Winery Menada

The Menada Winery is one of the oldest wine cellars in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1901 under the name Loza Cooperative. In 2002 it became part of the French holding Belvedere, which was renamed Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits in 2015.

The vineyards are located at the foot of the Sredna Gora mountain between the villages of Elhovo, Gorno Botevo and Mogilovo and cover 375 hectares. The Menada winery grows and works with traditional grape varieties such as Rubin and Mavrud as well as with popular foreign grapes such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Regent, Viognier and other varieties.

The wine cellar can process over 8000 tons of white and red grapes and produces 20 million bottles of wine per year.

The winemakers of the Menada Winery take special care of their vineyards, as the winery is known and equipped to produce wines of the highest quality. Menada's wines are aged in French oak barrels of the highest quality.

Some of the most famous brands of the winery are Tcherga, Tcherga 10 and Menada. In 2017 the winery released a limited wine collection called Barrique Point, the new Artistique wine line, and a consumer-made wine called InoVino.

The Menada Wine Cellar also produces the famous mastika and mint liqueur Zaarska and has recently resumed production of the grape brandy Rakija Diadova Usukanitza "Grandpa's Twist".

The Menada Winery is one of the largest wine producers in Bulgaria and continues to grow. The company owns over 426 hectares of lush vineyards.

In 2004, the Menada wine cellar was completely modernized. Today the winery Menada includes equipment for primary wine production, wine stabilization, bottling and packaging. Menada also has its own laboratory to analyze the wines in all the production phases. The capacity of the Menada domain is 20 million bottles of wine per year.

The wine "Menada" is a synonym of stability and heritage. It embodies the values and traditions of the company and deserves the trust of its customers.

Since 2004 Tcherga has changed the perception of Bulgarian wine with its excellent quality and original design. Consumers are an audience in terms of tradition and belief in changes that are successful in the dynamic reality in which we live. Tcherga is the true symbol of modern Bulgaria.

In recent years, the Menada Winery has expanded its current wine series to include special wines for ladies, younger consumers, etc., as well as premium quality wines.

In 2017, the Menada Winery launched its first completely new brand - Barrique Point.

Domain Menada has participated in a number of international competitions and has received numerous prizes and awards for the quality of the wines it offers.

The Menada winery was founded in 1901 under the Loza cooperative.

In 1947 two big cooperatives "Loza" and "Sila" joined together to create the Stara Zagora wine production company.

1994 the winery is privatized - this is the first privatized company in the wine sector in Bulgaria.

In 2002 the domain becomes part of the French holding Belvedere, which is renamed Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits Bulgaria in 2015.

In recent years, Menada wines have been exported and enjoyed throughout Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and the United States.

Interest in Menada's wines is also increasing in the Asian market. The company is already working with China, Russia, India and Turkey. The high quality of the wine and the renewed vision of Domain Menada have led to the development of new export markets and the popularization of Bulgarian wine in Europe and worldwide.

The oldest archaeological evidence of wine production comes from the Caucasus and dates back to 7000-6000 B.C. On the territory of Bulgaria, wine production started about 5000 years ago. The first vines were transported from the Middle East. One of the most revered pagan deities is the god of wine, Dionysus. The Menadas are characters from the ancient Greek mythology - companions of Dionysus.

4500 B.C. - wine was imported and cultivated in Bulgaria

900 B.C. - In the Bulgarian Middle Ages wine was produced mainly in the monasteries

1396 - Bulgaria falls under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and wine production is prohibited

1901 - Domain Menada was founded under the Loza cooperative

1947 - The two big cooperatives "Loza" and "Sila" found the wine production company Stara Zagora

1966 - Bulgaria becomes the sixth largest wine exporter in the world

2002 - Domain Menada becomes part of the French holding company Belvedere Group

2004 - Domain Menada is completely modernized. The Tcherga wine is created

2015 - The Belvedere Group is renamed Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits Bulgaria

2017 - Domain Menada is one of the largest wine producers in Bulgaria and continues to grow

The domain Menada is located in Stara Zagora - one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria, heiress of the old Augusta Trayana. The town is situated in the center of South Bulgaria, on the traces of the Sredna Gora mountain.

The winery Menada owns over 426 hectares of its own vineyards.

The landscape of the region is inclined to the south. The altitude is 170 to 260 meters above sea level.

The climate is temperate continental. A special characteristic of the region is that the temperatures warm up very quickly in spring and cool down much later in autumn. A unique advantage here are the local air currents, which prevent the cold weather from lasting too long in the winter months. The air temperature allows the accumulation of enough sugar and acids to give the wine harmony and softness.

Characteristics of the region are 12.9 °C average annual temperature and 598 mm average annual rainfall.

The soils are characteristic chestnut brown wood, a mixture of clay and sand, rocky and slightly sandy and clayey. The climate and soils are particularly suited to the grape varieties grown in the area, giving the wine the necessary sweetness and density.

Menada's best vineyards are located in the picturesque villages of Elhovo and Mogilovo, about 18 km from the town of Stara Zagora. The grape varieties are carefully selected taking into account the characteristics of the region. Menada is proud of the quality of its white grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Viognier. Her red varieties include some fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

The quality of the soil and the weather conditions in the region allow the cultivation of grapes of extremely high quality. From this Domain Menada produces sophisticated and competitive European wines with exquisite characteristics.

Chardonnay is the most popular white grape variety in the world and is cultivated in Bulgaria on about 5.25% of Bulgaria's vineyards. Its name is associated with renowned white wines and sparkling champagne wines.

Chardonnay is used to produce high quality white table wines, selected for their lightness, freshness, harmonious taste and fruity aromas. Aging in oak barrels gives the wine notes of vanilla, smoke and oak.

Sauvignon Blanc is a premium white wine variety grown on approximately 1.5% of the Bulgarian vineyard area. The grapes give their best results when cultivated on chestnut brown wooden soils in airy, atmospheric regions. The Sauvignon Blanc vines are typically characterized by strong growth and high yields.

The grapes produce high-quality dry, semi-dry and sweet white wines. They have a fresh and harmonious taste, mixed with aromas of hay, tropical fruits and gooseberries. Wines made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes are mostly consumed young, but have ageing potential.

Sémillon is a white wine variety of which less than 5% is grown on vineyards in Bulgaria.

Sémillon is cultivated to produce high quality dry white wines with a taste of oak, cereals, honey and melon. Muscadelle and Viognier are white grape varieties that can be combined with other varieties to produce wines with a remarkable bouquet.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red wine variety in the world and about 15% of Bulgaria's vineyard area is planted with it. It is used to produce high quality red and cuvee wines.

These wines are characterized by a rich dark red color, good density and an intense aroma of small red fruits - blackcurrants, blackberries and mulberries. When they are matured in oak barrels, they develop a rich, complex aroma with aromas of spices, oak, smoke, chocolate and cinnamon.

Merlot is a high quality and popular grape variety, of which about 16.28% of Bulgaria's vineyard area is planted.

Merlot wines are characterized by an intense red color, fullness, harmony of taste and a rich bouquet. The ripe wines are characterized by a complex aroma, which brings notes of oak wood, candied fruit, smoke and truffles.

Cabernet Franc is a red wine variety that occupies less than 1% of the Bulgarian vineyards. It is used for the production of table and dessert wines. These wines have a pale red color with aromas of raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry. With longer aging, the wine develops a touch of spices and musk.

Malbec, Petit Verdot and other red grape varieties are planted with about 6.7% of Bulgaria's vineyards.

These grape varieties produce high quality red wines with a deep color, rich taste and aroma.

• Cucumber cocktail
• Sangria with watermelon and raspberry
• Rosé with strawberries
• Rosé Margarita
• chilled white wine spritz
• White wine Sangria
• Red wine Sangria
• Wine Coolness

Wine is an ancient but also a modern drink, the consumption of which is associated with sophistication and a good lifestyle. The oldest archaeological evidence of wine production comes from the Caucasus and dates from 7000 to 6000 BC.

Over time, wine has become part of the lifestyle of many nations and cultures. A subculture is forming around it, which includes tastings, gourmet restaurants, tourism, wine collecting and investments. The culinary tradition combines wine with food, but it is also a drink that awakens the spirit and makes people enjoy themselves.

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