Before Retirement, Vance Petrunoff Was Selling Bulgarian Wines from Sonoma, CA

March 20, 2009 Bulgaria’s wine producer Telish is planning to enter the wine markets of India, China, and Hong Kong. The news was announced Wednesday by Hospitalitybizindia.com, which cites Svilena Hristova, Sales and Marketing Manager of Telish Wine Cellar. The wine-maker Telish located in the Northern village of Telish, Pleven District, was the only Bulgarian firm to attend the India International Wine Fair, which took place on March 16-18 in Mumbai. “The company is presently targeting the South Asian markets of India, China and Hong Kong. India is a new market for us. Presently, we are the first Bulgarian wine producers here and we plan to establish our presence in the Indian market”, the Sales Manage of Telish is quoted as saying. The company plans to export to South and East Asia its produce of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bulgarian indigenous varietals, Mavrud and Rubin. Telish produces about two million bottles of wine each year, and...

Start Date 18-MAR-09 End Date 21-MAR-09 Venue City / State Country International Fair Plovdiv 37, Tzar Boris III, Obedinitel Blvd. Plovdiv, Plovdiv Bulgaria Event Profile: VINARIA is the most prestigious and largest specialized exposition within the branch in South Eastern Europe, which brings together exhibitors in the field of vine-growing and wine-producing. Highlights: The WINE NATIONAL COMPETITION is held within it. The National Tasting includes brandy and natural rakias. The awards for drinks-winners and producers are presented at a grand wine ball WINE AND LOVE, LOVE AND WINE. The prize of International Fair Plovdiv - Golden Rhyton - the most prestigious one at Vinaria, the Wine of the Year and Honours diplomas, gold,...

Wine Report from the Fort About Bulgaria … King Kroum bans all vineyards! By Fred McMillin Northside San Francisco – European edition, 4000 B.C. issue: King Kroum has ordered the destruction of all the vineyards in his kingdom. Northside San Francisco – European edition, 3990 B.C. issue: During a celebration, panic broke out when one of the king’s caged lions escaped and terrorized the city. After the lion was slain by a fearless young man, the king summoned the young man’s mother to learn the source of such courage. Fearfully, she confessed to having preserved one vine, from which was made the wine that gave her son, Mavrud, the strength and bravery to confront the lion. The king was so impressed that vineyards were again planted and one type of grape was named Mavrud. Northside San Francisco – European edition, 1980 issue: Under USSR control, Bulgaria is now exporting two million cases of wine p...

Summary: Despite global economic difficulties, the Bulgarian food and drink market is expected to continue its steady expansion, jumpstarted by EU membership gained at the start of 2007 and an envious amount of foreign direct investment (FDI). Rising manufacturing costs and saturation of Western European markets should support this development, as international food and drink producers as well as mass grocery retail (MGR) players increasingly look abroad, to emerging markets, for expansion opportunities. As an illustration of the above point, in June 2008, Nestlé confirmed that the recent investment in an upgrade of its Bulgarian production facility was a confirmation of its commitment to the country’s confectionery market. The facility has been expanded at a cost of US$15.5mn to include a new line for the production of Kit-Kat Senses. Nestlé Bulgaria expects a 20% increase for 2008, despite some questions over the level of consumer confidence in the wake of the global credit crisis. I...

Santa Sarah Privat, vintage 2006 has won the Bulgarian Wine of the Year 2008 prize and title, which were officially awarded at a ceremony held on November 21. Winners in other categories, awarded by an international jury, include: Best Bulgarian White Wine - Chateau de Val Cuvee, 2007, Best Bulgarian Sparkling Wine - Edoardo Miroglio Brut Metodo Classico, 2005, Best Bulgarian Rose - Gorchivka Rose, 2007, Best Bulgarian Dessert Wine - Santa Sarah Snow Wine, 2005. Santa Sarah Privat, vintage 2006, has been produced in a 4,300-bottle series. Despite the fact that the Santa Sarah company does not own vineyards they have been creating excellent wines for over ten years, using twenty Bulgarian brands. Privat is considered the best Santa Sarah wine. Since 2004, it has been a combination of the traditional Bulgarian mavrud and cabernet sauvignon. The wine's unique taste is created by the slow fermentation process in German oak barrels, followed by a 10-month maturing in new French barrels....