Ep 172 - Bulgaria

This week we are talking about Bulgaria a country in Southeast Europe.   Wine Recommendations - Big thank you to Grapes & Barley Imports for providing the wines for this episode. All but one of these wines are from the Thracian Valley.  Bulgariana Rose 2017 - priced around $13. This rose wine is made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes Aromas of strawberries, raspberries, watermelon and minerality Its dry with medium acidity with flavors similar to aromas - lots of berry flavors Light in aromas and flavors but everything I want in a rose - fruity, crisp, really refreshing   Rough Day Chardonnay 2016 - priced around $9. This is an unoaked style of Chardonnay Aromas of tropical fruits like melon and apricots as well as some lemon aromas It’s dry with a light to medium body, medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas - mostly tropical fruits This wine is a light crisp unoaked chardonnay that perfect for summer   Bulgariana Pinot Noir 2014 - priced $15. The grapes for this wine come from a subregion of the Danube Plain in North-east Bulgaria Aromas of cherry flavored cigars, salmai, and coffee Its dry with medium body, medium plus acidity, light tannins with flavors of cherries, tobacco, coffee and dirt This pinot is a more fuller body style and less fruit than Pinots from other places. Not your delicate Pinot Noir like Burgundy or Willamette Valley - this Pinot has some teeth   Bulgariana Gamza 2016 - priced around $12. Made from the Gamza grape - which is a dark skinned variety used to make red wine found in Central Europe and the Balkan area. It’s also known as Kadarka Aromas of dusty earth, spice with a hint of black cherries and black plum It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins, full body and flavors similar to aromas - dark fruits, spices and dusty earth Very deep full wine that is not very fruity but a great texture to the wine with smooth tannins   Rough Day Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 - priced around $10. Aromas of black cherries, blueberries, dusty earth and spice This wine is dry with medium acidity and tannins, full body and flavors of earth and dark fruits This wine is all about the fruit - its very juicy, really approachable wine with smooth, satin like tannins   Winemaker’s Selection Un Double Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah 2012 This is a part of Walmart’s private label program 50% of each Cab Sav and Syrah Aromas of dark fruits like black cherries and black plum as well as pepper It’s a dry, full bodied wine with medium acidity and tannins with flavors similar to aromas - dark fruits and spice This wine is very juicy, ripe, lush wine that is big and bold We pair this wine with an aged cheese and it really shined with some fatty food   Check out the website for Grapes & Barley Imports to learn more about where you can purchase these wines. Sources Wine Folly  Bulgian Wine  Wikipedia  Book: The World Atlas of Wine