Château Burgozone

Château Burgozone is one of the few Bulgarian wineries in close proximity to its own vineyards. It is situated on the bank of the Danube, above the picturesque island of Esperanto, and bears the name and spirit of the Roman fortress that was located on the border of the vineyard complex and protected the Roman Empire from the north. It is located near the town of Oryahovo on loess soils, with geographical coordinates similar to those of Tuscany, Côtes du Rhône and Bordeaux, with ideal ecological conditions like the world famous European wine regions.

Burgozone was conceived at the beginning of the century and was born from the desire to create a contemporary and at the same time elegant style of Bulgarian wines, characterized by more freshness and less oak.

Château Burgozone is a boutique wine producer in Bulgaria. Burgozone is located on the slopes of the Danube, near the ferry town of Oryahovo and with a view of the island of Esperanto. Château Burgozone was named after the Roman fortress built on the old Roman road Via Istrum.

Inside the vineyard there were remains from the ancient Roman fortress Burgozone. The wine and the wine complex was named after him. Many parts of ceramic objects excavated during the cultivation and growing of the wine can be seen in the local history museum.

The fortress is located on the ancient Roman road Via Istrum, which connected Constantinople with Belgrade and defended the northern borders of the Roman Empire. Evidence of materials such as remains of glasses and other ceramics related to viticulture and wine production date from this period. This ancient tradition has a thousand years of history here and together with active trade along the river became the basis for the prosperity and wealth of the town of Oryahovo in the past.

Over the centuries, the area has been considered one of the most important wine regions. Burgozone has selected a unique area of 100 hectares along the Danube and the 43rd latitude N (Tuscany and southern Rhone), which has been proven to produce the highest quality grapes.

In 2002, the project began to revive the traditional wine production for this region, which was suspended during the ban imposed by Gorbachev in the 1980s in the Soviet Union. For this purpose, a unique terroir of 150 hectares was selected on the southern bank of the Danube near the port of Oryahovo above the island of Esperanto. Over the centuries, the best grapes of the region have been grown. In addition to its own winery, the complex has a boutique cellar with the most modern equipment.

The first results are more than encouraging - Chateau Burgozone Chardonnay, produced here, made history when it won the first gold medal for Bulgaria at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2010.

2000 Start of the Burgozone project - After visiting the fabulous Danube region near Oryahovo and the confirmation of the famous soil expert Professor Penkov that the terroir is one of the best in Bulgaria, the Burgozone project begins.

2003 Consolidation of the vineyard - In order to be close to and under full control of the vineyards, Burgozone has committed itself to unite the best plots in one area.

2005 Cultivation of the vineyards - Based on extensive soil and climate analyses, Burgozone has selected the most suitable grape varieties and imported all plants from France.

2009 First Grand Gold Medal for Bulgaria - Burgozone participated for the first time in the World Competition in Brussels with its first wine and won the first Grand Gold Medal for Bulgaria with Chateau Burgozone Chardonnay, which won six consecutive gold medals from the same competition and set a new record.

2010 Opening of the winery - The official opening of the winery with modern equipment and its own bottling line.

2011 First export abroad - Burgozone signed a contract with one of the biggest importers in Belgium and started exporting there. This was the beginning of a comprehensive export policy that introduced Burgozone wines to more than 20 countries.

2016 Golden Cellar of Bulgaria - Burgozone was awarded the "Golden Winery" of Bulgaria by Export BG and the Ministry of Economy.

2018 local varieties Tamyanka and Gamza - Burgozone presents two local varieties typical for the region - the red Gamza and the white Tamyanka vine.

The vineyards of Chateau Burgozone are located on an area of 100 hectares on a terroir with unique conditions for growing wine on the steep slope of the southern bank of the Danube near the town of Oryahovo in Bulgaria. Its altitude varies from 130-180m above sea level and its geographical coordinates are longitude 24° E and latitude 43° N.

Carefully selected 29 branches from eleven varieties with eight different rootstocks of high quality French plant material. The supporting structure of the vineyard is completely environmentally friendly - made of peeled acacia branches impregnated with copper sulfate pentahydrate solution. The large distance between the rows enables modern, mechanized viticulture. Weed control is manual, so that the soil is not contaminated with herbicides.

Excellent conditions for viticulture for the production of high quality white and red wines are provided by carbonate black soil on strong loess, which is characterized by loose content, very good porosity of the soil, good water permeability and high capillary groundwater increase.

The 100 hectares of the Burgozone vineyard are located on the same geographical line as Tuscany and grow on slopes of over 150 and 180 meters. They are made up of high quality vines distributed on a calcareous loess soil. The vineyard enjoys a temperate continental climate with hot days and cool nights and benefits from the advantages of its proximity to the Danube.

The vineyards are composed of 11 international varieties and 2 native varieties, namely Gamza (red) and Tamyanka (white). To ensure the complexity of the wines, Burgozone believes in clonal diversity and has more than 30 different clones. The average age of the vineyards is 10 years.

Chateau Burgozone is proud of the fact that all its wines are carefully made from its hand-picked grapes and bottled on site at the winery. The careful management of the vineyards and the techniques of organic harvesting result in a regulated yield between 20 hl / ha and 45 hl / ha. The vineyards of Burgozone are dedicated to sustainable viticulture and through integrated viticulture continue to be committed to sustainable and ecological responsibility.

Burgozone is a member of the Bulgarian Association of Independent Winemakers (BAIW member of CEVI).

The cellar of the winery is located on the territory of the vineyards. This is an undeniable advantage from the point of view of winemaking, as the timely processing of the grapes immediately after their practical harvest does not allow for any differences in their characteristics and composition. The building itself, an original architectural blend of wine cellar and boutique hotel, was designed and built on a steep south-facing slope overlooking the Danube, as the cellar rooms for storing wine at optimal temperature are located on two floors underground. An important feature is that Chateau Burgozone purchases and processes only grapes from its own vineyards, which is the best guarantee of origin and high quality of the grapes.

The capacity of the wine cellar is 650.000 kg per year. The processing of the grapes is done with modern machinery and equipment, produced by the best Italian, French, German and Bulgarian companies. Among them are grape crushers, various types of conveyors and pumps and tube-in-tube heat exchangers that lower the temperature of the grapes before they lose their mechanical integrity. The latter is particularly important for the white grape varieties, as this is the only way to maintain the maximum freshness and fruitiness of the grape must.

In addition, a large 5-ton pneumatic press with automatic adjustment of the operating modes is also available. This type of press has the gentlest influence on the grape grains, producing perfect quality with adequate output. The fermentation in our own cellar takes place in new stainless steel tanks, which allow different procedures and controls depending on the technological tasks. The red grape pulp can be fermented in different ways, such as the classic perfusion method or mechanical immersion of the fermenter lid.  This allows to obtain variability and wines with different organoleptic characteristics. The permanent control of the temperature of the fermentation process is carried out with the high-tech cooling system, which automatically sets the temperature required by the technologist for each fermenter.

The treatment and stabilization of the wines is carried out using the most modern equipment. Among these are: diatomaceous earth filter for laying, charge filter, vacuum rotary filter specially designed for filtering dense suspensions. A membrane filter for sterile filtration of the finished wines and an ultra-cooling agent are also used to achieve the physical stability of the product in the most modern way. The wine is matured in tanks of varying quantities from 2 to 15 tons and in oak barrels, which allows the production of boutique wines of the highest quality. For bottling, a cold sterile bottling line is used, which guarantees absolute asepsis of the process with a productivity of about 1,600 bottles per hour. The additional connection to a source of inert gas completely eliminates the risk of oxidation of the wine at the time of automatic filling of bottles. The bottling line allows a great variability in terms of the types of packaging, namely: volume of bottles from 0.185 to 1.5 l, type of closure - with cork, synthetic cork or screw cap, PVC, polylaminate or tin capsules; one, two or three different labels on the bottle, etc.

As a family-run winery, Château Burgozone strives for long-term community development, quality and consistency. Burgozone plays an important role as an employer in the region and supports the development of the local community, such as the local school and the local fair.

Burgozone supports the development of young winegrowers and farmers through training programs. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Burgozone has included a special educational program for these professions in the regional school curriculum. Sustainability and ecological responsibility are among the main long-term goals of Burgozone and are located near the nature reserve, which is protected by the European program Natura 2000.

Burgozone aims to promote wine tourism in the region and to attract and support future investors interested in cooperation or expansion projects.

Burgozone is one of the few Bulgarian wineries in the immediate vicinity of its own vineyards. Our wine cellar can store up to 500000 bottles per year at full capacity. The winery is situated on the majestic Danube near Pleven, Vratsa, Belogradchik and Magura.

The winery houses a number of tasting rooms for a total of 50 people. The beautiful summer cottage in the middle of the vineyards offers a breathtaking view over the Danube. The Enoteca is also open for visits during the winter months.

The Burgozone Winery invites visitors to an unforgettable wine tasting, where you can indulge your senses and immerse yourself in the world of wine. This experience is suitable both for amateurs who are taking their first steps in the wine industry and for professionals who have built up wine culture and experience. Burgozone offers a new experience that combines beautiful nature, history, culture, gastronomy and emotions.

On the Wine Tour you can discover the history and tradition of wine making by following the path of the grapes from the vineyards through the entire production process until they are transformed into an unforgettable wine.

The majestic Danube dominates the landscape of the region. Fishing, hunting, cycling, swimming, boating and sandy beaches are just some of the many activities you can do on your trip.

Visit Oryahovo and see St. George's Church, built in 1837, where works of art from the famous woodcarving school of Debar are displayed. Oryahovo also offers a history museum and an ethnographic house. In the immediate vicinity of the town are the remains of the old Kamaka Fortress, which is a prime example of the defense system of the north, used by the first Bulgarian state.

Not far is the town of Pleven, where the first wine institute in Bulgaria was founded in 1902 (it is also the fifth in the world). Nearby, the renowned Wine Museum is worth a visit as it is located in an underground cave and the tasting experience is not to be missed. The monument Pleven Epopee 1877 offers a panoramic view of the surroundings, unique in the Balkan countries.

At a similar distance is the picturesque town of Vratza, where you can go mountain hiking and visit the fascinating Ledenika cave. In the historical museum of the town you can also discover the Rogozen treasure, which shows the importance that the local Thracian population entrusted to the god of wine - Dionysus.

The unique Belogradchik stone formation and the Magura cave are among the sights in the region.

The winegrowers of Château Burgozone believe that 80% of the wine quality comes from the vines.

All Burgozone wines are made from hand-picked grapes from their own vineyards. Thanks to "Canopy Management" and "Green Harvesting", yields are deliberately limited to ensure that the grapes obtained are of the highest quality.

In the winemaking process, Burgozone prefers minimal intervention and is passionate about the expression of the variety. The Burgozone style can be described as a combination of a unique terroir influenced by the Danube and the savoir-faire of the famous Bulgarian winemakers. Each glass of Burgozone takes you on a journey to the slopes of the Danube.

Burgozone produces wines with an individual character, which reflect their sense of place and represent the potential of the wine region in the Danube plain.

The Collection wines are unique wines created to celebrate every special occasion in the history of Burgozone. The wines are made from hand-picked grapes with a limited yield of 18-20 hl / ha. The wines collected by Burgozone are mainly blends with high ageing potential and winners of world wine competitions. You can combine the Collection wines with fine dishes and keep them for a long time. The wines of the Burgozone Collection are bottled in limited quantities, are perfect for special occasions and are particularly suitable for connoisseurs of high quality boutique wines.

The premium wines from Château Burgozone are ideal for a nice meal and are made from selected, hand-picked grapes grown in the best vineyards. These wines are the result of unique terroir and thousand years of winemaking traditions. These wines have great complexity with excellent structure and have won numerous prestigious international awards. They are produced from grapes collected by the winery itself and are harvested with limited yields of 25-30 hl / ha. The premium wine series exports Burgozone to over 20 countries worldwide.

The Selection wines have a pleasant fruitiness and freshness. They are suitable for every occasion, whether they are combined with food or solo. The wines are cultivated on unique terroir, made from selected hand-picked grapes, harvested with limited yields of 40-45 hl / ha in our own vineyards. Fort Burgozone wines have a clearly defined varietal character and a very good price-performance ratio.

The wines Via Istrum are named after the ancient Roman road that connects Constantinople with Central Europe along the Danube, crossing the vineyard of Chateau Burgozone.

The wines Côte du Danube are named after the steep bank of the Danube, where the vineyard of Chateau Burgozone faces the Danube.