PELIN WINE

Traditional Wine of Osmar Village

INTRODUCTION 

Culture of wine is a long tradition in Bulgaria: back to the Thracian Era, there were some wine making activities, as well as a cult to the go Dionisos, god of winemaker. Roman brought the culture of white wine, while locals were drinking a thick wine they were coping  it with water. 

With the arrival and establishment of Christianity came the celebration of St Tryphon, who’s the patron of winemakers. During the Middle Ages and the ensuing centuries, Bulgarian wine was recognized and appreciated in most of the Europe and flourish even more during the national renewal. After the country was freed from Ottoman rule, epidemies took a violent blow to the Bulgarian vineyards, but thanks to the help of French wine experts, most of the culture were changed and the tradition lived on. It was also during the period one could witness a solid implantation of French grape type in the wine landscape of Bulgaria.  

The communist area was one of massive wine production for the country: back in the 80’s, Bulgaria was top 5 regarding wine export in the world. After a difficult period following the end of this era, leading to closure of certain wine factory and a general decline of the production, winemaking in Bulgaria is today in pretty good shape and make itself know abroad, thanks not in a small part to the Bulgarian communities who take a large toll in Bulgaria wine exports.  

PELIN WINE 

The region of Preslav, the North-East is known for being quite the wine producer, especially white wine. It also holds somewhat of an history regarding wine production, as when the Khan Krum decided in the Xth century to forbid wine production except for his own consumption, he settles a vineyard in a village in the vicinity of Preslav who nowadays bear his name.  

Next to Preslav there is a town call Osmar who became a massive wine producing region on the beginning of the XXth century, especially thanks to the return of Bulgarian from abroad (notably from the US) who invested in wine. Today, the town is still known for a very particular brand of wine: the Beline, who consist in 80% of the town production. This wine is an herb wine, including 36 different kind of herbs, is shipped all over Bulgaria and abroad in the local Bulgarian communities like in Spain or Germany.