Wine Production in Bulgaria: Areas, Production, and Wine Exports

Currently, the areas with vineyards in the country exceed 55,570 hectares, with a significant part of them – 61 percent – intended for the production of wine with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication. This became clear during the official opening of the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism of the UN World Tourism Organization, held in Plovdiv. The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Georgi Tahov, highlighted these important points during the event.

According to him, 363 wine production facilities are operating in the country. The figures show that over 67.2 million liters of wine were produced in 2024 alone. "Wine is part of our history, part of our culture," Minister Tahov emphasized. He added that Bulgaria is an established producer, meeting global standards for quality and origin protection. "Bulgaria has a very large diversity - climate, relief, soils, which in themselves create excellent conditions for viticulture and winemaking," Tahov also said.

The excellent qualities and uniqueness of Bulgarian wines are a prerequisite for our successful positioning in international markets, the minister stressed. Currently, wine is exported to over 50 countries in Central and Western Europe. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food actively supports the sector through the instruments of the common agricultural policy. In the Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Regions 2023-2027, nearly 162.5 million leva are provided for investments in the sector, for restructuring and conversion of vineyards. The intervention "Crop Insurance" is also successfully implemented, which supports the fight against the consequences of natural disasters and inevitable climate change, the minister concluded.