2021 - Old Vine Melnik
Grower: AYA Estate Vineyards
Winemaker: Dimitar Kostadinov and Zagreus Natural Wine Fellows
Vintage: 2023
Type: Dry Red Wine
Grapes: 100% old vine Melnik
Appellation: Struma River Valley, Bulgaria
Location: Harsovo
Alcohol: 12.8%
Bottle: 750ml
Vineyards: Certified organic, practicing biodynamics, dry farmed
Age of vines: 50+ years old
Cellar: Wild fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Partially aged in old 500L French barrels for 12 months.
Tasting notes: Sour cherry, sweet tobacco, Mediterranean thyme
Files:📄
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Alcohol: 12.9%
Residual Sugar: 1.6 g/L
Acidity: 4.78 g/L
Volatile Acidity: 0.6 g/L
Sulfites: 67 mg/L
Age of vines: 50+ years old
Exposure: Southwest
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Winemaker Kiril Miladinov, Dilyana Vassileva
Locatıon: Harsovo / Bulgaria
Region: Struma River Valley
Founding Year: 2021
Vineyard Size: 35 hectares
Farming: Organic certified, biodynamic practices, dry farmed
Soil: Sand, limestone
Topography: 250–330 meters above sea level, in the hills of Bulgaria’s Struma River Valley. South-facing slopes and a unique interplay of Aegean warmth and cool mountain.
More information about AYA Estate Vineyards here.
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The Struma River Valley, in southwestern Bulgaria, is one of the country’s most distinctive wine regions. Influenced by a Mediterranean climate and flanked by mountains, it offers hot days, cool nights, and steady breezes—ideal for slow, even ripening. Known for its sandy-limestone soils and native grape varieties like Melnik, the valley produces bold, aromatic reds with a strong sense of place.