site.btaWines of Pleven Institute of Viticulture and Enology Enjoy Growing Popularity

The wines produced at the Institute of Viticulture and Enology (IVE) in Pleven are enjoying a growing popularity, Institute Director Emil Tsvetanov said in a BTA interview. "We are seeing a serious positive change in the attitude towards the wines produced by the institute," he said. 

IVE owns 36 ha of vineyards with wine varieties, 16 ha with dessert varieties, some 3 ha with nurseries. In 2023, it harvested 83 tonnes of grapes, sold 25 tonnes of it and made 58 tonnes into wine.

According to Tsvetanov, the Storgosia wine exhibition held for the first time in Pleven in September 2023, had a significant impact. "It turned out that many people did not know that IVE sells wine and dessert grapes," he said.

The Institute made its biggest sales in December 2023. "We had very serious turnovers, perhaps the biggest in 15 years, nearly BGN 70,000 BGN, which is a very good achievement for our institute," the director stressed.

"Тhe heightened interest in our wines was a nice surprise. These revenues enable us to invest," says the director.

Tsvetanov believes that climate change is impacting their work. "Statistics shows that last October was the warmest on record, with the exception of some Scandinavian countries," he said. 

On February 14, which is marked as the Day of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of vine growers and wine makers, IVE will celebrate and hold the traditional vine pruning.