Minkov Brothers

Seeking a balance between tradition and modern technologies in winemaking, we combined 135 years of experience, fertile soils, suitable climate, and a passion for wine, continuing the path bequeathed to us by the Minkov brothers. Inspired by the "New World" style, we restored the "Brothers Minkov - tradition since 1875" winery with the mission to become synonymous with high quality and a unique identity.

In the Karnobat region, winemaking has a centuries-old tradition. Evidence of this can be found in the excavations of numerous Thracian mounds in the Karnobat area. Ceramic figurines depicting the god Dionysus and various wine vessels have been discovered there. Information about winemaking in these lands can also be found in historical chronicles from the 5th-4th centuries BC, testifying to a lively trade between local winemakers and the Hellenic Black Sea colonies.

The well-maintained vineyards and fine wine in the Karnobat region are also mentioned in the notes of dozens of foreign travelers who visited these lands between the 15th and 19th centuries. According to their testimonies, the local people carefully and skillfully prepared new land for vineyards, fenced their properties, and cultivated grape varieties still known today.

Charmingly situated amidst the vineyards on one of the last hills of the Terziyski Bair locality, Minkovi Brothers Winery is located right next to the Karnobat village of Venets, 65 km west of the city of Burgas. It features a restaurant, a tasting room, a wine shop, a museum section, and two underground tunnels with a total length of 160 meters, where the wines age.

Minkovi Brothers Winery has preserved the revivalist spirit of the urban society of Bulgaria from the late 19th century. The Minkovi brothers were descendants of a wealthy family from the Revival period. In the distant year 1875, they founded their winery in the bohemian quarter of Karnobat - Cherkovna. An interesting fact is that they brought Bulgaria its first gold medal from a world wine exhibition. The award was given in 1894 in Brussels to Ivan, Vasil, and Nikifor Minkovi.

Following the gold medal from the Brussels Wine Exhibition in 1894, awards followed from the elite wine competition in London and the International Fair in Plovdiv. A century later, the revived "Minkovi Brothers" winery is once again a recipient of significant international and national awards. The winery has a small museum exhibition dedicated to the winemaking family, containing authentic items that belonged to the Minkovi family.

Terroir

The proximity of the Black Sea to the east and the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas to the south contribute to the favorable climate in the region. The daily and nightly sea breezes meet two local winds – Gorniak and Dolniak. Gorniak blows in the afternoon and early evening, from high to low areas, to cool the heated land. Dolniak blows mainly in the morning and from bottom to top, to lift the morning dew and invigorate the vines. As a result of these influences, winter in the valley is milder, autumn is long and warm, spring is cool, and summer is not excessively hot.

Vineyards

We live and breathe by the philosophy that "wine-making starts in the vineyard." That's why we carefully selected three terroirs in the villages of Terziysko, Ognen, and Devetak, where we cultivate our vineyards and produce our beloved wines. Despite their proximity, each plot has its own character, contributing to the complex nature and attractiveness of our wines. The winery owns a total of 4,200 decares of vineyards. Each plot is managed by a team of agronomists and enologists who monitor the grape development and determine the precise moment to begin harvesting, when the grapes have the optimal balance of sugar content, acidity, and phenolic ripeness.

Vinification

The harvest season begins at the end of August and continues until mid-November, with the ripeness level of the grapes in each vineyard block being individually monitored. The high quality of the grapes guarantees the high quality of our wines. Hand-picked grape bunches are transported in crates to the winery, where a secondary sorting of the grape berries takes place. The winery is equipped according to European standards with the most modern technology. The maceration and fermentation of the grape must take place in stainless steel vinificators under controlled temperature conditions. Depending on their style, some of the wines age in French and American oak barriques, located in specially dug tunnels underground.