Bulgaria is the homeland of wine. The Thracian ancestors were the first wine producers in ancient times. God Sabicius guarded the production of Thracian wine. ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ by Homer are an important source confirming the artistry of the Thracians in wine production. The Bulgarians inherited the experience in wine making and followed the Thracian tradition when formed their state in 681.
 
The Bulgarians can ‘pride’ themselves on introducing prohibition for the first time in the world. Chan Krum ordered a liquidation of all vineyards and banned wine production in the first half of the 11th century. His actions might have been condemnable if it wasn’t for his general regulations of order and peace, which were a rare phenomenon back then. Seasoning of wine in basements can also be a Bulgarian invention. The first remarks about it come from the Bulgarian monasteries where wines were kept in cold basements deep in the ground. In 1396 – 1878 Bulgaria was a part of the Ottoman Empire. The traditions related to wine production survived despite the Koran ban on grapevine growing.
 
 Favorable wine production conditions appeared quickly after the liberation of Bulgaria. There were 50 ha of grapevine fields. The Wine Act was one of the first acts issued by the new state of Bulgaria. There were 130 ha of vine fields before the Second World War.
 
In the communist era, the production of wine was monopolized by the state and all socialist states became the target market. The above factors contributed to a deterioration of the quality of the Bulgarian wine products. The national company called Vinprom, which monopolized the wine production in the 1980s, started exporting wine to Western Europe. When the socialist system collapsed in 1989, the Bulgarian wines have slowly regained its lost reputation and position in the global markets.
 
Bulgaria is located in the north-eastern part of the Balkan peninsula, which – thanks to rich relief and mild climate – is perfect for growing vines. There are over 60 types of grapevine in 160 ha of area.
 
It is hard to imagine Bulgaria without wine. It is a necessary and irreplaceable element of every Bulgarian holiday – and there are many of them. There is even a special holiday of people who make wine – it’s called Trifon Zarezan. On February 14 the Bulgarians visit the vineyards, cut the vines and sprinkle them with wine. The vineyard tsar is elected and the ceremonies end in great feast and party. The Vine Harvest Holiday is another holiday associated with wine. The very day depends on the day of vine’s ripening. On this day, young girls carry heavy baskets with grapes and lead the procession with carts filled up with grapes. There’s music and the grapes are put in basements.