Bulgarian wines from exquisite varieties and sausages were presented at the European Parliament in Brussels under the motto "From the vine to the wine", BNR reported.
The initiator of the event was the MEP from the European People's Party Iliya Lazarov. The event was also attended by producers of Bulgarian sausages, who presented their products themselves.
The event was also attended by the Minister of Ecology Manol Genov. He is from Asenovgrad, where the Mavrud is from.
"The idea was to present Bulgarian wines from Bulgarian grape varieties here - something that distinguishes us. There are no "Mavrud", "Gamza", "Tamyanka", "Dimyat", Melnik wines anywhere," shared Lazarov.
"Everyone saw that Bulgaria is in no way inferior to leading countries such as France, Spain, Italy in this type of production. We must have confidence in our qualities, we must promote them, let them know about them. And Bulgaria can create a tourism that is not only Black Sea, not only ski tourism, but also culinary tourism, combined with a SPA, which is something unique and is open year-round."
However, can Bulgarian wines seriously break through in Belgium, where the niche has been occupied by French wines and for a long time:
"It can break through, it is a niche wine. One of the things I have always been against is aiming for the low, cheap class. We must offer wine in this category that corresponds to its parameters and prices, to promote it as quality wine. Bulgarians are prone to poverty. We must get out of this thing."
Eric Sargiacomo is a French socialist MEP, co-chair of the group for wine, quality food and drinks in the European Parliament:
"Wine is celebrated everywhere in Europe. It is a means of socializing, of creating contacts, of celebrating life and the joy of it."
How does he see Bulgarian wine against the background of French and the rest of Europe:
"I do not compare French wine with Spanish, nor Bulgarian with Spanish or Italian. Each of them has its own characteristics. And that's exactly what's good."