The late 1990’s - present day
1989 saw a significant political change in Bulgaria and towards the end of the 1990’s the state monopoly of the wine industry ended. This resulted in all the wine cellars being privatised.
Bulgaria has more than 80 industrial wineries, which currently have an output between 1,000 and 60,000 tons. The wineries cover over 97,000 ha.
The main varieties grown are Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), Rkatzeteli (14%), Merlot (12%), Pimid (11%), Red Misket (8%), Dimyat (6.5%), Muskat Ottenel (6%), Chardonnay (2.7%), Gamza (1.6%), Riesling (1.3%),, broad vine from Melnik (1%), Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer (1%)
The current trends are leaning towards a gradual increase in what are known as the international grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer compared to the vineyard areas of Dimyat and Rkatziteli.
The red wine plantations of Cabernet, Merlot, Mavrud, Gamza and the broad vine from Melnik are also expected to increase, contrary to those of Pamid.
Bulgaria’s wine industry currently accounts for 30% of aggregate farm exports to the European Union. Bulgarian wines are sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, the USA, Japan, Poland, and the former Soviet Republics.
The largest market is the UK, which accounts for 25% of exports.
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