Hi Charlie,
The short answer is "I dont know how reliable this site is, but if interested,
I can find you at least couple of sources for Bulgarian food in US.
Now the long answer-let me know if this is TMI...:)
I just clicked on the first site that had the spice pack. My mother knows
someone in Saint Louis who owns a Bulgarian store and also ships to addresses
within US. I will also ask my friends in CT, they go to a similar shop
somewhere in New York.
Feel free to ask me about anything food-related. Mostly food as for some
reason my gramma's recipes are much more popular than my mother-in-law's...:)
I never tried any of the wines offered. I have spoken about Bulgarian wines in
the past, but from the past. Before they entered EU and were forced to destroy
centuries-old vineyards. With that, some of native grapes completely
disappeared, affecting the variety. They were also forced to use the "new and
improved" methods, which I know for a fact that it provided a negative effect
to quality.
I would not bother with cheap Bulgarian merlots and cabernet sauvignons. You
can find them occasionally in liquor stores for about $5 and have to tell you
that are not worth even a third of that.
Glad to see that the site offers some wines from traditional grapes, Mavrud,
Bear Blood, Slivenka Perla (the Pearl of Sliven) and Melnik. From all these,
the Melnik might be closer to what this market demands. The bear blood should
taste very similar to a popular Hungarian wine sold here: "Bulls Blood". The
misket should be similar to Moscato.
I never had the ones offered, but here is the disclamer: Bulgaria made
excellent wines, but never fine ones worth thousands of dollars. Also, the
market here demands different types of wine, mostly very thick and syruppy,
high in alcohol content and with overwhelming aromas mostly not related to
grape at all. If this is what you are after, you definitely wont like them.
Your safe bet will be buying wines from CA, Chile, Spain and Australia.
Argentina and South Africa are eager to join the club.
I live in an area where most of the population is from Portuguese descent. I
find excellent vino at reasonable prices. I also buy French and Italian wines
on occasion, because as the Portuguese and Bulgarian, I can actually taste the
grape first...well, mostly the grape...:) Each variety is suited for
particular types of dishes, as opposed to "food wine" or "drink alone wine".
The alcohol content of these wines does not go above the 12.5% for the reds and
11% for the whites. Some whites go as low as 9%. Even the thickest wines have
lighter texture to its body and the aromas are subtle.
I hope I did not scare you away with my warnings. If still interested, I will
connect with mother and friends tonight to get links and recommendations about
wine. I will be more than happy to help with any questions about food products
(and how to cook them).
Best
Boris
....................
Boris,
There are some interesting things on their site, are they a reliable
website to order from? In the past you have spoken highly of Bulgarian
wines; any recommendations.
Charlie
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