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Chateau Avli Bets on Rare French Grape and Innovation to Stand Out

Velina Vasileva
Chateau Avli Bets on Rare French Grape and Innovation to Stand Out
Chateau Avli Bets on Rare French Grape and Innovation to Stand Out
Chateau Avli in Glushnik, southern Bulgaria, September 18, 2025 (BTA Photo/Velina Vasileva)
Sliven, Southern Bulgaria,  
18.09.2025 15:25
 (BTA)
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BTA will present dozens of Bulgarian wineries in the New BG WINE Leads the Way series ahead of the 9th UN Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which will be hosted in Plovdiv. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization.

The boutique winery Chateau Avli cultivates 33 hectares of its own vineyards, split between two large plots: the older “Rupov Dol” vineyard, which is around 20 years old, and the younger Bozalyaka, planted 6–7 years ago. Most of the vines are located in Rupov Dol.

The vineyards are planted entirely with French grape varieties – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and the lesser-known Caladoc, which has become the winery’s signature.

"Caladoc is a French variety unfamiliar to Bulgaria, and until recently, we were the only winery growing it here. We built our identity around this grape to attract wine lovers," said winemaker Plamena Arabadzhieva.

Avli currently produces several Caladoc-based wines: a light red, an aged red matured in French oak, a rosé, and even an experimental white. Some of the wines are also aged in clay vessels, which lend them a distinct nuance in flavor and aroma.

The winery has also gained attention for its naturally sparkling wine, made using the French petillant naturel (pet-nat) method. First introduced in 2022, it was initially a small experiment with around 600 bottles.

"We started with a small batch in 2022. The method is labor-intensive because fermentation finishes in the bottle, but the market responded positively, and we've since significantly increased production," Arabadzhieva explained.
Despite climate challenges—grapes ripening earlier and extreme heat affecting quality—Chateau Avli has harvested a good crop this year.

Built with European funding, the winery has an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 liters. Its wines are primarily marketed in Bulgaria, targeting the premium price segment. A portion of the production is sold online, and small export batches are being sent to Belgium and Germany.

Approximately 60–70% of Chateau Avli’s vineyards are planted with red varieties. However, Arabadzhieva noted a growing domestic preference for white wines, which presents a marketing challenge. As a result, some of the grapes are sold to other wine producers.

Chateau Avli is also developing its wine tourism offering. The winery hosts tastings and is planning to build a hotel section.

“This year we organized between five and ten tastings,” said Arabadzhieva. “Guests often want to stay overnight, so we’re considering building hotel accommodations. For now, we arrange lodging in Sliven, which is 15 km away.”
The winery operates with a small team: two tractor drivers, an agronomist, a mechanic, winemaker Plamena Arabadzhieva, and Italian consultant Federico Ricci.

"We are a small winery, but we believe that through innovation and unique varieties like Caladoc, we can captivate audiences. It’s something new, different, and definitely worth trying," Arabadzhieva affirmed.

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By 14:06 on 26.09.2025 Today`s news

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