Bulgaria joins European wine route
![Wine Is Crucial Element of Bulgaria's Economic Image, Agriculture and Food Minister Says]()
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Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov at BTA's National Press Club in Sofia, November 20, 2025 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)
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site.btaWine Is Crucial Element of Bulgaria's Economic Image, Agriculture and Food Minister Says
Wine is a crucial element of Bulgaria’s overall economic image, Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov said at the Bulgarian News Agency's National Press Club in Sofia Thursday on the occasion of this country’s official accession to the Iter Vitis Route, a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe dedicated to wine.
He described the occasion as impressive because it marks the beginning of a wine route in Bulgaria within a shared cultural space at the heart of the Old Continent.
Tahov noted that Bulgarian lands have millennia-old traditions in winemaking, adding that the natural assets - climate, terroir, and soil - are a prerequisite for developing modern wine tourism in the country. In his words, wine destinations are important not only for tourism but also for Bulgarian producers. "They help bring our unique wines and products to more consumers, including many international visitors," he added.
The Minister said that in recent years numerous wineries offering accommodation and tasting experiences have been built near major tourist attractions, making it possible to integrate them into a larger tourism project. Bulgaria now has 88 wineries that operate at a highly professional level, Tahov noted.
Bulgaria has 54 wines with protected designations registered at the European level, he said. Over the years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has consistently encouraged producers to form associations and register products with protected geographical indications. This, he said, highlights their origin, preserves traditions, and ensures much stronger market recognition.
"Our shared goal is for Bulgarian wines to establish themselves on the domestic market, increase their competitiveness, and gain access to new international markets where, I dare say, Bulgarian wines would find their rightful place," Tahov said.
He expressed confidence that Bulgaria’s participation in the Iter Vitis network opens up entirely new opportunities that will help strengthen the country’s national wine identity and create lasting partnerships that bring together history, nature, and wine destinations.
Tahov noted that his Ministry supports the wine sector's efforts in building a good image of Bulgaria as a producer of high-quality wine. He added that this country fully supports European policies promoting individualized, environmentally friendly, and healthy wine products.
The annual budget supporting the sector amounts to over BGN 50 million, or about EUR 26 million, with more than 80% of the funds for 2025 already allocated, the Мinister said. This support allows grape and wine producers to modernize and enhance their production, promote Bulgarian wines on the global market through various programmes, and reduce the environmental footprint of their activities.
/PP/
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