Excentric Incanto Melnik

We visited Medi Valley! The winery is located in the Strouma Valley at 550m altitude in the foots ofmajestic Rila mountain. On the road to the famous Rila monastery, we turned left heading to Smochevo village where on the meandering narrow path you pass by some of the Medi Valley vineyards and reach the plateau. On your right hand close enough is the white dressed Rila mountain, and on your left is one piece of treasure land that can never imagine it can be there if not shown to you. Theplateau overlooks a picturesque view that fills up our eyes with beauty.

We’ve been greeted by Stoycho Stoev himself – the Chief Winemaker and Executive Director of Medi Valley. In a very pleasant and informal talk he told us the story of the winery, its plans and ambitions.

Why Medi Valley, how they chose the name? Medi Valley comes from the name of the old Thracian tribe Medi, leaded by Spartak which lived in the region back in the years.

Medi Valley has been created in 2007 when are planted most of the own vineyards. At the moment Medi Valley has 400 ha own vineyards where grows only four grape varieties – Chardonnay and Traminer from the whites, and Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the reds. They produce wines from other grape varieties ( Rubin, Mavrud, Syrah) which they personally choose from well controlled vineyards. Soils are alluvial-meadow and cinnamon forest, well drained, slightly acidic, with appropriate content of clay and iron. Climate is trans-continental with warm and soft winter, and quite dry summer. The vinyards has southwest exposure facing to the Strouma Valley.

The winemakers of Medi Valley are Stoycho Stoev – the man, who has created many emblematic Bulgarian wines, awarded with plenty of Golden Rhytons and international medals and the young but experienced and ambitious Ivona Georgieva. They are the moderators that create the wine style of Medi Valley – a style that every one can remember and distinguish with its character.

Medi Valley has two brands – Incanto, the top brand, which has Chardonnay, Merlot nad Syrah and the easy-to-remember carrying a positive message ( due to the famous movie with Russel Crow- A Good Year) – A Good Year! The idea for the brand A Good Year belongs to Dimitar Kostov ( the current Trade Director of the winery), the labels are designed by the talented Bulgarian designer Jordan Jelev ( The Labelmaker).

Medi Valley posses the advantage of all modern technologies for producing quality wines. They have French oaks from different producers. For their Incanto wines they use only new barrels. This gives them the freedom to reach their personal wine style.

We have tasted some wines directly from the barrel as Ivona and Stoycho were enough hospitable to show us a special Mavrud, the new vintage of Incanto Chardonnay and Merlot which will be released on the market this autumn. Till then the wines will mature in the barrel and in bottle until they reach the top of its potential directed by the winemakers.