CAREFULLY CULTIVATED VINEYARD ON HISTORIC LANDS
Katarzyna Estate is located in one of the southernmost points of Bulgaria, in the region known as Byalata Prast (The White Soil). The vineyards lie at the foot of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, spread across beautiful and picturesque hills surrounded by pristine, wild nature. These lands were once home to the ancient Thracians, who were producing wine more than 5,000 years ago. For them, wine was an essential part of daily life, celebrations, and rituals. History shows that the Thracians were not only among the oldest peoples known to produce wine, but they also elevated it to a true symbol of culture and identity. Near the estate, in the area of the village of Mezek, one of the best-preserved Thracian tombs was discovered. It is the largest and one of the most fascinating and impressive Mycenaean-style domed tombs preserved entirely in its original form. Among the treasures left to us by the Thracians are numerous drawings and murals depicting various wine rituals, as well as an array of gold and silver vessels.
In addition to their rich history, these lands offer exceptionally favorable conditions for growing vineyards. The climate is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean, the soils are sandy, and in combination with the airflow in the region, they provide an excellent terroir that allows the grapes to ripen slowly.
A tradition inherited from the Thracians, still alive today.
THE TERROIR
The most important element behind a great wine is the terroir. The uniqueness of the location, along with the specific climate and soil characteristics, are the key factors in cultivating vineyards and producing high-quality grapes. The influence of terroir surpasses even the characteristics of the grape variety. This is where the true challenge and beauty of winemaking lies, turning it into an endless adventure. The combination of climate, soil, and altitude determines the flavor of the grapes across different regions, micro-regions, or even individual plots. Their interaction is crucial for the grapes to reach perfect and harmonious ripeness. Terroir cannot be fully realized without human involvement. No matter how ""privileged"" a location may be, it will not become an exceptional vineyard without total dedication and care. Important factors include the vineyard’s orientation and slope, the selection of grape varieties and rootstocks, vine training systems, pruning, planting density, yield control, harvest timing, and production methods. The truth of a terroir is revealed over time through each vintage and through consistent quality. It is a long journey, one that continues to this day.
Terroir is the essence of great wines. Terroir is everything and nothing. Everything because without it nothing is possible, and nothing because it reveals itself only through our labor.
The magic is in the soil.
The land on which we grow our vineyards is one of our estate’s greatest assets. It is the diversity of soils across the different plots, along with the varying altitudes, that provides our team with areas of distinct character and quality. As a result, the grapes we harvest exhibit unique characteristics, allowing us to vinify them in individual batches. Finally, our oenologists decide how to blend these batches in order to produce wines that stand out for their high quality and distinctive style.
We categorize the soils on our estate into three main types: sandy, brown forest, and clay-rich red soils. Although the sandy-clay structure allows moisture to be retained in the deeper layers of the ground, our vineyard is equipped with a drip irrigation system. This is a crucial tool for regulating soil moisture during the dry and hot summer months.
CLIMATE
The area where we cultivate our vineyards is hilly, incredibly scenic, and still beautifully untamed. The region enjoys a temperate continental climate with a strong Mediterranean influence and the longest duration of sunshine in the country. It is characterized by warm, dry summers, mild winters, and relatively low annual temperature fluctuations. Long days and extended evening sunlight contribute to the slow, balanced ripening of the grapes, resulting in wines with a distinct fruit-forward character and well-developed flavor profiles.
Another key factor contributing to the favorable development of the vineyards in the region is the unique air corridor formed between the Sakar Mountain and the Eastern Rhodopes. This natural channel allows for prevailing northwestern and northeastern winds, which help regulate temperature, reduce humidity, and support the overall health and resilience of the vines.
OUR VINEYARDS
Katarzyna Estate owns 750 hectares of privately held vineyards, located in the area known as Byalata Prast (“The White Soil”), within the lands of the villages of Belitsa and Lozen. The planting began between 2004 and 2007, following a detailed study of the soil composition and climatic conditions of each individual plot. Most of the vineyards were established in 2006, with a varietal ratio of approximately 70% red to 30% white grapes.
Among the white grape vineyards, the largest share is held by the Chardonnay variety, and the other white varieties we grow are Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Pinot Gris, Traminer, Viognier and Muscat. Our red varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo, Carménère, Rubin and Mavrud. The most important thing we have found is that with proper and precise work in the vineyard, consistent and regular results in the quality of the product are achieved.
HARVEST
Every harvest has its own story, and ours began in 2006. With each passing year, we have grown and changed together with our vineyards. Over time, we have gathered various facts and figures about rainfall, temperatures, humidity, and other data. But above all, we have collected the emotions, feelings, happiness, and at times the discouragement that anyone connected to nature inevitably experiences. An important factor in the quality of the wine is determining the right time to harvest. Harvesting is the busiest and most critical moment of the year for any winemaker. At our estate, it begins in August and continues until October. We hand-pick our grapes early in the morning, placing them carefully into 12 to 14 kilogram crates to preserve their freshness and quality.
Given that the winery and vineyards are located in one of the southernmost and warmest parts of the country, it is a significant challenge for our team to balance the optimal ripeness of the grapes in a way that achieves harmony, balance, and finesse in the wines.
Every vintage is different and challenging, and we have marked our best ones with a star.
The first harvest at Katarzyna Estate was extremely difficult and varied. On one hand, there was the fact that in 2006 the winery began operations and needed technological time for organizational adjustment of its processes. On the other hand, the climatic conditions and consequently the quality of the grapes that year were not good at all. The first day on which grapes were received at Katarzyna Estate was 26.09.2006. The amount of grapes received in 2006 was approximately 1,600,000 kg – this is the smallest amount of processed grapes at the winery to date. A large part of the raw material was purchased from the area around the towns of Svilengrad and Harmanli, because for our own vineyards this was the first fruit-bearing – 2004 is the year when most of them were planted. The rainy and cool autumn additionally complicated the work at the winery.
Despite the difficult harvest, Katarzyna Estate launched with a wide portfolio of wines: White Soil Rosé, Mezzek Merlot, Mezzek Mavrud, Mezzek Cabernet Sauvignon, Mezzek Cabernet Sauvignon & Mavrud, Contemplations Red Blend, First Vintage, Twins Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Sauvignon, Halla Merlot, Question Mark Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot.
2007 was the hottest and driest year to date. A warm winter, a rather warm spring with little rainfall, a dry and very hot summer, and a warm autumn. In 2007, part of our vineyards, mainly with white grape varieties, entered their first fruit-bearing phase, and the grapes we processed (approximately 1,800,000 kg) came entirely from our own vineyards. The low grape yield combined with the climatic conditions turned 2007 into one of our ripest harvests. The grape harvest started quite early on 10.08.2007. It was an extremely difficult vintage to work with, but the results achieved were impressive and as a result we produced for the first time the winery’s emblematic wines:
Encore Syrah, Question Mark Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Gold Label, Les Fleurs Chardonnay, Contemplations Chardonnay.
We also expanded one of the most recognizable and beloved brands, Mezzek, with Mezzek Rosé, Mezzek Chardonnay, Mezzek Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Gris.
The wines Junior Merlot & Tempranillo, Twins Chardonnay & Chardonnay, Halla Chardonnay & Pinot Gris were also introduced.
A cold winter, a rainy spring, a dry and warm summer with minimal rainfall, and a mild autumn. The harvest campaign began on 15.08.2008. What stood out about the year was the significant drop in temperatures at the end of September, accompanied by rainfall, which led to a less favorable year for the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The amount of processed grapes in 2008 was approximately 1,800,000 kg. In summary, 2008 was a varied and not very balanced vintage. Nevertheless, we managed to expand our portfolio with several wonderful additions to our big family:
Contemplations Sauvignon Blanc, Les Cailloux Viognier & Chardonnay, Les Nuits Blanches Rosé.
One of the best vintages – very balanced and harmonious. In 2009, we had a consistently warm summer, lower night temperatures than typical for the region, and a sufficient amount of rainfall. The harvest began on 25.08.2009. The quantity of grapes received was around 2,100,000 kg. At this stage of our development, this was a peak achievement for the winery, and in fact, with the 2009 vintage, the true shaping of the style and character of our wines began. This was due to a combination of several very important factors for us – a large part of our vineyards were already in their second, third, and fourth fruit-bearing stages, and the exceptionally harmonious year in terms of climatic conditions contributed to the full expression of the potential of our own grapes. This was the fourth harvest for the team at the winery, and from it were born Le Carré d'Or Malbec and Le Rosé.
A rather difficult year, characterized by a cold winter, a tricky spring with many frost events, a warm and dry summer, and a cool and rainy autumn for the region. The harvest began on 30.08.2010, and around 2,000,000 kg of grapes were processed. The climatic conditions led to spring frost damage in part of our vineyards, overexposure of the white grape varieties and the Merlot, and not-so-good ripening of the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. In our memories, 2010 remains one of our most challenging years, but despite that, the results were quite good.
The new wines from the vintage are Smaraida Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon & Muscat and the innovative Der Traminer.
2011 was one of our best years. In terms of climate, it was mild, harmonious, and gentle, blessing us with an excellent harvest. Technologically, the grapes ripened very well, and the quantity processed was over 2,100,000 kg. The harvest went smoothly, and as a result, the 2011 vintage became the best for the winery to date. It had an extremely important impact on the final shaping of the character of our wines. The strong vineyard performance and the growing confidence within the winery team led to an increase in the quality of our products and the emergence of some of our most beloved wines: Chopin Concerto Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah, Le Voyage Sauvignon Blanc, Le Voyage Cabernet Franc & Syrah, Encore Malbec.
It was a year we remember for its challenges – a notably cold winter, a rainy spring, an extremely dry summer, lack of rainfall, and a warm autumn. This resulted in a difficult year, with the harvest starting on 18.08.2012. Thanks to the accumulated experience of the Katarzyna Estate team, we can ultimately call the vintage a good one, with the final result being more than satisfactory.
The 2012 vintage expanded one of our best brands, Chopin, with the wines Chopin Sonata Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc and Chopin Nocturne Merlot & Cabernet Franc. This vintage also gave birth to our highest-category white wine – Le Magnifique Chardonnay.
When the vintage is good, it can be described in few words. The year was moderate and balanced. The harvest began on 13.08.2013, proceeded quickly and smoothly. We processed over 2,200,000 kg of grapes. Overall, the vintage was very good, and for the first time, the wines La Vérité Cabernet Franc and La Bella Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot & Syrah & Malbec were introduced.
The year began with a cold winter, a rainy and cool spring, and a summer with unusually low temperatures for the region and a large amount of rainfall. The autumn was extremely poor – cold and rainy. The harvest started on 31.08.2014, and for the white grapes and some of the red varieties processed for rosé, conditions were favorable and the results were of high quality. However, for the red grapes, the situation was different and not as positive. As a result of this extremely difficult year for Katarzyna Estate, there were no medium or high class red wines released on the market. In such years, if there is a winner, it is the wines from the lower price segment.
As part of the winery's history, the 2014 vintage will remain the worst to date.
The anniversary tenth vintage of Katarzyna Estate was marked by a moderate balance between optimal temperatures and sufficient rainfall. In some ways, the vintage was challenging, but the results were very good, justifying the efforts invested. We defined 2015 as our best vintage to date. The harvest began on 17.08.2015, and over 2,300,000 kg of grapes were vinified at the winery, a record achievement for Katarzyna Estate. With the 2015 vintage, we introduced several new wines to the market: Contemplations Rosé Malbec & Carménère, the winery’s first BIO wine, and two anniversary wines 10 Harvest Merlot and 10 Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2016 vintage is one of the best vintages for Katarzyna Estate. The year was characterized by below average annual rainfall for the region, around 500 mm per square meter, with 75 percent of it concentrated in the first five months. The higher humidity created favorable conditions for the development of vine diseases, which we successfully prevented thanks to our accumulated viticultural experience. At the same time, the moisture reserve in the soil proved to be a beneficial factor for the healthy development and normal vegetation of our vineyards. After the rainy start to the year, the following four months when the vineyard needs warmth, sunshine, and dry weather for the grapes to ripen well saw only 29 mm per square meter of rainfall. This, combined with the moderate summer temperatures of 31 to 33 degrees Celsius in 2016 compared to the usual 35 to 38 degrees typical for the region, created ideal conditions for grape ripening, especially for achieving optimal phenolic maturity. The harvest began on 15 August 2016 with the reception of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. On 27 August 2016, the harvest of red grapes for rosé started, and on 5 September 2016, the harvest for red wines began with the reception of Merlot. The 2016 vintage is marked by refined and elegant white and red wines that are balanced, with soft tannins and the potential to age for a long period.
The year was characterized by rainfall well above the regional average, around 900 mm per square meter, which fortunately was evenly distributed throughout the year. The summer saw high temperatures, reaching 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. These climatic conditions led to the production of ripe, even slightly overripe grapes, which was reflected in the wines through warmer aromas and a slightly sweeter taste profile than usual. The harvest began on 14 August 2017 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc. On 28 August 2017, the harvest of red grapes for rosé started, and for red wine, the harvest began with the reception of Merlot on 8 September 2017.
The year was characterized by rainfall above the regional average, around 780 mm per square meter. Approximately 360 mm per square meter, or 45 percent of the total rainfall, fell during the three months leading up to the harvest, when the grapes are meant to ripen. Unfortunately, these conditions prevented part of the grapes from reaching full ripeness and accumulating good phenolic content and concentration. In such cases, as in any winery that respects its customers, a decision was made not to produce some of our high-class red wines, which are typically aged for a longer period in barrels and bottles, due to their slightly lower aging potential. The harvest began on 13 August 2018 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc. On 23 August 2018, the harvest of red grapes for rosé began, and for red wine, the harvest started with the reception of Merlot on 1 September 2018. For us, the 2018 vintage is the worst since the 2014 vintage.
The 2019 vintage is the first of four consecutive very good vintages for our vineyards and winery. Rainfall during the year was below the regional annual average, around 550 mm per square meter. At the end of June, part of our vineyard blocks were hit by hail, which led to a reduction in yield in some grape parcels. During July, August, and September, when the grapes ripen, there was almost no rainfall. This, combined with the warm and sunny days typical for the region, led to the achievement of optimal quality in both white and red grapes from our vineyards. The harvest began on 17 August 2019 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc. On 29 August 2019, the harvest of red grapes for rosé started, and for red wine, the harvest began with the reception of Merlot on 4 September 2019.
The 2020 vintage is the second of four consecutive very good vintages for our vineyards and winery. Rainfall during the year was below the regional annual average, around 500 mm per square meter. From 20 June to the end of September, the total rainfall over our vineyards was only 16 mm per square meter. This, combined with the traditionally hot weather for that period of the year, led to maximum grape concentration and very good phenolic content. The red wines from the 2020 vintage have exceptional potential for bottle aging. Traditionally, the harvest began on 15 August 2020 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc. On 24 August 2020, the harvest of red grapes for rosé began, and for red wine, the harvest started with the reception of Merlot on 1 September 2020.
The 2021 vintage is part of the series of very good vintages for our vineyards and winery. Rainfall during the year was above the regional annual average, around 800 mm per square meter. During July, August, and September, rainfall was only 36 mm per square meter, which resulted in healthy, ripe grapes of exceptional quality. These grapes were used to produce balanced and elegant wines with great potential for bottle aging. The harvest began on 20 August 2021 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. On 29 August 2021, the harvest of red grapes for rosé started, and for red wine, the harvest began with the reception of Merlot on 8 September 2021.
The 2022 vintage is part of the series of very good vintages for our vineyards and winery. Rainfall during the year was below the regional annual average, around 530 mm per square meter. During July, August, and September, rainfall was only 35 mm per square meter, which resulted in healthy, ripe grapes of exceptional quality. These grapes were used to produce balanced and elegant wines with great potential for bottle aging. Perhaps the 2022 vintage is our most balanced so far in terms of ripeness, freshness, concentration, and grape potential, which explains the high quality of the wines from this year. The harvest began on 12 August 2022 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. On 24 August 2022, the harvest of red grapes for rosé started, and for red wine, the harvest began with the reception of Merlot on 5 September 2022.
The 2023 vintage continues the series of very good vintages for our vineyards and winery and is the fifth in a row following 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Rainfall during the year was below the regional annual average, around 577 mm per square meter. The first four months of the year were rainy, with a total of 320 mm per square meter. This contributed to excellent soil moisture reserves and supported the healthy development of our vineyards. As a result, the fruit set was strong, with grape cluster size and fruit concentration developing optimally. The summer was quite dry, which reduced the yield by about 20 percent. Rainfall during June, July, August, September, and October totaled only 74 mm per square meter. While this led to a lower yield, it positively impacted the quality of the grapes, resulting in healthy, ripe fruit of exceptional quality. These grapes were used to produce balanced and elegant wines with great potential for bottle aging. Together with the 2022 vintage, 2023 may be our most balanced vintage to date in terms of ripeness, freshness, concentration, and grape potential, which explains the high quality of the wines from the 2023 vintage. The harvest began on 24 August 2023 with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc, and on 6 September 2023 with red grapes for rosé. Traditionally, for red wine, the harvest began with the reception of Merlot on 16 September 2023.
The 2024 harvest can be characterized as a good harvest in terms of the quality of the grapes but rather poor in terms of the yield from our vineyards. This is primarily due to the dry year, with around 400 mm of rainfall up to the end of November, as well as the extremely high temperatures during June, July, and August. The total amount of precipitation during the year was below the region’s average annual norm of approximately 585 mm/m². The dry and hot summer led to lower yields than usual in our vineyards, but the smaller grapes that were produced developed a concentrated aroma and flavor in the young red wines, with soft, condensed tannins. The harvest started on August 9, 2024, with the reception of Sauvignon Blanc. On August 26, 2024, the harvest for red grapes for rosé began, and for red wine, the harvest started with the reception of Merlot on September 12, 2024.
Реколта 2025 може да се характеризира като добра по отношение на качеството на гроздето, но не толкова добра по отношение на количеството добив от лозовите ни масиви. Това се дължи основно на сухата година – около 508 л/кв.м., както и на екстремно високите температури през месеците юни, юли и август. През пролетта имаше сериозно измръзване на ранните сортове грозде в лозовите ни масиви. Най-засегнати от пролетното измръзване бяха белите ни сортове – Совиньон блан, Шардоне и Вионие, както и част от масивите с червено грозде Мерло и Сира. Сухото и горещо лято доведе до по-ниски добиви от нормалното, но за сметка на това по-малките гроздове формираха концентриран аромат и вкус на младите червени вина, с меки и добре балансирани танини. Гроздоберът стартира на 18.08.2025 г. с прием на Совиньон блан. На 28.08.2025 г. започна гроздоберът на червено грозде за розе, а за червено вино гроздоберът стартира с прием на Мерло на 09.09.2025 г.
