site.btaAt Angel's Estate, Chief Technologist Believes Young Consumers Are Leaning Toward Rose, White Wines

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.

Svetlana Vasikovich is chief technologist at Angel’s Estate Winery, part of the international Purcari Wineries Group. A native of Corten, Moldova, she is a Bessarabian Bulgarian, who has been living and working in Bulgaria for over a year and a half. 

“I am from Moldova, the village of Corten. Our ancestors came from Corten in Bulgaria and founded a new settlement there. So, my destiny is tied to both places,” she said.

Her love for wine started at home. “My mother was involved in winemaking. As a child, I spent a lot of time with her in the cellar. It was fascinating to me,” Vasikovich added.

Initially drawn to science, Vasikovich earned a degree in chemistry and began her career at the scientific institute of viticulture and oenology in Moldova, where she worked for seven years and completed a doctoral thesis. She later joined the renowned Purcari Winery, where she was offered to work in Bulgaria.

“My husband, who is the production director at the winery, and I have been living in Bulgaria for a year and a half,” she said.

In her words, climate change in the Thracian Plain brings challenges. “This year we faced frost and then hail. Every year is different. You cannot simply follow last season’s playbook. But that is the beauty of this job: you are always learning.”

The success of a wine lies in terroir and technology. “We have introduced new practices in the cellar: grape cooling, different types of fermenters. Every detail makes a difference,” she said.

Vasikovich believes that a wine’s character can be sensed as early as fermentation. “When I see the quality of the grapes, I already know the direction the wine will take,” she added. 

She also keeps a close eye on market preferences. “Young consumers are leaning toward rose and white wines - light, fresh, and aromatic. We need to adapt,” Vasikovich added.

Wine tourism in Bulgaria is also developing. “More and more people want to visit the winery, see the production process, and enjoy tastings. We are planning to launch wine tours next year. It is a wonderful trend. The culture of wine consumption in Bulgaria is growing,” she said.

Located near the Zhrebchevo Dam, close to Nova Zagora, Angel’s Estate has been part of the Purcari Wineries Group since 2023. The Group brings together wineries from Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. The winery has a production capacity of over 1 million bottles per year, with facilities covering 14,000 square metres, including 7,000 square metres underground. The estate spans 100 hectares of vineyards, planted in 2007–2008 in the nearby village of Chervenakovo. The varietals include approximately 70% red grapes - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Grenache, among others - and 30% white - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Traminer, and more.

By 2025, the winery has already earned notable recognition: Gold Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for Stallion Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Value Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards for Angel’s Estate Rose 2024, and the Golden Kiliks Award at Rose Wine Expo in Kazanlak for Stallion Rose Selection 2024.