Region: Thracian Lowlands, South Bulgaria

Sub Region: Western Thracia,

Winemaker: Petar Georgiev & Radostin Milkov

Grape varieties: dimyat, red misket, mavrud, rubin

Production: 50 000 bottles annually 

Innovative, modern, and small-scale wine project focused on quality wines from local grape varieties in the heart of the Thracian Valley – Bulgaria

The Georgiev/Milkov Wine Project began in 2014 when Petar Georgiev and Radostin Milkov set out to find the right vineyards in the Western Thracian Lowlands, near the city of Plovdiv. They are the driving force behind this wine project. As classmates, friends, and winemakers, they have made wine in various parts of the world, including Austria, Malta, the U.S., China, and finally Bulgaria. Because they do not own their own vineyards, they choose to work closely with specific vineyards and wine growers in the region. Their greatest fascination lies in working with authentic Bulgarian grape varieties, primarily sourced from old vineyards. Their goal is to provide a contemporary interpretation of these authentic Bulgarian grape varieties. 

Petar Georgiev (left) born in Plovdiv, he never thought he would become a winemaker. He graduated from the University of Food Technology in Plovdiv. During his student years, he worked in a wine bar, where he discovered the world's wine diversity. Santa Sara, Bulgaria, leads the way in the innovative world of wine, followed by Arndorfer in Kamptal region, Austria, and Alan Scott in Marlboro New Zealand. During these internships, his passion for wine was really born. In 2010 he joined the team at Rosidi winery in Bulgaria and is still a part of it today as a consultant.

Radostin Milkov (right) born in Varna, he discovered the world of wine through his family's vineyards on the Black Sea coast, near Balchik. After obtaining his master's degree from the University of Food Technologies in 2007, he worked in wine regions in the USA, Malta, and China. His interest in authentic local grape varieties eventually brought him back to Bulgaria, where he shared the same passion as Petar Georgiev. Shortly after, they began working together under the name Georgiev/Milkov Wine Project.

The region

What’s interesting, they don’t have own vineyards, instead collaborating with specific vineyards and growers in the region of Plovdiv, Western Thracian Lowlands. Some of the vineyard’s location are in a very iconic places around the region, Brestovitsa, Novi Izvor, Prolom to name a few. Soils are of course from different type, but light brown forest and clay are typical for the region. The region gets sufficient rainfall in the winter and in the spring and protect by strong winds, also blessed by huge amount of sunshine hour contribute for stable vintages. It is thought that the Bulgarian varieties of mavrud, rubin, pamid, and Karlovsky misket originated here, as well as at other locations in the eastern plain (red misket).