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

Bulgarian Master Vintners results and active links for the wines entered into 2012 World Value Wine Challenge. 88 • VINI (Bulgaria) 2011 Chardonnay, Thracian Valley. $7.99 Silver Medal & Best Buy & WVWC Award(s): 2012 WVWC Best Bulgarian  White under $10 http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=200079 87 • VINI (Bulgaria) 2011 Pinot Noir, Thracian Valley. $8.99 Silver Medal & Best Buy & WVWC Award(s): '2012 WVWC Best Bulgarian Red under $10'  http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=200076 87 • Domaine Boyar (Bulgaria) 2009 Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Thracian Valley. $9 Silver Medal & Best Buy  http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=198333 87 • VINI (Bulgaria) 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Thracian Valley. $7.99 Silver Medal & Best Buy  http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=200078 85 • VINI (Bulgaria) 2011 Rosé, Thracian Valley. $7.99 Silver Medal   http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=200080 Thank you...

Robert Parker rated well the 2011 Targovishte white wines from the Black Sea Coastal region in Northern Bulgaria.  The wines from this winery have not in every instance seemed like the most typical, but they’ve provided nice value for the very modest price points. This group seems even better than the last I saw, and perhaps increasingly typical also. They drank quite well, long on aromatics, low on alcohol (all listed at 12%) and dirt cheap in price. They are the types of wines that need to be drunk fresh—it is always a question how long they will last at peak. For short term drinking, though, they are nice deals worth trying. Importer: Bulgarian Master Vintners, Sonoma, CA;; tel: (800) 209-9997. 

Lucia Comnes sings a traditional Bulgarian folk song called 'Izgreyala Yazna Zvezda.' The lyrics describe a young woman who is so beautiful that she is mistaken for a bright star shining in the sky. Lucia is an American singer and violinist from San Francisco, California, who has studied Bulgarian folk music with many great singers, including Tzvetanka Varimezova and Kremena Stancheva.  From 2002-2004 she sang with the women's Balkan vocal group - Kitka - in Oakland, California ( www.kitka.org ).  She also composes songs, performs songs in many other languages and plays a lot of traditional Irish music.  Learn more here: www.luciacomnes.com This film was produced by Vance Petrunoff and filmed by Tamarind Free Jones  in Hercules, California, in June 2012.

We are in Sliven and tasted the 2011 vintage wines and samples for VINI. Miro Tcholakov and a team of young and talented winemakers from Domaine Boyar were the stars of the show. Merlot from Korten was unbelievable. 2011 will be our best ever. I toured Domaine Boyar's winery in Sliven and was so impressed by the size and modernity of it. 13 million Euro well spent. The climate change continues to make Bulgarian wines fuller and richer every year.

Oregon is becoming an important market for our wines, had to go twice in one month and loved it. I can contribute that to the fact that they make great Pinot Noirs and have the wine culture, like the entire Left Coast.   I forgot to bring an umbrella and walked in wet from the suddenly pouring rain. Portland is similar to Seattle and has an excellent link to the airport via train. Like any European I am used to trains and after mentioning how I arrived downtown to my colleagues they were so surprised, they have been coming here many times and never took the MAX as they call it.

I was showing the wines from Domaine Boyar, Targovishte and our own brand VINI.  On the way there, near Vacaville, CA I took a photo of a rare Occupy sign in the hillside.

In each issue THE TASTING PANEL’s Publisher and Executive Editor, Meridith May, selects her favorite wines and spirits of the month. Domaine Boyar 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Bulgaria ($9) Old World acidity is accented by a fruity middle: plums, blackberry and melting cocoa are icing on the cake with a regal quality that brings the wine down to earth.  90 points and 2 kisses from Meridith May

Миналата седмица свърши Винария 2012 в Пловдив и публикувам отново тази статия която писах през 2008, за да обърна внимание на тази тема свързана с маркетинга на Българските вина по света и по специално когато етикетите са написани на Английски английски, а не на езика на Английската гимназия в София, или от по-висши учебни заведения които преподават езика на Шекспир без да се задълбочават кой и как го използва професионално и дори стратегически. Аз съзнавам че първият параграф вече е обидил доста хора, и докато стигнем до параграф 22 не знам каво ще стане, но започваме от тук: Има ли разлика в имиджа на вината от?: Thracian Lowlands Thracian Valley Аз лично не бих искал да си имам нещо общо, камо ли да купувам вино от които да са Lowlands, което реално е верен, но малко архаичен превод на “низина”. В моите професионално повредени от маркетинга уши Lowlands звучи като не достатъчно добро място, хей там долу, и извиква една Lawless асоциация която направо ме отблъс...

Finally, I had a chance to see Chicago, work and play in this very impressive city that has eluded me for the 27 years that I have spent in the US. Well, better late than never. On top of it all, my pal, Miro, who is the consultant to the VINI brand, was at the same show pouring his and Trentadue wines. VINI impressed the knowledgable customers in Chicago and I made important contacts with some of the best stores and restaurants in the area. The Union League Club in Chicago owns substantial art collection and hosts monthly exhibits, events, fundraisers, etc. Bellow are some interesting portraits from the 3rd floor.

I have been talking with Dr. Marshall Stearn PhD about web presence and Internet marketing. Very enlightening conversation.