🥃 Karnobat Grape Rakia (Karnobatska grozdova rakya)

Karnobat Grape Rakia (Карнобатска гроздова ракия) is an EU-protected geographical indication for a Bulgarian wine spirit from the Karnobat area in Burgas Province. It is made from Misket Cherven wine (20%) and any combination of other white and red varieties (80%), distilled below 65% vol. and aged for at least six months in oak barrels of up to 500 l.

The zone covers 13 localities in five municipalities: six in Karnobat, plus Terziysko (Sungurlare), four villages of Aytos Municipality, Lozenets (Tsarevo) and Straldzha, with 2,766.56 ha of bearing vines. The growing season lasts 205 days, and the average sum of active temperatures is 3,911 °C. The list of varieties is broad, from Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel and Riesling to Mavrud, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

To preserve the aroma, the grapes are picked at night and fermentation is kept cool, up to 22 °C. A distinctive feature of distillation is the silver filters on the stills, which, according to the file, help capture the aromatic profile more precisely. Spirits of different ages are blended and diluted with softened water to 40% vol. Methanol is 11 g/hl of absolute alcohol, volatile substances 140–200 g/hl. The taste is of ripe grapes with hints of green apple, fig and vanilla.

The name was approved by Order No. T-RD-27-21 of 27 November 2013; the EU application was filed on 7 January 2014, and the specification was published on 7 September 2017. Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1871 of 23 November 2018 registered the GI.

Why it matters for you. A golden colour comes from oak or caramel. There are no separate labelling rules for this GI, so go by the full name. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.