Melnik 55 Orbelia

Orbelia Melnik 55 comes from Struma Valley in the south-west of Bulgaria. This region has a long-standing viticultural tradition. Wines have been made here since Thracian times over 5,000 years ago. Melnik 55, also known as Early Melnik, is the signature grape of the Struma Valley. Made in a modern fruit-forward style, Orbelia Melnik 55 is a stunning expression of this indigenous grape.

Elegant, medium-bodied, the wine shows complex aromas of black cherries, blueberries and bramble. Subtle hints of aromatic herbs, such as mint and eucalyptus, elevate the bouquet. With fresh acidity and lots of juicy berry flavours on the palate, this wine is delicious when served slightly chilled.

Melnik 55 is a relatively young grape variety. It was created as a successful attempt to improve some of the characteristics of the indigenous Bulgarian grape, known simply as Melnik. Despite the fact that the latter has been grown on the Bulgarian land since antiquity, it is not perfectly suited for the local weather conditions. The issue with Melnik is that it ripens quite late, in October. By this time, the weather becomes cool and damp, so the grapes rarely achieve complete ripeness. Therefore, in 1963, Bulgarian researchers   created a cross between Melnik and a rare French variety, Valdeguié. The new grape was named Melnik 55, or Early Melnik, as it ripens earlier and thus, it is more suitable for local conditions.