Edoardo Miroglio, an Italian textile magnate,first came to Thrace in southeast Bulgaria to sell fabrics and set up his own textile and wool factory in Sliven.  As his family originated from Alba in Piedmont, where they own Cantina Tenuta Carretta with vineyards in Cannubi in Barolo as well as Malgra winery in nearby Asti, it seemed natural that he would also explore the local Bulgarian wines. “I was really inspired by the Thracian tradition, wine was considered a divine drink and ancient recipes have been handed down the generations”, says Miroglio.

Miroglio saw potential in the Thracian Lowland’s terroir and climate with its diurnal temperatures, cooling winds from the mountains in the north and warm dry summers suitable for organic viticulture.  After a two year search for the ideal site, he planted 220 hectares in 1999 on Saint Ilia hill at the far end of the Thracian valley above the village of Elenovo, south of his factory in Sliven in southern Bulgaria. His first vintage in 2005 in his new state-of-the-art winery with all the latest Italian technology was overseen by Italian consultant Marco Monchiero.  Even at this stage they saw potential for Pinot Noir for both still and sparkling. ...

Edoardo Miroglio, an Italian textile magnate,first came to Thrace in southeast Bulgaria to sell fabrics and set up his own textile and wool factory in Sliven.  As his family originated from Alba in Piedmont, where they own Cantina Tenuta Carretta with vineyards in Cannubi in Barolo as well as Malgra...