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Winemakers: Bulgaria should promote itself as a country with a centuries-old winemaking tradition

The number of vineyards in Bulgaria is falling dramatically, Atanas Vassilev, president of the National Association of Bulgarian Winegrowers, told BNR. 

"In the 1990s we were fourth in the world with 1.8 million hectares, but at the moment the actual cultivated vineyards in Bulgaria are no more than 180 thousand hectares, which is a tenfold decrease," Vassilev explained. "The problem lies in the state's policy towards the sector. Many winegrowers are uprooting their vineyards because they find it difficult to cover their costs." 

He also pointed out that Bulgaria is known in foreign markets as a producer of cheap wines and should instead be promoted as a country with a centuries-old tradition of producing quality wines. A clearly defined vision is needed for the development of the industry for at least the next 10 years, Vassilev stressed.



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