site.btaVilla Yustina Plans Major Vineyard Renewal in 2026

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.

Villa Yustina will replant part of its vineyard with 30,000 new French vines next year, Director of Tourism Maria Baeva said on Friday. The replanting is necessary because the soil gradually exhausts the vines, Baeva added.

The winery plans to increase its focus on Bulgarian grape varieties, including Dimyat, Mavrud, and Rubin. Baeva mentioned plans to produce sparkling wine from Dimyat as well. Global trends show a growing preference for fresh, light wines, especially sparkling ones. Since 2020, the winery has operated a facility dedicated to producing naturally sparkling wines using the tank method.

Regarding the latest harvest, Baeva reported that the grape quality is excellent, though the yield is considerably lower. Grapes are accumulating sugar rapidly and must be picked at the optimal time. Since last year, the winery has used both manual and mechanical harvesting to achieve target yields. This year, they collected 350 tonnes of grapes, which are expected to produce approximately 400 tonnes of wine.

Most of Villa Yustina’s production is sold within Bulgaria. They enter competitions not to increase market reach, but to compare the quality of their wines with those of other producers.

The winery offers daily wine tours and tastings for both small and large groups. The goal is to develop high-quality wine tourism in line with European standards. Notably, more international visitors are familiar with Villa Yustina than Bulgarian guests. Last year, the winery welcomed tourists from 61 countries, including Lesotho, Nicaragua, the United States (with visitors from Hawaii and Alaska), Lithuania, and Estonia. On average, the winery hosts three to seven groups per day and collaborates with both major tour operators and individual visitors. A new relaxation area near the villa’s hotel section is also scheduled for completion.

Villa Yustina Winery is located at the base of the Rodopska Yaka in the village of Ustina, a region known for its strong winemaking traditions. Founded in 2006, the winery reflects the contemporary style of Bulgarian winemaking. It produces high-quality wines and features an exhibition hall for Tomika Metal, a leading manufacturer of stainless-steel tanks and technology solutions in Bulgaria. The estate spans 200 hectares in the Gorkata area, with 40 hectares dedicated to its own vineyards and a park designed for wine-related events. The winery produces wines from white grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Aligote, and Gewurztraminer, as well as reds including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Mavrud, and Rubin. The wines are organized into three collections: Villa Yustina, Four Seasons, and Monogram.