Chardonnay Elenovo Riserva, PDO N. Zagora

Located in the region of Thrace, in the village of Elenovo around 15 km from the town of Nova Zagora, the Edoardo Miroglio wine cellar is surrounded by vineyards, a natural lake and green fields, creating ideal conditions for vinegrowing. Vines and wine were the main source of trade in the area as long ago as in the days of the ancient Thracians, with recipes being handed down through the generations from father to son.

The origins of winegrowing in...

Located in the region of Thrace, in the village of Elenovo around 15 km from the town of Nova Zagora, the Edoardo Miroglio wine cellar is surrounded by vineyards, a natural lake and green fields, creating ideal conditions for vinegrowing. Vines and wine were the main source of trade in the area as long ago as in the days of the ancient Thracians, with recipes being handed down through the generations from father to son.

The origins of winegrowing in Thrace (modern day Bulgaria) date back so far in time that its roots are mythological: indeed, the cult of Dionysus (Bacchus for the Romans), the god of wine, ecstasy and freedom of the senses, originated in Thrace and was subsequently adopted in the Greek pantheon. Wine was therefore a central element in the life of Thracians, a sort of divine drink through which they could reach ecstasy and communicate with the Divine. They drank wine before going into war, to dance, to find inspiration, and to enjoy freedom.

Chardonnay is the world's most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America. Describing the flavors of Chardonnay is not easy. While many Chardonnay wines have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques...

Chardonnay is the world's most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America. Describing the flavors of Chardonnay is not easy. While many Chardonnay wines have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety's intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavors. Because of this high level of winemaker involvement, Chardonnay has become known as the "winemaker's wine". The variety itself (although often said to be relatively flavor-neutral) is responsible for most of the fruity flavors found in Chardonnay wines. These range from the tropical (banana, melon, pineapple and guava) to stonefruits (peach, nectarine and apricot), citrus and apples. Mineral descriptors such as chalk, wet stones and crushed seashells also find their way into Chardonnay tasting notes. These are sometimes attributed to the soils in the vineyard, although the relationship between soil and wine flavor has become widely exaggerated. The most famously minerally Chardonnay wines are those of Chablis, one of the very few wine regions to focus on a largely unoaked style of Chardonnay. Chardonnay is particularly popular with wine producers, not least because it has a reliable market of keen consumers. The variety produces relatively high yields, will grow in a broad spectrum of climates and can be made into wine of acceptable quality with relative ease. In poor vintages, deficiencies can be covered up with oak flavors, reducing the financial impact of a bad harvest. In the vineyard, Chardonnay presents a few viticultural challenges, but none that can't be solved with age-old techniques or a little help from technology. (Were this not the case, the variety would certainly not be as successful as it is.) In very warm climates, Chardonnay grapes tend to lose their natural acidity, resulting in flat, overblown wines. This can be partially corrected with a simple addition of acid, or by harvesting early and compensating for lack of flavor by using oak and malolactic fermentation. Vignerons in cooler climates have a quite different problem with the variety, as the vines bud and flower early in the season, making them susceptible to spring frosts. Vignerons in Burgundy (particularly in Chablis) have traditionally mitigated this with braziers between the vine rows. These are not just for warmth – they also create frost-preventing air currents.

Elenovo – a fertile soil

The vineyards are located on the slope heading down to the village of Elenovo. The physical and chemical composition of the soil, the soil layers, the microclimate that is created between the hilly area located more than 400 meters above the sea level on Saint Ilia hill, give the area all necessary for the production of high-quality wines. The planting of the vineyards began in 2002, choosing as the first variety the...

Elenovo – a fertile soil

The vineyards are located on the slope heading down to the village of Elenovo. The physical and chemical composition of the soil, the soil layers, the microclimate that is created between the hilly area located more than 400 meters above the sea level on Saint Ilia hill, give the area all necessary for the production of high-quality wines. The planting of the vineyards began in 2002, choosing as the first variety the Pinot Nero. Over the next two years follow the other international varieties such as Chardonnay, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Merlot, Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the spring of 2005 Edoardo Miroglio winery expanded with the Bulgarian varieties Mavrud and Melnik. In 2008, the range of local varieties further expands with Bouquet and Rubin. The average spring and autumn temperatures are low and are characterized by big temperature differences. The average quantity of rainfall favors the cultivation of the vineyards. Summers are warm, but not muggy and with low humidity.