🥃 Suhindol Grape Rakia (Suhindolska grozdova rakya)

Suhindol Grape Rakia (Сухиндолска гроздова ракия) is an EU-protected geographical indication for a Bulgarian wine spirit from Suhindol Municipality in the north of the country, on the Danube Plain. It is made from a blend of Muscat (50%), local Gamza (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) wines, aged for at least six months in oak and sold from 40% vol.

The zone is the town of Suhindol and the villages of Dimcha and Koevtsi, with only 60 ha of bearing vines. The vineyards lie on south-, south-east- and east-facing slopes with gradients of 2–6° at 230–350 m, near the extinct volcano Suhindolski Vrah, 472 m high. Rainfall is 611 mm a year. The grapes are picked by hand at a sugar content of at least 21% and crushed within two hours.

According to the technical file, Gamza gives the rakia fruity notes of red berries, dominated by raspberry, and a light resinous note. The wine ferments in stainless-steel tanks and is distilled continuously below 65% vol. The spirit is stored in steel or for at least six months in 5,000 l barrels of Strandzha oak. Methanol is limited to 30 g/hl of absolute alcohol, and volatile substances must be 220–400 g/hl.

Suhindol was first mentioned in a Turkish register of the late fifteenth century. Industrial winemaking began in 1909, and a cooperative was founded in 1912: in its first year, 40 founders made 75,000 l of wine. The name was approved by Order No. T-RD-27-18 of 27 November 2013; batches are assessed by the Mizia chamber in Pleven.

Why it matters for you. This is one of the few Bulgarian rakia GIs with fixed variety shares, and half of its wine comes from red grapes. Look for the full name on the label. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.