Pliska Brandy - The distilled soul of Bulgarian wines
Pliska and brandy - for Bulgarians, they are synonymous. So when you order a pliska in a café in Sofia, you get served brandy. But Pliska does not only stand for brandy in Bulgaria. Moreover, Pliska is the name of a city that was the capital of the country during the First Bulgarian Empire. It was there that many of the traditions that characterize Bulgaria to this day began. But how did the name come about? Follow Bulgaria-Shop.de on a short trip through the history of Pliska and its very special brandy tradition.
When you visit the Bulgarian town of Pliska today, you may be disappointed for a moment. Because the small, rather sleepy looking village does not give the impression of a former capital. Nevertheless, it is still world famous. Not even two kilometers outside the present settlement lies the area of archaeological sites and ruins, some of which are very well preserved, that marks the location of ancient Pliska. The ruins, mainly the Old Basilica and the former fortress, are a magnet for excursionists and tourists.
A brief history of the town that gave its name to Bulgaria's Pliska Brandy
Like many cultural and cult sites of the Bulgarians, Pliska is an almost typical symbol of the Bulgarian national character and the numerous caesuras in the history of the country. Until the early High Middle Ages, Pliska was one of the most important cities in the entire Balkans. Although quite young, it was an incomparably vital center of trade, sciences and arts, which in its heyday even covered a larger area than Constantinople. However, already in 893, only about two hundred years after its foundation, Pliska had to cede its rank as the capital of the Bulgarian Empire to Preslav. The people moved away after this break, and the city, despite its unique size, fell into insignificance. When it was finally completely abandoned, from then on it served as a quarry for the entire Shumen region surrounding it.
Even with the advent of modernity and the liberation from Ottoman rule - who in turn had stone after stone removed from Pliska's old buildings to build mosques and schools elsewhere - this destructive trend did not end. At the end of the Russo-Ottoman War and the birth of a new independent Bulgarian nation, the Treaty of Berlin of 1878 demanded that Pliska, or rather its relics, which were still quite imposing at the time, be almost completely razed to the ground as a fortress complex.
It was only after Pliska's remaining ruins had lain dormant during the Soviet era that they finally found recognition as a cultural asset of important significance in the 1990s. Extensive excavations and historical research began. In addition, an archaeological park, which is still open to the public and lovingly maintained, was created.
Pliska - synonym for brandy in Bulgaria?
In the region around present-day and historical Pliska, that is, in north-eastern Bulgaria, people have been growing wine for many centuries, as in almost all other regions of Bulgaria. But it was not until the late early Middle Ages that the art of distillation developed. And, at any rate, according to a common theory of historical science, it was precisely in that region near the Black Sea where Pliska is located. According to legend, it was monks who first came up with the idea of distilling brandy from wine in order to use it as a medicine.
Whoever it was, the news spread quickly in that part of Bulgaria and reached Pliska, which was prospering at that time. From there it spread throughout the country as the latest news from legendary Pliska. Everywhere in Bulgaria, winegrowers began to produce brandy as well as wine. Only they didn't call their brandy by that name. They, and with them the whole world, simply called it Pliska, because that's where the recipe for it came from.
That's why Pliska is still the brandy of choice in Bulgaria today. Regardless of which of the country's five main wine-growing regions the brandy comes from. Despite this integrative approach, there are of course some rules that a brandy must fulfill in order to be called Pliska.
What constitutes a real Bulgarian Pliska Brandy
These rules relate mainly to origin, aging time and alcohol content and are as follows:
- A genuine Pliska must be aged in oak barrels for at least five years before bottling.
- Its alcohol content must be at least 36.0% by volume at bottling.
- The grapes used must come from Bulgaria.
- Pliska must be produced in Bulgaria.
Many Pliska brandies indicate with five stars especially the first circumstance. At the same time, the five years is a lower limit, as the word at least indicates in the first rule. High-quality pliskas are sometimes stored much longer, some even up to twenty years. In addition, Bulgarians are rather strict in tasting; you don't fool them with a mediocre or bland pliska.
Over the last decades, a real competition has developed between the five main Bulgarian wine-growing regions. Each region wants to produce the most Bulgarian brandy - the best pliska, that is. We have taken a closer look at these wine-growing regions and their brandies for you and garnished our explanations with some recommendations from our range on Bulgaria-Shop.de as tips.
Bulgaria's wine regions - where Pliska Brandy originates
Bulgaria is not a small player on the European wine market. Today, more than half of the internationally recognized Bulgarian wines are exported - the customers are Russia, Poland and, increasingly, Germany. At the same time, the image of the Wine of Bulgaria label has changed considerably in this country, compared with the 1970s, for example. Before the fall of the Iron Curtain, wine connoisseurs tended to associate Bulgarian wines with sweet, mass-produced, standardized socialist wines. Today, it's a foregone conclusion that Bulgaria once again produces top-quality wines and first-class Pliska brandy that need fear no continental or global comparison.
Dunavska Ravnina - the realm of light red wines
The Danubian Plain in northwestern Bulgaria is scenically characterized by rolling, fertile hills and numerous rivers. The temperate continental climate here produces hot summers with many hours of sunshine. This region is famous above all for the native grape Gamza, from which the winegrowers press light and fruity red wines. Also widespread: Evmolpia, a cross between Merlot and the ancient Balkan variety Mavrud, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Pamid. White wine grapes grown here include Vratschanski Misket and Rkazitelli, as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.
Similar to the Black Sea region, the Danube plain is one of the wine-growing regions that, through grape varieties such as Gamza, helped establish Bulgaria's temporary reputation as a home of sweet wines. As already mentioned, this was not least due to the standardized production methods in Soviet times. Today, the ambition of the winegrowers in Dunavska Ravnina is to continue to create wines that are light, but quite nuanced in flavor, with distinct hints of spice.
Chernomorski Rayon - classic white wine climate
The Black Sea region in northeastern Bulgaria, with its extremely mild climate influenced by the Black Sea and its long summer sunshine hours, is an ideal resort for the cultivation of white wines. The Shumen Oblast, the district where Pliska is located and where Bulgarian brandy was born, also belongs to this region. Many classic Bulgarian grape varieties, such as Dimyat, are grown here. From the Black Sea region come two excellent brandy from the assortment of Bulgaria-Shop.de.
Tip: Black Sea Gold Pomorie XO Brandy - The brandy from the Black Sea
The Pomorie peninsula in southeastern Bulgaria, which belongs to the Black Sea region, is the home of the grapes for the Black Sea Gold Pomery. A Pliska of the XO class, composed of vintage distillates stored in oak barrels for up to 15 years. Harmonious, full-bodied, a brandy with notes of caramel, vanilla and figs in the complex top note.
Tip: Vinex Preslav Pliska - the one and only
Preslav Pliska has a slightly ironic undertone, considering that Preslav replaced Pliska as the capital of Bulgaria at the time. Nevertheless, or perhaps because of this, this VSOP class brandy convinces with taste qualities of the very first order. Distilled from the Dimyat and Ugni Blanc grape varieties, after seven years of aging in barrels it shows its typical Pliska aroma with slight hints of vanilla, chocolate and warm spicy wood.
Rozova Dolina - all the charm of the southern Balkans
The southern flank of the Balkan Mountains, known as the Rose Valley, is a region that reminds many of the German Black Forest. However, the climate here is much hotter, especially in midsummer, while autumn and spring are characterized by abundant rainfall. The Rose Valley is the home of the famous Bulgarian red wine variety Red Misket. The peculiarity of this red wine: it is pressed like a white, so according to our understanding it is a Blanc de Noir. Also grown here: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot among the red wines and Rkaziteli and Chardonnay among the white wines.
Tip: Karnobat Brandy - with the finesse of the Rose Valley
The Karnobat winery, located in the heart of the Rose Valley region, produces this Bulgarian brandy, which is refined in two ways. It is distilled both from young white wines grown in the region and from the grapes of the red Misket, vinified in the manner of a white wine. The aging for maturation of the distillates that come together in this brandy takes place in oak barrels of different ages. The result is an all-around compelling and complex brandy aroma with inspiring hints of vanilla, caramel and walnuts.
Trakijska Nizina - protected and sheltered by mountains
The Upper Thracian Plain is such an ideal area for growing wine mainly because it is surrounded by mountains to the north, south and west and is thus particularly protected from extreme winds and weather conditions. In the mild, temperate climate of this region, Bulgarian red wines in particular thrive very well. Especially the Mavrud can be found on the vineyards here. But also Syrah, Malbec, Merlot and last but not least Cabernet Sauvignon enjoy great popularity. Sparkling wines are a particular specialty of Trakijska Nizina.
Tip: Assenovgrad Ambelino Brandy
Dolinata na Struma - Mediterranean Valley of Melnik
The Struma Valley, the southernmost wine-growing region in Bulgaria, is spoiled by the sun. Here, where the climate is already Mediterranean, a very special red wine grape is at home: the Melnik, or more precisely the broad-leaved Melnik grape. It is grown exclusively in the Struma Valley under the climatic conditions that are unique in the world and takes its name from the town of Melnik located in the valley. Another specialty of the region: Kerazuda, a very rarely grown white wine, which also comes from the Struma Valley. However, in order to enjoy this rare wine, you have to go to the Struma Valley yourself. It is produced there exclusively for domestic consumption.
Unfortunately, we do not know whether a brandy is also distilled from the rare kerazuda. But if it is, we will find out sooner or later. And we will not rest until we can offer you this premium brandy on Bulgaria-Shop.de. Or at least tell you about it.
