Friendsips Merlot & Rubin

“Made by friends for friends” – a collaboration between the team at The Old Cellar Stoyan, (our Bulgarian import specialists), Dilyan and Georgi, business partners and friends raising glasses for the good moments in life on the front label (designed by their good friend Jordan Jelev The Labelmaker), and the team at VinoAtelie (Petar and Radostin of Georgiev/Milkov winery and Nikolay of Tsarev Brod winery, also business partners and good friends). The friends and partners have created a concept of young, vibrant, jolly and engaging wines that feel modern and drink elegantly, revealing the authenticity and beauty of the indigenous Bulgarian grape varieties Dimyat and Rubin blended alongside the most successful international grape varieties grown in the country. Friendsips are wines that “jump out of the glass and hug you”, “wear a suit and a pair of sneakers” and deserve to be shared amongst friends at any occasions.

Merlot, Rubin

The moderate continental climate and the different altitudes of the region are good premises for growing of red grape varieties in the valley of the Thrace. The region includes the central part of the lowland, as well as parts of the Sakar mountain.

The climate conditions of the region, protected from sharp winds from the north by Stara Planina mountain range and by the Rhodope Mountains from the South,

are very suitable for production of excellent rich and complex red wines from the varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Mavrud, as well as intense and crisp whites. The sunshine here is over 3000 hours per year with over 110 sunny days. The summer is hot and dry with warm nights, the winter is mild. The soils in the region are predominantly sandy or a combination of sand and clay, with some limestone found at places.

The high-quality wines from the local sort Mavrud are most valued because of the combination of the aromas and the taste of black forest fruits, spices and herbs. Other very successful grape varieties in this region are Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc & Rubin from the reds and Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Dimyat from the whites.

Rubin Bolgarskii, or simply Rubin, is a dark-skinned crossing of Nebbiolo and Syrah created in Pleven, Bulgaria in 1944. Rubin is grown throughout the Central European nations of Moldova, Romania and Slovenia, where it is made into good-quality red wines high in anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for the colour in red wines.

Fresh & fruity, elegant and daring blend of Merlot and the enigmatic Bulgarian Rubin. A wine wearing a suit and a pair of sneakers with ripe juicy notes of black cherries, forest fruits and dried herbs.

This is a top tier kebab/kebob wine! Otherwise, pair with BBQ dishes, lamb, pork, sausages, pasta, vegetarian dishes, soft cheeses.