2024 Lovico Craftsman's Selection Chardonnay & Riesling

Lovico Suhindol has about 300 hectares of vineyards around the village of Suhindol. It is located in the north of Bulgaria, not too far from the Danube. The region belongs geologically to the 'Danube plain' which extends far into Hungary. The soil under the vineyards contains loam and carbonates under a layer of black earth and clay. The vineyards are planted with the local Gamza (Kadarka) grape and international varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

The Craftsman's Selection series are wines with a more than excellent price/quality. Delicious accessible wine in a cheerful and inviting outfit. Craftsman's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot is made from the classic grapes and is a fruity red wine. The wine has been aged for 2-3 months in French oak barriques so that little bit more complexity but without being too heavy or tannic. The wine has a beautiful ruby red color with aromas of red and dark fruit such as raspberries, black cherries and ripe plums in the nose and a subtle mocha spiciness. It is a fruit dominated wine but is medium to full bodied. The wine has a soft taste with lots of dark fruit and a fruity aftertaste and a good freshness and civilized in its alcohol.

Since its foundation in the year 1909, Lovico Winery has become one of the main driving forces of the Bulgarian wine industry and has remained at the forefront until today. Thanks to the winery's quality wines and professionalism in marketing, a breakthrough has been made for quality Bulgarian wines in the international markets around the world.

Lovico Winery specializes in the production of wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Mavrud, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the local Gamza - an emblematic grape variety in the region. The winery owns approximately 300 hectares of vineyards and purchases additional quantities of grapes from a number of traditional grape growers in the region.

Working on specific projects in recent years, Lovico Winery manages to revive the ancient Suhindol tradition of producing high quality wines, combining classic vinification methods with modern innovative techniques. In its long history, the winery has won hundreds of prestigious awards and recognition in many international wine forums and competitions. Even after more than 100 years of winemaking experience, the company's objective remains unchanged - to make excellent quality wines while preserving the unique and complex character of Bulgarian wines and passing these traditions on to generations to come.

Bulgaria has a rich history and has been known for no less than three thousand years with the tradition of viticulture. It was the Thracians who from the 9th century BC. brought viticulture to Bulgaria. It is evident from the numerous excavations that show that wine played an important role in the life of the Thracians. At that time people even paid with coins depicting bunches of grapes. The Thracians massively planted vineyards in Bulgaria, introduced new farming techniques and even developed special tools for vineyard work and vinification. Thrace, the region that would later become the core of present-day Bulgaria, was the scene of the first celebrations in honor of Dionysos (the Thracian Bacchus) and in honor of wine.

Today Bulgaria is gaining more and more international recognition for its quality wines. This country, also known as the “sleeping beauty”, has all the qualities to become a major player on the global wine market and has now surpassed all Eastern European wine countries with its superior wines. Wine production takes place in a sustainable and innovative way, which guarantees the quality of the grapes and the wine. As a result, Bulgaria is increasingly put on the map as a wine-producing country and the country is increasingly gaining international appreciation and awards for the wines that have been produced there since time immemorial.