A winery from the Pleven region, which has been reviving the “Giumza” variety for only one year, has won prestigious awards. This was achieved after participating in the Decanter World Wine Awards in London—the most prestigious and influential competition in the world.
Gorun Winery’s Cabernet Franc Reserve 2020 was awarded a gold medal and the hard-to-achieve 95 points from Decanter, while the Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 received a bronze medal and 87 points. Two medals out of three wines submitted for evaluation. Unparalleled recognition for a winery that has emerged only a year ago on the global wine map.
Gorun Winery is a boutique family winery located in the town of Iskar, 30 km from the city of Pleven. It was founded with the mission to restore, preserve, and enhance the centuries-old traditions of the region in viticulture and winemaking, as well as with the ambition to offer Bulgarian wines of the highest quality.
Priority is given to local terroir grape varieties – Giumza, Kaylashki Ruby, Kaylashki Mishet – as well as the world’s kings of wine – Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Muscat Ottonel, and Pinot Noir – and their expression on the fertile Miziya soil. The vineyards, planted in 2016, are located on the windy hills above the Iskar River, and the winery, founded in 2019, is nestled in its valley, where the namesake town is also located, originally known as Gorun due to the centuries-old oaks in the vicinity, from which the winery’s name is derived.
The unique microclimate of the region creates the conditions for high-quality wines, which are offered under the Gorun Winery brand in two series: Gorun Reserve, aged in French oak barrels, and Gorun Varietal, without oak, in which the true expression of the local terroir is sought.
The head winemaker at the winery is Svetoslav Krastev, a talented oenologist with extensive international experience, who skillfully combines classical and innovative styles in winemaking from the New and Old Worlds.