Bulgarian Wine Cooperatives
During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the Bulgarian wine industry started to grow through the introduction of the vine and wine cooperatives.
The first to be established was in Souhindol, which later became the national model for other wineries to follow. Souhindol was based on a business concept that was adopted from Southern France.
Most of the cooperative projects were built through Austrian and other western European expertise. The average winery capacity levels ranged from 500 to 1,500 tons.
The 30’s was a period where most wine production was of an indigenous character. However the premium European varieties were starting to make an appearance with the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.
Within the period where Bulgaria was behind the "Iron Curtain" wine making was consolidated, monopolized, and turned into a state industry. Its target market was restricted to the "Eastern Block" in the framework of the UEP (Union of Economic Partnership) of the socialist countries and standards remained low.
It wasn’t until the 60’s and 70’s (although Bulgaria was still under communist rule) that the ‘mass’ production of prestigious red varieties started to hit the international markets as we know of them today.
The global consumption of the Bulgarian white wine products has been less evident in with varieties such as Muskatt Ottonel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer Rose.
The late 1990’s - present day
|
