site.btaPri Shestaka: Melnik Winemaker Produces Preservative-Free Wines from Local Grape Variety

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.

Pri Shestaka winery produces wine without preservatives, owner Mitko Manolev told BTA. He specified that the winery mainly produces Melnik wine from the local grape variety Shiroka Melnishka, or Broadleafed Melnik. 

“We have been working for 33 years. In 1992 we started with vineyard cultivation. I can say that I am among the first in the region to engage in wine production. Most of our vineyards are Shiroka Melnishka Loza, about 70% of what we grow. Most of our wines are made from it as well, because we want to keep our traditions. We make only natural wine, without preservatives or chemicals,” Manolev said.

The winery owner sells his production mainly to regular customers, who, in his words, appreciate authentic wine. There are fewer occasional clients. According to him, recent years have not been good in terms of yields. In terms of quality, however, this year’s harvest is better than last year’s, he commented.

Manolev added that demand for his wines is highest during the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as throughout the winter season. “In winter we sell two-thirds of our production,” he added.