Winery Assenovgrad

Asenovgrad is situated on the northern slopes of the Rhodopes and on the two banks of the river Asenitsa. From the south, it is surrounded by hills, whose slopes drop abruptly towards the river. From the west and north, in front of the city, lies the fertile field of Asenovgrad. The average altitude of the region is 158 meters.

These characteristics show that nature in the Asenovgrad region has created soil and climate conditions that are almost too perfect for the emergence and development of viticulture, and the profession of winemaker has had a traditional role in the population. Viticulture is one of the oldest professions in the town. This is what we learn from the researchers of that time, who have collected the data still from the Thracian antiquity. There is no doubt that the Thracians knew and skilfully cultivated vines and wine.

"Vinzavod" Assenovgrad was founded on 15.10.1947 on the basis of the "Stanimashki Mavrud" wine cooperative. With the growth of the winery, vineyards and demand, the company has developed and the production has increased continuously.

In the chronicles of the company history the year 1958 is remembered, connected with the construction of the first cellar for grape processing with a production capacity of 6 million liters of wine. During 1963, the first plant for heat treatment and stabilization of wines and a bottling plant were put into operation.

At present, "Vinzavod" JSC, City of Asenovgrad, has capacities for processing 13 million kg of grapes and producing and bottling 15 million bottles of Bulgarian quality wines. Wine grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mavrud, Rubin, Syrah and others are processed. The Mavrud vine is a typical Bulgarian vine from which high quality red wines are produced. The wines produced are of good, intense ruby red color, rich in phenolic substances, with a good balance between acidity and tannins and with a good aging potential.

Typical for the Mavrud vine is its long life compared to other vines. In our enotec bottles of the Mavrud series, wine of 1949 vintage matures, which has largely preserved its wonderful organoleptic characteristics.

During 2001 a Bulgarian-Swedish joint venture project for the production of small portions of quality wines was realized, for this purpose a test cellar was established, equipped with the latest barrels of the Baric type (barrique).

Vinzavod Assenovgrad is legendary for the production of wines of the Mavrud grape variety. Still today the Mavrud special "icon" is considered one of the best Mavrud wines in Bulgaria. The folk music singer Nikolay Slaveev dedicated a song of his own to this Mavrud: Nay Hubavoto Vino e Mavrud (Николай Славеев - Най- хубавот вино е мавруд).

In the period 2003-2004 and 2012-2014 the company was completely technologically and technically renovated, creating opportunities for the application of the most modern technologies in wine production.

In 2015 the winery had more than 3000 hectares of its own vineyards with red vines, as well as white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

A large part of the company's production is exported.

During the 80's and until the mid 90's the company exported 100% of its production. Most of the sales are for Cabernet and Mavrud wines. Basic partners are companies from Sweden, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, etc.

Annual export of bottled wines is between 4 and 6 million bottles.

After 1995 the company started to produce and realize the production also on the domestic market and kept its positions in export.
Continuing relations with customers from the above mentioned countries, but also new partners from the USA, Czech Republic, Austria, Cyprus, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Greece, Vietnam, China, Japan, Italy.

In 2005-2007 144 000 bottles were exported for the Chinese market.

Since 2010 "Vinzavod" Asenovgrad realizes 3 million bottles of wine annually on the export market.

In Bulgaria and all over the world the wines Mavrud Assenovgrad, Mavrud Reserve, Mavrud KNP, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Reserve, Merlot, Merlot Reserve and Assenovgrad Monastery Whisper are well known. Rich is the assortment of produced and bottled spirits of "Vinzavod" JSC, which are recognized with remarkable popularity on the market.

As a kind of recognition of the preserved tradition, professionalism and excellent quality of the offered production, "JSC VINZAVOD" has won over 200 medals, honorary diplomas and awards from international competitions over the years.

Awards from prestigious forums, complemented by the recognition of customers all over the world, have long recognized the company as a preferred partner not only on the Bulgarian but also on the international markets.

Traditions have a future at "Vinzavod" Assenovgrad, which is guaranteed with professionalism, correctness and high quality of production.