Erasmus+ 2016-18

“Green Skills for Social Agriculture”

We are talking to Stoycho Stoev, Manager and Chief Enologist at Medi Valley Winery, the village of Smochevo, Bulgaria

What is wine for you?

– Wine is my vocation, my destiny and my love. It is solar energy transformed into unique hues, aromas and tastes. In fact, wine is what connects the energy of those who produce it with the energy of those who drink it.

Tell us more about your profession?

The profession enologist doesn’t officially exist in Bulgaria. People who are professionally  dedicated to wine are Engineering Technologist graduates. But there is some difference between a technologist and an enologist. The technologist performs technologies that already exist whereas the enologist is someone who has strong knowledge of viticulture and wine production and creates technologies for production of wine. The accumulation of vinicultural knowledge which is necessary for production managers in the wineries with own vineyards transforms technologists into enologists.

What are your responsibilities as Manager and Chief Enologist at the winery? What is your typical working day like at the moment?

I’m occupied all year long. My job starts in the vineyards, continues with the production of wine and the control of the maturing process, overall company organization, trading, management and finance. It is hard to determine when does it start and when does it finish. The vineyards need permanent care. Continuous care is also taken of the wines according to their variety, potential and purpose. Some of them mature in oak barrels, others in reservoirs. When they mature enough, we proceed to bottling. And then they are placed on the market which is constantly monitored by our sales team.

Do you prefer any particular grape varieties?

I have participated and we are currently producing good wines of the most famous varieties worldwide – Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, etc. – and people like them. However, I definitely prefer Bulgarian varieties. They give Bulgaria wine-producing identity. Rubin, Mavrud and Melnik 55 are three unique varieties that have the qualities to present the Bulgarian wine production to the world. Bulgarian wine producers have proven that they know how to use those grapes to create impressive wines that are internationally recognized.

What is specific about Struma River Valley in general and the Medi Valley vineyards in particular?

Struma River Valley is a specific geographic region that seems limited. The valley is surrounded by mountains from three sides. And warm air from the Aegean Sea enters along the river. This determines the transitional Mediterranean climate of the valley. Unique Bulgarian varieties like broad-leaved Melnik vine and Melnik 55 are grown exactly in the far southern parts of the valley. Medi Valley is situated in the northern part of Struma River Valley. There is a significant difference between the parts. What is specific about the vineyards of the winery is the altitude of 550 m, the proximity of the mountain, transitional Mediterranean climate (characterized by mild winter and dry summer), sunshine duration, high daily temperatures and cool nights. These conditions are markedly appropriate for the white grape varieties. There are constant air streams here that protect the vines from diseases. The soil is drainable, slightly sour and slightly eroded alluvial-meadow type but what’s interesting is that it contains small carbonate fragments that serve as natural drainage and give mineral touch to our white wines. The terrains for the red varieties are slightly different but they are also convenient. The complex combination of these conditions is “responsible” for keeping the fruit aroma of the grape that doesn’t burn as it would in a typical southern climate.

Do you believe in the future of the profession of the Viticulturist and Wine Producer? Are such specialist necessary and can they succeed in Struma River Valley wine region? I’m asking because the admission to our school has been difficult in the recent years.

Of course they are. Wine production is a prestigious branch worldwide. It also is in Bulgaria. Struma River Valley is experiencing a real renaissance of viniculture and wine production. The ancient legends of Thracian wine are resurrected by the new vineyards and wineries that are being constantly created. They need qualified professionals to take care of the vines and the wine. However, the creation of clear state policy prioritizing the branch is necessary in order to promote the profession. Agricultural labour should be more respected. Young people should be convinced that they can have good income from agriculture. Special schools and universities form professional skills. But before going there youngsters should be taught to love the earth, the vine and the wine. And isn’t that a responsibility of the school among others?

Almost every family from our region grows a small vineyard and produces wine for its own consumption. What could you advise these producers?

Bulgarians strongly believe that they can make wine no matter if they do so because it’s apparently simple or because we have millenary tradition. It’s a matter of pride to draw wine from your own barrel and brag to your friends. The “homemade” label is a sure sign for preference of all traditional native productions. It will always be loved but it’s never good enough because stronger knowledge is needed. No one is capable of making elite wine without the necessary knowledge and conditions the same way as a wine producer cannot be at the same time a doctor or a lawyer. Contemporary wine making requires varied skills. Wine is an intellectual product. The production of good wines is a controlled process that requires advanced technologies, begins with choosing the appropriate terrain for the respective grape variety and finishes with drinking the wine at the correct temperature, if you like.

Do you think that we can change the attitude of young people towards agricultural work and we can create sustainable interest through participation in projects such as “Green Skills for Social Agriculture” of the Zemedelska profesionalna gimnazia /ZPG/. Can their participation motivate them, decrease the levels of aggression and prepare them for their future?

Definitely. Similar projects are exactly what teaches young people to love the earth and its fruits. They develop skills or at least inform on the professions in a certain sphere. (I have already introduced the job descriptions of the workers in our sphere, haven’t I?) The first step to success in every profession is to create not only positive but most of all special attitude towards it. Students will understand better the benefit of natural food when they gain more direct experience with grape and wine.

How do you see our future partnership? What can you teach our students?

I respect curious people and I’m always open to them. I gave classes on basics of degustation and wine presentation to ZPG students long time ago. Students can learn a lot about grapes and wine! Especially when dual education is applied, because it would be more focused on practical skills and it would be performed in real working environment instead of just having theoretical classes at school.

In the end I want to ask you what advices would you give to wine lovers /having in mind that it contains alcohol/? What I’m really asking is if wine consumption is healthy?

Wine is healthy but without abusing. Everyone should have drinking culture. This means to drink for amusement and not in order to get drunk. The latter is easily achieved when drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol enters the blood fast and then reaches every cell of the body, including brain cells. On the contrary, enjoying wine means to drink it with food, slowly, taking small sips so that one can feel the taste and aroma qualities as much as possible. Wine culture includes the ability to combine wine with the suitable food. Wine improves digestion. Drinking fast and on shots is harmful and it practically means wasting wine!

Responsible wine drinking (up to 1-2 glasses per day, depending on your body) is healthy. Nevertheless, it depends on the contents of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes in your body which are responsible for metabolizing the alcohol.

Mr. Stoev, thank you for what you shared with us!