site.btaStarosel Winery: High-Quality 2025 Harvest Despite Climate Challenges

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.

The Starosel Winery, Hisarya Municipality, Southern Bulgaria, expects the 2025 grape harvest to stand out for its high quality, despite the challenges posed by the weather conditions, Valentin Bambalov, the winery’s technology consultant, told BTA. He explained that the high temperatures and low rainfall throughout the year have impacted the quantity of grapes, but thanks to the established irrigation system and the expertise of the teams, the quality has been preserved.

"There won’t be a large amount of wine, but we are aiming for very high quality," Bambalov said.

In recent years, the Starosel cellar has built a reputation as a producer that combines tradition with modern approaches. Its portfolio has expanded with new products. In 2021, the premium red wine Vintage 2017 was launched, Bambalov said, adding that two years later the same label gave its name to a limited-edition rakia aged five years in oak barrels. In 2023, the winery introduced its first white wine, Wine Treasure. For the 2025 harvest, no new products are planned; instead, the focus will be on maintaining the high quality of the existing wines.

“The winemaking business is like a living organism. Every year brings something new, and everything new is an investment,” Bambalov said.

He added that the vineyards are located on four carefully selected terroirs, and efforts are made every year to optimally maintain the structures and ensure the health of the plants. The wave of artificial intelligence, he said, is already impacting winemaking, though currently mainly in marketing and sales, while production and storage still require a human touch.

Starosel wines have received numerous awards at international competitions, including gold medals from Brussels and Geneva. Participation in new competitions will be determined after the grape harvest concludes.

The Starosel Complex is located in the heart of the Valley of the Thracian Kings and combines winemaking with spa and cultural tourism. Guests can take daily walks along the Wine Route and taste the winery's products in the Temple of Wine tasting hall. On festive days such as Trifon Zarezan (the day of winemakers, February 14), the Dionysian Festival, and Enyovden (the day of healing herbs, Midsummer’s day), tastings are accompanied by themed programmes.

On October 7, Starosel will host a wine tasting event under the auspices of the UN World Tourism Organization, which will bring together around 50 professionals from around the world, Bambalov added.