated?

A

The Struma River Valley in Bulgaria (exclusively).

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30
Q

What is Red Misket?

A

An aromatic white grape, unrelated to Muscat; a speciality of Sungulare in Bulgaria.

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31
Q

What are the most planted white grapes in Bulgaria?

A

Rkatsiteli and Dimiat

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32
Q

Rubin (native grape) is a hybrid of what grapes?

A

Nebbiolo x Syrah

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33
Q

Quality wines may be labelled “barik” if ____

A

the fermentation ocurred in oak casks of 500L or less in volume

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34
Q

Where is Suhnindol Valley?

A

Danubian Plain

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35
Q

Synonym for Kadarka?

A

Gamza

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36
Q

What two Bulgarian regions does the EU recognize as GI designations?

A

Danubian Plain
Thracian Lowlands

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37
Q

Noteworthy Controliran appellations in Bulgaria:

A

Suhindole, Svichtov (Danubian Plain)
Sungulare (Valley of the Roses)
Harsovo (Strum River Valley)
Khan Krum (Black Sea Region)

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38
Q

Wine-producing villages of Valley of the Roses?

A

Karlovo
Silven
Sungulare

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39
Q

Where is the Thracian Lowlands geographically located?

A

Southern Zone, bordering Turkey

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40
Q

The northern Danubian Plain borders what country?

A

Romania

41
Q

Producer of Bulgarian Cabernet:

A

Bulgariana

42
Q

4 Major regions of Bulgaria:

A

Danubian Plain (Northern)
Thracian Plain (Southern)
Struma River Valley (Southwestern)
Sub-Balkan Zone

43
Q

Another name for the sub-Balkan zone?

A

Valley of the Roses

44
Q

What mountain range borders the Struma River Valley?

A

Zapadmi Rodopi Mountains

45
Q

Wine-producing villages of the Struma River Valley?

A

Blagoevgrad
Melnik
Damianitza
Harsovo

46
Q

What mountain range bisects Bulgaria?

A

Stara Planina

47
Q

What is “Vinprom”?

A
  • Soviets established in 1948
  • managed vineyard expansion/promotion
  • planted on flatter ground, more fertile
  • mechanical farming
48
Q

When did Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol reforms happen?

A

1985

49
Q

What year did Bulgaria enter the EU?

A

2007

50
Q

Bulgarian Wine Law:

A
  • Wine Act of 1978
  • established Controliran system outlining the best regions and styles
  • Now obsolete
  • Adheres to EU standards
51
Q

Bulgaria - 2 defined levels of quality?

A
  • Table wine and Quality Wine
  • within Quality Wine: 2 PGI’s, Danubian Plain and Thracian Lowlands
52
Q

How many PDO’s in Bulgaria? How many are in use?

A

52 PDO’s
5 or 6 in use

53
Q

_____% of Bulgarian wine is released as PDO wine?

A

less then 1% of 2016 harvest
70% is considered Table Wine

54
Q

How is the Struma River climate different than the other regions of Bulgaria?

A

Mediterranean climate, rest of Bulgaria is Continental

55
Q

What is Pamid?

A
  • a very historic grape
  • accounts for 10% of all plantings
  • one of the first red varieties to be harvested
  • thin-skinned
56
Q

Native Red grapes of Bulgaria:

A

Pamid (10% of plantings)
Gamza (Kadarka)
Mavrud
Rubin (Nebbiolo x Syrah)
Shiroka Melniska

57
Q

Native White grapes of Bulgaria:

A

Red Misket (Misket Cherven)
Rkatsiteli
Dimiat (Dimyat)
Muscat Ottonel

58
Q

Synonym for Red Misket:

A

Misket Cherven

59
Q

What is the “aromatic specialty” of Sungulare?

A

Red Misket (Misket Cherven)

60
Q

What 2 varietals are responsible for half of all reds planted?

A

Cabernet & Merlot

61
Q

Red grapes account for ___% of area under vine:

A

60%

62
Q

How many current producers are there in Bulgaria?

A

250

63
Q

What river influences the Danube Plain?

A

The Danube River

64
Q

What grape is Dimyat related to?

A

Chardonnay and Aligote by ancestor grape, Gouias Blanc

65
Q

Synonym for Rkatisiteli:

A

Rikat

66
Q

Where are 75% of Bulgaria’s vineyards found?

A

Thracian Valley PGI

67
Q

Temperatures in the summer are moderated by____

A

The Black Sea
- mild summers, maintains acidity

68
Q

What is Melnik 55?

A

“Early Melnik”
- a genetic cross between the local broad-leafed Melnik and French Valdeguie

69
Q

What does “Reserve” or “Special Selection” indicate?

A

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
Q

Cherno More is what region?

A

Black Sea
- Western coast of the Black Sea

71
Q

In what wine producing region of Bulgaria would you find the subregion Melnik?

A

Struma Valley

72
Q

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?

A

rakia

73
Q

Why the hell was there Bulgarian Rosé BTG on Congressional CC’s list in 2018?

A

Because someone didn’t apply the Conflict of Interest Policy effectively.

74
Q

What well-known company invested in Bulgaria in the 1970’s helping establish their modern wine industry?

A

PepsiCo.

75
Q

Which of Bulgaria’s wine regions enjoys a Mediterranean climate, whereas the rest are cooler continental?

A

The Danube Plains

The Thracian Plain

The Black Sea Coast

The Valley of The Roses

The Struma River Valley $$$$

76
Q

What does reserve mean under Bulgarian wine law?

A

min 1 year aging

77
Q

What are the top region of the Struma River Valley?

A

Harsovo

78
Q

Top Regions, Danubian Plain?

A

Suhindol, Svichtov

79
Q

Top Region, Black Sea?

A

Khan Krum

80
Q

What Bulgarian term denotes 2y of aging?

A

Special Selection

81
Q

What is the maximum cask size for a Bulgarian wine labeled ‘barik’?

A

<500L

82
Q

Name 3 producers in Bulgaria?

A

Boyar, Santa Sarah, Enira

83
Q

What grape is Dimyat related to Chardonnay and Aligote?

A

Gouais Blanc

84
Q

What mountain range bisects Bulgaria?

A

Stara Planina

85
Q

How is the Struma River climate different than the other regions of Bulgaria?

A

It’s the only Mediterranean climate in Bulgaria

86
Q

Where are 75% of Bulgaria’s vineyards found? Where is it geographically located?

A

Thracian Valley PGI, southern zone, bodering Turkey

87
Q

Where is Struma Valley on the compass in Bulgaria?

A

SW corner, borders Macedonia

88
Q

Where is Danube Plains on the compass in Bulgaria?

A

North, borders Romania, separated by Danube River

89
Q

Where is the Thracian Plains on the compass in Bulgaria?

A

South, borders Greece and Turkey

90
Q

Name the 2 PGI of Bulgaria:

A

Danubian Plain
Thracian Lowlands

91
Q

What are the 2 Quality Levels of Bulgaria?

A

DGO = Subregion, District, Village, Appellation
Controliran = Premium Quality, made from specified grapes in DGO

92
Q

What is Smederevka called in Bulgaria and what colour is it?

A

White Grape Variety, called Dimiat

93
Q

What is the Mountain Range in Bulgaria called?

A

Stara Planinia Mountains

94
Q

What are 5 Districts of the Black Sea Costal Region in Bulgaria?

A

Shumen
Novi Pazar
Khan Krum
Varna
Preslav

95
Q

Name the 4 Main Regions of Bulgaria:

A

Danube River Plains
Black Sea Coastal Region
Struma River Valley
Thracian Valley (sub: Valley of Roses)

96
Q

Name the Districts of Thracian Valley:

A

Assenovgrad
Plovdiv
Sliven
Stara Zagora
Oriachovitza

97
Q

In which region is Gamza grown?

A

Suhindol

98
Q

In which region is Red Misket mostly grown in ?

A

Sungulare, Bulgaria