Vladislav Atanassov left behind an international career in Belgium to settle in the small Bulgarian village of Nevsha. There, he found the ideal terroir to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a winemaker.Driving his weathered off-road vehicle, he takes us to where it all began: the vineyards. First, Terre Princière – a vineyard that literally shines with its own light, reflected by the chalk beneath the surface. Vladislav: "We are standing here at an elevation of about 120 metres. Around eighty million years ago, this entire area was covered by the sea. Later, geological movements lifted the landscape. If you look closely, you can still see the traces of that ancient seabed everywhere. The structure This is my Terre Princière vineyard, very much like the great Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy: halfway up the slope, with a gentle incline, an eastern exposure and limestone-rich subsoil. To me, that is terroir. It is exactly what makes this place so unique — almost magical."The pure chalk is of priceless value. During winter and spring, it absorbs large quantities of water and gradually releases it during the summer, precisely when the vines need it most. The porous rock acts as a natural waterreservoir. Combined with the high planting density, it ensures that the vines have sufficient moisture even during the hottest months of July and August."When we planted the vineyard, we first had to bring in topsoil so the vines would actually have something to grow in. In some parcels there is only about twenty centimetres of topsoil, while in others there are sixty to seventy centimetres.Halfway up the slope, with its eastern exposure, there is almost always a breeze, sometimes even a strong wind. That is a major advantage when working organically and biodynamically because the air circulation significantly reduces disease pressure."Slavi: "So you farm organically and biodynamically?"Vladislav: "Yes, from the very beginning. We simply chose not to become certified."Slavi: "Why not?"Vladislav: "Because I still own several small plots that are not entirely under my ownership. To assemble this vineyard, I had to purchase land from thirty to forty different owners. Until every parcel meets the legal requirements, certification isn't possible."Slavi: "Is it easier to work according to those principles from the outset than to convert an existing vineyard later on?"Vladislav: "Absolutely. Conversion takes a great deal of time and is often complicated. You can farm organically or biodynamically yourself, but if your neighbour sprays conventional chemicals, that naturally affects your vineyard as well. That makes things difficult."Slavi: "And what about the second vineyard?"Vladislav: "The l'Amphithéâtre vineyard lies about three kilometres from here, at an altitude of approximately 220 metres. The name 'Amphithéâtre' refers to the natural shape of the landscape."Slavi: "And over there in the distance, that's Varna?"Vladislav: "Yes. You can see the motorway from here. Varna is about fifty kilometres away."Slavi: Why are your wines called Clos Bibliothèque?"That's a wonderful story.Around 1899, the archaeologist Karel Škorpil discovered the remains of an early tenth-century monastery on the opposite side of the river, about two kilometres from here.During the excavations, archaeologists uncovered not only thousands of written documents but also numerous artefacts proving that wine had already been produced and consumed here for centuries. That is hardly surprising, as monasteries played a central role in viticulture during that period.Then there is the visit of the Italian writer Umberto Eco. He described the archaeological site as 'the Stone Library of the 10th Century.' Those words always stayed with me. This place brings together history, written culture and wine. That inspired the name 'Bibliothèque'."Slavi: And where does the name Clos Bibliothèque come from?"For that, we have to look at our second vineyard: l'Amphithéâtre. It truly has the shape of a natural amphitheatre. The upper part of the slope descends gently, while the lower section becomes considerably steeper. Pinot Noir, among other varieties, is planted on the upper terraces.I did not choose the word 'Clos' lightly. In French wine tradition, a clos refers to a historically defined vineyard, often with centuries of documented history.While researching in the Varna Library, I came across the memoirs of the Škorpil brothers, the Czech-Bulgarian archaeologists who mapped large parts of eastern Bulgaria during the nineteenth century. They mention that a vineyard already existed on the site of our present-day l'Amphithéâtre vineyard as early as 1790. That means this place has enjoyed more than two centuries of uninterrupted viticultural history.And that is how we arrived at the name Clos Bibliothèque."The story has one final, unexpected chapter."When we applied to register the name Clos Bibliothèque as a European trademark, our application was initially rejected. The French authorities objected to our use of the word 'Clos', arguing that the designation is traditionally reserved for historically recognised vineyards.I responded by submitting every historical document I had collected: the archaeological evidence relating to the monastery as well as the records of the Škorpil brothers confirming that a vineyard already existed here in 1790.One month later, the objection was withdrawn, and Clos Bibliothèque was officially registered as a European trademark.For me, that was about far more than winning a legal case. It was about authenticity. This is not a marketing story we invented. The name is deeply rooted in the history of this place. Anyone can verify that themselves in the Archaeological Museum of Provadia and in the Library of Varna."
