The possible future of the sector, presented through a tasting of rare local varieties from Italy and Spain, and the international experience of the BAWP under the Erasmus+ program

A team from the Bulgarian Association of Wine Professionals will present some of the projects the association has worked on over the past three years. They will introduce us to good examples from Italy and Spain, from which the Bulgarian wine sector can draw valuable experience and ideas. This includes various sustainable models of training and community building. The focus will be on the concept of regenerative tourism and how the regenerative power of wine is used; and how wine plays the role of an ambassador for the region and a main pillar of the communities that are built around it, for art, architecture, and education. The good examples will be illustrated with a tasting of rare local varieties from Italy and Spain.

Wines to be tasted:
Vigneti Repetto Derthona Quadro Timorasso 2023
Cincinnato Quinto Bellone Lazio IGT 2023
Marco Carpineti Moro 2023
Petites Estones Garnacha Blanca 2023
Adriano Langhe DOC Freisa Lice 2022
Piedefermo Cesanese 2024

A wine’s aroma and taste are the ultimate expressions of its origin and varietal character – yet faults can distort this expression. But do they always? Sulphur may smell like hell, but rubber is not always the wine’s enemy, wrote Yassen Borislavov in an article on mercaptans some years ago. Wet cardboard, boiled cabbage, or stable-like notes are commonly associated with specific faults in wine.
This expert masterclass focuses on the sensory manifestations of faults in a wine’s colour, aroma, and taste, along with their origins and causes: microorganisms, chemical and biochemical processes, and environmental influences. The discussion will explore how much these faults change a wine’s sensory profile and the strategies available to prevent or fix them.
The goal is to learn how to accurately identify and describe wine faults. Comparative tasting remains the most effective way to do this. Participants will experience a set of aroma references that demonstrate common faults found in different wine styles.
The masterclass is ideal for wine professionals of all experience levels and advanced wine enthusiasts who have a strong interest in sensory evaluation and a critical perspective on wine quality.

The ticket for the master class also grants you access to the main exhibition hall on the day of the master class.
The ticket for the master class also grants you access to the main exhibition hall on the day of the master class.

Over the past two decades, Syrah has emerged as one of the Sakar region's most distinctive and emblematic grape varieties. Syrah has found its natural home in this southern corner of Bulgaria, expressing the local terroir with remarkable power, depth, and elegance.

The ticket for the master class also grants you access to the main exhibition hall on the day of the master class.

Together with Asen Tzekov from Vino Orenda and representatives of the Wines of Sakar Association, you will have the opportunity to explore the many faces of Sakar Syrah — to trace the style and signature of six independent producers from the region, all working exclusively with grapes from their own vineyards.

To highlight what makes the Sakar terroir unique, we will conduct the blind tasting alongside three other outstanding Syrah wines from different regions of Bulgaria.

The tasting will be structured as a game: participants will try to identify which wines come from Sakar. Detailed information about each wine will only be given at the end of the blind tasting — before that, you’ll only know the vintage and aging details.

Through this engaging format, we will seek to answer:
👉 What makes Sakar Syrah different?
👉 What are the defining features of the Sakar terroir?
👉 And finally — does it have the potential to rival international Syrah from both the Old and New Worlds?

We challenge you: taste, guess, and win!

Identify all six Sakar Syrah correctly and win exquisite wine rewards!

The ticket for the master class also grants you access to the main exhibition hall on the day of the master class.