Katarzyna Estate

Katarzyna Estate was opened in 2007 and has been the largest investment in the industry for years. Thanks to the unique terroir, combined with the professionalism and passion of the team, the cellar has been characterized by the highest quality and innovation from the very beginning. The aim is to use traditional wine techniques to discover the uniqueness of the vineyard and its terroir and create wines that carry the elegance and sophistication of the Old World. The terroir is the essence of the wines, it is all or nothing. Everything because nothing is possible without it and nothing because it is only manifested through entrepreneurial work.

The Upper Thracian Plain, where Katarzyna Estate is located, is famous for its ancient history and traditions. Sources from more than 5000 years prove that the Thracians, Romans and Bulgarians living in these areas have always been engaged in viticulture. In this southernmost part of Bulgaria there are also some of the most interesting places connected with the centuries-old cultural and historical heritage of the country.

The climate is temperate continental with a strong Mediterranean influence. Characteristic features are warm summers, mild winters and a relatively low annual temperature amplitude. An important condition for the favorable development of vineyards in the region is the unique air corridor that forms between the Sakar Mountains and the eastern Rhodopes. Katarzyna Estate is located in the region with the longest sunshine. Terroir is the essence of these wines, it is all or nothing.

Katarzyna Estate is located in one of the most fertile wine regions of Bulgaria and is on the same level as some of the most famous wine regions in Europe. The cellar is located in the southernmost part of the country, 2 km from the border with Greece, at the foot of the Eastern Rhodopes. The area is hilly, very picturesque and yet beautifully wild.

The company owns 7,500 decares of own vineyards in one of the best areas of Bulgaria. The selected grape varieties Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tempranio, Carmen, Mavrud, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Traminer are adapted to the climatic conditions of the region and the soil type. The most important thing is to achieve consistently accurate results and high product quality when working in the vineyard correctly and accurately.

"Wine is made in the vineyard and we simply take care of it while it is in the cellar." Quote from Ivan and Svilen Kisyovi

The main technologists of the winery are Ivan and Svilen Kisyovi. The brothers started their work at Katarzyna Estate immediately after finishing their professional training. They have created some of the most emblematic and award-winning Bulgarian wines, which will improve and sustainably enhance the image of contemporary Bulgarian wines.

The wines of Katarzyna Estate are produced with classical technology and mainly by hand. During the grape harvest, the sugar content, titratable acids and phenolic ripeness of the grapes are monitored daily through analysis and tasting. Accurate records of results are kept in order to expand the database and determine the real potential of the terroir. The wines are stored in French oak barrels as they are regularly fed and monitored for qualitative changes. After bottling, the wine matures in bottles in an underground tunnel at a constant temperature of 14°C and 75% humidity.

Some vineyards of Katarzyna Estate are organic. Organic wine is a new reading of the product that was produced hundreds of years ago. This reflects the goal of modern man to return to primary and natural products and protect the environment. The practices of organic farming hardly affect the characteristics of the wine and do not necessarily guarantee a better taste. Katarzyna Estate has been processing organic grapes since 2015.

Katarzyna Estate is located in the south of Bulgaria, only a few hours away from the sunny beaches of Greece. Here you can enjoy tasty wine tasting, walk through the vineyards and visit the numerous cultural monuments for which the region is famous. The frescoes in the cellar show the meeting of the Dionysian and Eleusinian mysteries with their Thracian roots.

In eleven years, Katarzyna Estate has won over 300 awards in the most prestigious international competitions, such as Decanter, Mundus Vini, Syrah du Monde, Chardonnay du Monde, Vinalies Paris, Concours Mondial Bruxelles, China Wine and Spirits Awards, International Wine & Spirit Challenge and others. Katarzyna Reserve is the first Bulgarian wine to be awarded 91 points by Robert Parkers Wine Advocate. This is a recognition not only for the wine cellar, but also for Bulgarian wine.