Cabernet Franc Elenovo, PDO Nova 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.

Cabernet Franc

 is a black-skinned French wine grape variety grown in most wine producing nations. The variety is most famously known as the third grape of Bordeaux and can be found in many of the world's top Bordeaux Blend wines. It most commonly appears in blended red wines, where it adds herbaceous accents of tobacco and dark spice. Its varietal wines are light to medium bodied and often show vegetal characteristics, in particular green bell...

Cabernet Franc

 is a black-skinned French wine grape variety grown in most wine producing nations. The variety is most famously known as the third grape of Bordeaux and can be found in many of the world's top Bordeaux Blend wines. It most commonly appears in blended red wines, where it adds herbaceous accents of tobacco and dark spice. Its varietal wines are light to medium bodied and often show vegetal characteristics, in particular green bell peppers. This has led many wine drinkers to incorrectly identify Cabernet Franc as unripe Cabernet Sauvignon, or even Carmenère. This has been highlighted in Friuli, Italy, where plantings thought to be Cabernet Franc were later classified as Carmenere. Cabernet Franc is commonly compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, which is not without justification. Along with Sauvignon Blanc, the former is a parent of the latter. (Recent DNA profiling has also shown that Cabernet Franc is also one of Merlot's parents). However, Cabernet Franc ripens at least a week earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. While it has thinner skin and lower acidity, it is also known for its hardiness and often grown as an "insurance" grape. Cabernet Franc's home is widely accepted as Libournais in Bordeaux. Within this sub-region are the prestigious villages of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, which is where some of the most highly regarded Cabernet Franc wines originate. Examples include Cheval Blanc (typically around two-thirds Cabernet Franc) and Ausone (which is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot). Outside France, Cabernet Franc is grown in Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the Americas. In Canada, it is produced as a dry red wine, but perhaps more interestingly as an icewine in Ontario. Further south, in the United States, it is grown in California, Washington State and Long Island, most often to feature in Bordeaux-style blends. In Argentina the variety has long featured – albeit on a smaller scale – alongside other Bordeaux varieties. As of 2017 it accounted for less than one percent of the red grapes grown here. However this still means there were 1042 hectares (2577 acres) recorded in 2017. Furthermore it is proving increasingly popular as a solo performer. Chile has over 1200ha (2965 acres) planted to the variety, though it is less common as a single varietal wine. 

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.