site.btaChampioning Gamza: Winery Revitalizes a Classic Grape Variety

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.

Novo Selo Winery focuses on producing wine from the Gamza grape variety, which is characteristic of Northwestern Bulgaria. “Gamza is the face of our winery,” said Anita Mladenova, the winery’s technologist, speaking to BTA from the village of Novo Selo in the Vidin region.

According to her, this year’s grape harvest is slightly smaller, but the quality is very good. The grapes have excellent sugar levels, which is a prerequisite for producing high-quality wines.

The winery was established in 1939 at the initiative of a local cooperative, with the goal of processing grapes from their own vineyards. In 1946, the first wine from the Gamza variety was vinified. That’s where the original name, Novoselska Gamza, of the winery came from, Mladenova explained.

During the socialist era, the winery was nationalized, and after 1989 it was privatized. Since 2019, it has been owned by Ben Han Agro Ltd., at which point the new commercial brand Novo Selo Winery was created. The company’s main activity is agriculture and grain production, but after acquiring the winery building and the surrounding properties, it began developing vineyards and winemaking.

Initially, they had 23 hectares of vineyards. Later, an additional 45 hectares of new vineyards were planted. Currently, the winery processes grapes exclusively from about 76 hectares of its own vineyards.

Among the white varieties grown are Sauvignon Blanc, Rkatsiteli, Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay, and Viognier; and among the red varieties – Gamza, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah.

The region is characterized by fertile sandy soils, hot and dry summers, and the beneficial influence of the Danube River, the technologist noted. She added that a project is underway with European funding to create new vineyards with drip irrigation. “The older vineyards are quite worn out, so we are striving to renew the plantations,” Mladenova clarified.

“For the past three years, we have been part of the Danube Winemakers Association, which unites wineries from the Western and Central Danubian Plain,” said Anita Mladenova. “Some of our representatives are even members of the association’s board of directors. It has become a tradition to organize a joint initiative each year – an Open Doors Day– as well as participation in various exhibitions.”

At this year’s Vinaria 2025, their Gamza wine won a gold medal. At the Balkan Wine Forum in Greece, the Danubian Azure wine received a double gold medal. “This variety is not very well known,” noted Mladenova. “It was created back in 1960 at the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Pleven as a cross between Rkatsiteli and Villard Blanc.” At the same forum, their Gamza was also awarded a silver medal, she added.

Novo Selo Winery has been renovated, with all equipment, machinery, and facilities fully modernized. It features two tasting halls: a small one with a capacity of up to 12 people, and a larger one that can accommodate up to 70 guests.

“We are not yet working with tour operators, but we offer various tasting packages. One of our main goals is to develop wine tourism,” Mladenova said.