Since ancient times Bulgaria has been famous for its winemaking and viniculture. It is known for sure that viticulture exists on Bulgarian lands since 4000 BC. This is indicated by archaeological finds and historical data, ancient and mediaeval authors and historians as well as by some heathen rituals, which are preserved till nowadays.

Viticulture roots deeply in both ancient and modern Bulgaria. History leads us to the time of the bronze era XIX-XV century BC when the population of the Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula started cultivating wild vine and created first local breeds. There is evidence about these statements in the finds at neolith villages and hills all over the country. We find evidence about prehistoric development of viticulture over our lands even in old Greek mythology about Dionysius, who heading to the Ararat mountain, brought a tiny root of vine not to anywhere in the world but first to us – in ancient Thrace, the southern part of modern Bulgaria.

Historians from Kardjali discovered unknown type of grapes near the tomb of mythical Thracian singer Orpheus. It is presumed that the vine is over 3 000 years old. There is no explanation how the vine has encountered near the rock monument close to “Tatul” village because no vines are cultivated in scores of kilometers in diameter. The historians do not exclude the hypothesis where namely from this vine was produced the famous red wine of Thracians. Today on the holiday of vine-grower the discoverers planted in the yard of the Historical Museum parts from the survival during the centuries vine and gave the name to this grapes type “The Orpheus's tear”. They expect to have roots from the new type after 2 years. According to them in that way will be restored the glory of the famous Thracians wine during the antiquity called “Zela”. Orpheus was born somewhere around the Thrace bounds. According to Greek mythology he is the son of the River God Eagar and the poetry muse Calliope. Magnificent poet and singer Orpheus was portrayed with a lyre from which strings he gave fairy sounds.

It is Homer who mentions that the Thracian export wine to Troy. The first archaeological evidence about growing of vineyards and the making and consumption of wine in the Thracian valley and the region of the contemporary town of Pazardzhik date from the Classic era /V – ІV c. BC/, when the region was populated by the Thracian tribe of the Bessians.

The geographic and weather conditions in the upper Thracian valley favour the development of agriculture and especially viticulture. The valley borders the massifs of the Rhodoupes. The climate is temperate -continental, the alluvial soil around rivers is very generous and this is the reason why the vine and corn growing is widespread. The numerous rivers and mountain passes connect the valley with other regions, which enabled the commercial and cultural contacts of the Bessians with other tribes and peoples since hoary antiquity.


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