The vintage stated on the bottle is the year when the grapes for the wine have been harvested. This information is important, and perhaps the most important, because vintages differ in quality and generally we rate them as poor, average, good, very good and excellent/ out- standing. Of course, we should know that there are exceptions ie one can find high-quality wines in a vintage, defined as poor. The quality* of the last twelve vintages in Bulgaria is rated as follows:
| 2013 |
Very good to excellent for each individual region (quantity and quality); excellent white and rosé wines; very good red wines. |
| 2012 |
Very good to excellent for each individual region (poor in quantity); very good to excellent red and white wines; average in terms of aromatic potential for rosé wines. |
| 2011 |
Very good to excellent for the particular regions; very good white and rosé wines and excellent reds. |
| 2010 |
Average to good for white wines; poor to average for reds. |
| 2009 |
Very good. |
| 2008 |
Very good for white wines; excellent for reds. |
| 2007 |
Very good. |
| 2006 |
Good to very good. |
| 2005 |
Good for white wines; average for red wines. |
| 2004 |
Good to very good. |
| 2003 |
Very good to excellent (reds). |
| 2002 |
Good for white wines; poor for reds. |
Vladimir Vlachkov, oenologist
*we do not pretend that this rating is valid for absolutely all micro regions and vineyards in Bulgaria
