site.btaTwo Winemaking Friends Cultivate Rare Grape Varieties at Lilyache Winery in Vratsa Region

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.

Viktor Antov and Nikolay Angelov cultivate grape varieties that are rare for Bulgaria such as Senso, Rkatsiteli, Vermentino and Naslada at their winery in the village of Lilyache. Lifelong friends, the two have been involved in wine making for more than 15 years. They have been producing wine professionally since 2020, when they refurbished a house built in 1900, converting it into a winery.

With an annual capacity of 10 to 15 tons of grapes, the winery produces around 5,000 bottles and enjoys good sales. They work mainly with the Senso variety. In Antov’s words, Liliyache is the only winery that processes and vinifies certified Senso grapes. “The grapes are certified by the Viticulture and Winemaking Institute in Plovdiv, where we get them from,” he adds. Their enologist is Tsvetana Malcheva, a long-time technologist at the old winery in Vratsa. “She has extensive experience and working with her is pleasant and easy. We use her as a consultant because of her high professional and moral qualities, as well as her great erudition,” Antov says. 

Antov is a lawyer by trade, while Angelov is a restorer. “I travel often, working on restoring cultural monuments, paintings, icons, and metal artifacts,” says Angelov, who spent many years with the Thrace Foundation, Bulgaria’s largest private art collection.

The two also plan to plant about 0.4 hectares of vines on a nearby property owned by Angelov. “Our families are deeply involved. Everyone helps out during campaigns,” he says. The winery’s logo, “AA,” incorporates the first letter of both of their surnames.

Years ago, the Senso grape variety (a red variety) was grown in Vratsa and across the country. Along with the well-known Vrachanska Temenuga (a white variety), it was the second best-known and most widely used grape variety, Angelov adds. It was used as a dessert grape and exported to Europe. Vratsa's proximity to the Danube obviously facilitated the grape trade, Angelov notes.

“At the beginning of the 20th century, phylloxera spread into the country and destroyed the crops. It literally destroyed plant roots and foliage. Ninety percent of the old grape varieties were lost,” says Angelov. After the crisis, Senso made a comeback in northwestern Bulgaria. Known for high yields, it is the grape behind many Provencal roses. It is a red variety that gives the wine its aroma. Grenache is another variety used to produce roses, Angelov says. “Senso is tricky to vinify, which is why many winemakers avoid it, but it creates wonderful wine,” Angelov notes. He recalls a visit to Berkovitsa where a French woman recognized the variety in their wine.

When the harvest is favorable, the winery also produces red wines. Their Lilyache Red Blend 2022 received the highest rating in the DIVINO ranking. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. “A blend means that the grape varieties were combined during fermentation. They develop a kind of early friendship, which gives the wine a balanced taste,” says Antov. “Just like us. We both grew up together and understand each other’s flaws and strengths.”

The winery is also experimenting with Naslada, a white Bulgarian hybrid developed at the institute in Pleven by crossing Hamburg Muscat and Villar Blanc, Angelov says. “It is resistant variety that tolerates climate change very well, and the wine made from it is often considered organic as very little of the plant is chemically treated. We have not yet released it on the market because we only planted a few vines so far and are still monitoring them,” he adds.

Their 2024 vintage includes another rare variety, Rkatsiteli, a Georgian grape with a limited yield of 500 kilograms per 0.1 hectare. Rkatsiteli means red vine - both the vine and the branches are red, even though the grapes are white, Angelov adds, noting that it is not commonly vinified. The vines come from a grower in Vidin Region, whose vines are over 40 years old. The wine will be showcased at an event in Stara Zagora at the end of September. An exhibition is held there, and in 2024, the Lilyache winery earned a medal there for its Vermentino 2023, Antov says. He adds that Vermentino is not a widely known grape variety. “As a small winery, it is hard to stand out with mass-market varieties. For example, there are probably over 300 types of Cabernet Sauvignon wine on the market, and it would be difficult for us to make one that stands out. That is why we prefer rare, certified varieties that offer a specific and refined taste for connoisseurs,” Antov adds.

Liliyache Winery also produces a Chardonnay made from locally sourced grapes. One of their standout products is a Chardonnay infused with 23-karat gold - 98% pure edible gold and 2% silver. It is a hit at festive occasions, Angelov says.

The winery’s tasting room accommodates 12 to 15 guests. It is known in the region for its two unique, authentic chairs made by craftsmen from Tryavna. One chair is made from 47 wooden pieces, Angelov says, adding that both were purchased online. The other chairs in the room were designed based on those originals. A bowl of last year’s Senso grapes, now raisins, sits on a shelf as a decoration, and a large fireplace at the back of the room keeps guests warm in winter.

In the coming years, the winemakers plan to plant 0.4 to 0.5 decares of Senso grapes in a demonstration vineyard. It will have a limited yield and the aim is to produce high-quality rose, Angelov says. “We want it to be from our own vineyards because we know that high-quality grapes guarantee high-quality wine,” he adds. Since 2020, most of their efforts have gone into investment. They have secured 50% co-financing for new equipment through an approved project for modernization.

Antov and Angelov also plan to expand their hospitality offerings, hosting more events and welcoming more guests. “We already have a guest room in the building where wine is produced,” Angelov says. He highlights that the natural landmark “God’s Bridge” is located nearby, offering visitors a nature experience. It has become a tradition for the two winemakers to host an event at the beginning of February, where they welcome guests with delicious appetizers, quality wine, music, and a bonfire. 

Liliyache Winery is also a member of the Danube Winemakers Association, which includes over 20 winemakers from the western and central Danube Plain. Visitors can explore the region through an online and printed map of the wineries in the region.

On Tuesday, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh launched the national campaign Wine Leads the Way at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia, aiming to promote Bulgarian wine tourism both domestically and internationally. As part of the campaign, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) introduced a new 2025 section titled New BG WINE Leads the Way, dedicated to covering news from Bulgarian wineries.