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This is not a blog which opines on current events. It rather uses incidents, books (old and new), links and papers to muse about our social endeavours.
So old posts are as good as new! And lots of useful links!

The Bucegi mountains - the range I see from the front balcony of my mountain house - are almost 120 kms from Bucharest and cannot normally be seen from the capital but some extraordinary weather conditions allowed this pic to be taken from the top of the Intercontinental Hotel in late Feb 2020

Monday, November 21, 2016

Sofia's Annual Wine Fair

My fourth annual Bulgarian wine fair this past weekend in Sofia and what a feast if not feat!!
More than 200 wines tasted by yours truly in 3 days. And a hugely popular event as you can see from the pics.
I'm not prepared these days to pay more than 5 euros for a very good Balkan wine and twelve wineries caught my palate for their "best value" wines. Plus half a dozen old favourites........I've selected them by Region...................

Danube Region
Bononia – this was the first year’s tasting for this new Vidin vineyard, Their Istar Sauvignon and Traminer were amongst the best – for 5 euros.
Gulbanis winery is actually nearer Veliko Tarnovo and offers several award-winning whites – particularly the Moscata Bianco 2015, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay – all for 4 euros

Black Sea
BOY AR from Pomorie whose Dimyiat was only 3 euros.
Dives winery is also at Pomorie and had a Sauvignon as well as a Muscat and CS rose – all for 4 euros
This was also the price of the Miskets, Pinos Gris and Gruner Veltliners from Varna Winery
The Zelanos whites from its winery just outside Burgas were a bit pricier at 7 euros

Eastern Thrace
"Angel’s estate" wines offer a great SB and Chardonnay for 4 euros
Domain Marash is near Yambol and offered a lovely Muscat at just under 5 euros; and a tasty CS rose for 5 euros
villa Yambol had a great Muscat for only 3 euros; and a CS rose for only 2.5 euros!!

Sakar
The Malkata Zvezda vineyard is in the Rhodopes near the Greek border and offered a Traminer; Chardonnay and Rose each for 5 euros.

Western Thrace
Karabunar operates near Plovdiv and, in what they called the Bulgarian Heritage Original Collection, offered a Misket; a Dimyat and Mavrud Rose – each for 5 euros….
Zagreus also has its vineyard near Plovdiv but offers organic wines at great prices – white Mavrud; rose Mavrud at 3.5 euros each ,

Struma Valley
Zlaten Rozhen has its vineyards at Melnik and its Sandanski Misket has become a favourite of mine (5 euros); at the fair I had my first taste of its Chardonnay and Viognier – also 5 euros

old favourites
Black Sea Gold – Pentagram, Ponti 3.5 euros
Ethno – 3 euros
St Ilia (Sliven) – 3.5 euros
Targovishte (centre) – 3.5 euros
Santa Maria (south-east) – 4/5 euros

Here's last year's notes by way of comparison......and 2013

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