New Awards from the Sommelier Wine Awards 2025

This year, for the first time, we submitted our wines to the Sommelier Wine Awards – a prestigious competition in the UK, where wines are evaluated by leading sommeliers, restaurateurs, and wine merchants. The competition focuses on wines suitable for premium on-trade wine lists.

Both wines we submitted – Orange Wine 2022 and Bergule Mavrud & Melnik 2020 – proudly brought home Bronze Medals!

We are proud that the jury recognized the flavor, character, and potential of our wines – and of the Bulgarian grape varieties at their core.

Orange Wine is made from white grapes using a special winemaking method. The key lies in the skins of the white grapes. In orange wine, the skins are left to ferment together with the juice – giving the wine its deeper color, flavor, and aroma. The skins also contain tannins, which lend the wine its distinctive taste. You could say that orange wine is a white wine made using red winemaking techniques.
Our Orange Wine 2022 is a blend of the French variety Viognier and the local Keratsuda from the Melnik region.

‘Dried flowers on the nose, along with some dried orange peel, leading to some nice tannic grip on the palate, with a touch of smoke on the finish.’, Chiara Sieni, Rise & Vine.

‘An aromatic nose of orange zest and peach skin, leading to a fresh palate with ginger and white pepper.’, Vincenzo Arnese, Raffles Hotel at the OWO.

Mavrud is known for its dense, intense character, while Shiroka Melnik Vine (Broadleaf Melnik Vine) impresses with its elegance and uniqueness. Both varieties are symbols of tradition and heritage in Bulgarian winemaking. While each has its own charm, they also work beautifully together – as in our red and rosé blends, such as Bergule Mavrud & Melnik. Bergule Mavrud & Melnik

’Super peppery with firm tannin, a firm mid structure and spicy acid.’, Dion Wai, Raffles Hotel at the OWO, London

’Pronounced smoky, earthy, meaty, spicy, red and black fruit. High, grippy tannin – can age for longer.’, Kayleigh Vidler, The Chesil Rectory