Made by friends for friends a collaboration between the team at The Old Cellar Stoyan, (our Bulgarian import specialists), Dilyan and Georgi, business partners and friends raising glasses for the good moments in life on the front label (designed by their good friend Jordan Jelev The Labelmaker), and the team at VinoAtelie (Petar and Radostin of Georgiev/Milkov winery and Nikolay of Tsarev Brod winery, also business partners and good friends). The friends and partners have created a concept of young, vibrant, jolly and engaging wines that feel modern and drink elegantly, revealing the authenticity and beauty of the indigenous Bulgarian grape varieties Dimyat and Rubin blended alongside the most successful international grape varieties grown in the country. Friendsips are wines that jump out of the glass and hug you, wear a suit and a pair of sneakers and deserve to be shared amongst friends at any occasions.

Vineyards

The moderate continental climate and the different altitudes of the region are good premises for growing of red grape varieties in the valley of the Thrace. The region includes the central part of the lowland, as well as parts of the Sakar mountain.

The climate conditions of the region, protected from sharp winds from the north by Stara Planina mountain range and by the Rhodope Mountains from the South,

are very suitable for production of excellent rich and complex red wines from the varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Mavrud, as well as intense and crisp whites. The sunshine here is over 3000 hours per year with over 110 sunny days. The summer is hot and dry with warm nights, the winter is mild. The soils in the region are predominantly sandy or a combination of sand and clay, with some limestone found at places.

The high-quality wines from the local sort Mavrud are most valued because of the combination of the aromas and the taste of black forest fruits, spices and herbs. Other very successful grape varieties in this region are Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc & Rubin from the reds and Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Dimyat from the whites.

Dimiat, or Dimyat, is a white grape variety planted widely along the coast of the Black Sea in Bulgaria. Wine made from Dimiat is usually produced either off-dry or sweet, and is typically best consumed while still young. As a varietal, it has simple, grapey aromas with notes of sweet apricot and quince. Dimiat is often used for the distillation of Bulgarian whiskey. Dimiat is a very old variety and local legend holds that is named after a town in the Nile Delta (Damietta) from which it originated, but evidence supporting this theory is limited.

Grapes were hand picked in small trays from vineyards with soils of high mineral content. Both varieties are vinified separately – constant temperature control during fermentation, ageing on the fine lees for 3 months with battonage two times per week, before final blending.

Tasting Notes

Pale yellow with green hues in appearance, the intense noseshows fresh herbs and tropical fruit. Fresh and juicy in the mouth, with lovely citrus peel, apple blossom, nettle, fresh cut grass and tarragon, before a lovely citrusy finish.

Try as an aperitif or with fish & salsa verde. Courgette fritters are a good shout here too.