Radio interviews with Vance Petrunoff

You can listen to recent Radio interviews with Vance Petrunoff bellow:

Mouthful, the Wine Country's Most Delicious Hour with Michele Anna Jordan
KRCB Radio Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA

Bulgarian wines discussed with Gene Burns' weekly Dining Around program
KGO Radio ABC San Francisco

VINI SAUVIGNON BLANC COMPLETES TRIO OF OUTSTANDING WINES FROM BULGARIA

Bulgarian Wines Offer Quality, Value and History to Changing Wine Market

(Sonoma, Calif.) VINI, the leading Bulgarian wine brand sold in America has released an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc to its portfolio of premium wines. The astounding popularity of the VINI brand represents the continuing trend toward superb value-priced wines from Bulgaria. VINI is produced by Sonoma-based Bulgarian Master Vintners, America’s leading importer of Bulgarian wines.

VINI’s Sauvignon Blanc is produced and bottled in Bulgaria from the best vineyards in the historic Thracian Valley. The Thracian Valley has a rich history as a premium wine producing region dating back to 1,000 B.C. In fact, some of the oldest grape seeds and wine goblets known to man were recovered from Thracian tombs in this region. The warm climate of the Thracian Valley is ideally suited to Sauvignon Blanc, a varietal that is emerging as one of Bulgaria’s most respected wines.

VINI produces Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This trio are by far the most popular Bulgarian wines sold in America. VINI is distributed in 10 states and through www.bulgarianwine.com.

During a challenging economic time for the wine industry, VINI and several other Bulgarian brands continue to gain notoriety and market share in America. Many internationally acclaimed wine producers are looking to Bulgaria as the “next big thing,” as Bulgarian wines represent extraordinary quality and extremely reasonable pricing.

The VINI brand is owned and distributed by Bulgarian Master Vintners, a Sonoma CA based wine importer led by Vance T. Petrunoff. This Sauvignon Blanc is stylistically crisp with attractive mineral and fresh melon characteristics. All VINI wines feature a lightweight bottle with modest carbon footprint and screw caps. It is lower in alcohol (12.5%) and priced at a very reasonable $7.99 per bottle.

VINI Merlot 2006 - one of Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2009!

-WINE ENTHUSIAST

Dear Vance,

Congratulations! The following wine has been selected as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2009! Wine Enthusiast Magazine will publish the rank, rating and review in the November issue, (on-sale October 7) and we will also publish the results on November 1st on-line at www.winemag.com

Rank:82 Score:87

VINI 2006, Merlot Thracian Valley, Bulgaria $8, Bulgarian Master Vintners

Thank you for your consideration and Congratulations on making this year’s Top 100 Best Buy List!

Cheers!
Denise Valenza

Late summer in Sonoma

Unoaked Chardonnay

Chardonnay is vinified many ways, including without oak, which seems to be a growing trend. Without the influence of new oak, the fruit takes center stage. A good unoaked Chardonnay has expressive fruit and zippy acidity - traits of a good food wine.

The most classic example is Chardonnay from Chablis in northern Burgundy in France, which is traditionally fermented in all stainless steel or in combination with used or neutral oak.

Not fermenting or aging in oak means none of the butter, vanilla and toast character that many people associate with California Chardonnay. Even so, winemakers still use other techniques such as time on the lees, which adds a creamy texture, and malolactic fermentation, which softens the wine's acidity.

Judicious use of oak can add much to a wine, but if you want one without, look for terms on the label like "unwooded," "inox" or "acero," which is Spanish for steel.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/16/FDAU196P49.DTL&feed=rss.wine

Sofia Dance Week 2009

Sofia reborn as a cultural crossroads - The Boston Globe

Sofia reborn as a cultural crossroads - The Boston Globe

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Bulgarian Wine Society - Wine tour of Bulgaria 2009

Program

Day 1: Flight London, Manchester or Dublin – Sofia
Arrival at Sofia airport, where a representative of Profi Tours will wait for you and will accommodate you in a hotel. Sofia sightseeing tour.
Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Sofia.

Day 2 - Bessa Valley: Sofia – Pazardhzik (at about 100 кm.)
Wine tasting in “Besa Vali” wine-cellar. Afternoon travel to Starosel (at about 60 кm.). Wine tasting and lunch in Starosel. Sightseeing of the ancient Thracian temple.
Dinner and overnight in Starosel.

Day 3 - Villa Vinifera: Travelling to the village of Brestovitsa (at about 60 кm). Wine tasting and lunch in “Vila Vinefera” . Travelling to Plovdiv. ( at about 25 km)
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 4: Travelling from Plovdiv to Asenovgrad (at about 25 km)
Sightseeing of the wine factory and wine tasting. Sightseeing of the Bachkovo monastery and the Asenova fortress.
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 5: Sightseeing of Plovdiv, the old city and visit to the Ethnographic museum. Lunch in “Alafrangite” restaurant.
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 6 - Katarzyna Estate: Plovdiv - Parvomai (at about 110 km)
Sightseeing and wine tasting of wine cellar “Zagrei” in Parvomai. Afternoon traveling to the village of Mezek (at about 50 km). Sightseeing and wine tasting of wine cellar “Katarjina” in Svilengrad.
Overnight in Svilengrad.

Day 7: Svilengrad - Sofia (at about 290 km)
Sightseeing and lunch in Koprivshtitsa on the way. Free afternoon in Sofia / shopping, cultural visits/ .
Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 8: Transfer to Sofia airport.
Flight Sofia - London, Manchester or Dublin
Additional info

Price per person in a twin / double room – 1590 EUR
Single supplement – 160 EUR
The price includes:
- 7 BB overnights in 4 star hotels
- 5 wine tasting according to the itinerary
- 6 dinners in the hotels
- English speaking guide
- transportation in a luxury bus
- entrances
- flight return ticket with Bulgaria Air from London, Manchester or Dublin to Sofia .
- the price is valid for minimum of 15 fully paying tourists

Service provider for the tour is Profi Tours Ltd, a leading bulgarian touroperator, member of ETOA, IATA and ASTA.

Available dates:
- 16-23.05.09
- 12-19.09.09
- 10-17.10.09

editor@bulgarianwinesociety.com

VINI 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

VINI 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from Thracian Valley is now available in the US, cheers!

New EU wine regulations in force

August 3, 2009
Rebecca Gibb

The European Union's new wine regulations have come into force, ushering in a new era for the European wine industry.

The hotly-debated plans - agreed by agriculture ministers in December 2007 - aim to modernize the European wine trade and improve its competitiveness in the face of a growing challenge from the New World.

The reform will also bring in new simpler labeling laws. From August 1, all wine labels are now allowed to mention grape variety and vintage on the label. The French AOC becomes AOP (Appellation d'Origin Protegée) and the equivalent of vin de pays wines will now be known as IGPs (Indication Geographique Protegée).

Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said: 'Member States and producers have a great opportunity to make the best use of the new wine regime to build on Europe's international reputation for excellence. I truly believe this marks a turning point in our wine sector's history.'

The money used to fund distillation subsidies will be redirected to wine promotion and the modernization of vineyards and cellars.

The New World has seen its share of global wine sales rise from 3% in 1990 to 30% in 2008, according to the OIV.

The Jazz School Berkeley - Kathleen Grace

We have to share the good moments in life, so today's gift was that my daughter Anika, my son Troy and I had the luck to stumble on a very fine young jazz vocalist and composer Kathleen Grace and her band.

http://www.myspace.com/kathleengrace