Young & Wild Broadleaf Melnik, Villa Melnik 2019

Nikola Zikatanov, owner of the Villa Melnik estate and winery, is a local, born and bred in the village across the road from the winery and steeped in a family tradition of grape growing and winemaking.

He and his wife Lyubka built the winery and planted the 30 hectares of vineyards with local varieties, particularly the native broad leaf melnik, melnik 55, mavrud, tamyanka, keratsuda, and sandanski misketas well as more recognisable international varieties like cabernet sauvignon, syrah, pinot noir, sangiovese, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier.

The climate here is pretty much Mediterranean, and among the warmest, sunniest parts of Bulgaria, air conditioned by breezes sliding down the slopes of nearby mountains. Sandy soils allow excellent drainage for the vines too, which see no pesticides whatsoever as part of a sustainable farming regime.

A new, state-of-the-art winery was opened in 2013, built on three levels sunk into the hillside so that gravity does the work gently and with energy efficiency. More recently, Nikola and Lyubka were delighted when their daughter Militza joined this family business.