site.btaUva Nestum: Traditional Methods, Strict Control Are Key to Wines with Their Own Style

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.

Tsvetelina Bilareva-Paskova, manager of the Uva Nestum complex near Gotse Delchev, told BTA that Uva Nestum strives to have minimal intervention in the winemaking process, as the experts working for it believe that wines express the distinctive qualities of the region. Bilareva-Paskova said that traditional methods and strict control at every stage of the process are the key to creating wines with their own style and character.

The expert shared with BTA that a wine's quality depends primarily on the quality of the grapes and the exact moment when the fruit is harvested. Uva Nestum harvests its grapes by hand to avoid damaging or crushing them before they are processed in the cellar. The harvest this year has been very good so far. The ripeness of the fruit is monitored through indicators such as sugar content, acidity, and seed maturity.

The 2025 vintage will bring new offerings for consumers, including wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, as well as a new wine from the Rubin variety. Production is boutique and limited to 20,000 bottles per year, allowing for complete control over the processes and high quality.

Uva Nestum plans to participate in this year's edition of the prestigious international Decanter competition, as well as in the DiVinoTaste exhibition. Uva Nestum wines have already been recognized on the world stage, with its Chardonnay 2021, Uva Nestum Rubin & Merlot 2021, and Uva Nestum Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2021 having won bronze medals at Decanter.

The complex organizes wine events and tours for visitors. Since 2013, the winery has been hosting themed tastings, a celebration of Trifon Zarezan (in honour of Saint Tryphon, patron of wine makers), and a presentation of the first young wine every autumn.

Uva Nestum was established in 2009 as part of a family complex near Gotse Delchev, which combines a hotel, restaurant, spa centre, and farm. The name of the winery comes from the Latin words for 'grapes from Mesta'. The vineyards spread across 2.5 hectares and include Rubin, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tamyanka varieties. The oenologists are Magdalena Bilareva and Dimka Medareva.