How one family preserves the traditions of Bulgarian winemaking

“Crafted with love, rooted in tradition” – this is the motto of Prisoe Winery. The winery is located near the Black Sea, in Bulgaria – a country with a millennia-old winemaking heritage, with sun-soaked vineyards and rich soils. For the Baltajiev family, their winery is not just a place where wine is made – it is a combination of family heritage, passion for the craft and the unique terroir of the only desert region in Bulgaria.

Nestled about 20 km west of Varna, near the natural wonder of Pobiti Kamani, the winery even gets its name from the unique landscape that surrounds it. “Prisoe” in Bulgarian means a place exposed to the sun, dry, arid. Pure white sands, limestone cliffs, abundant sunshine and Black Sea breezes inspire every bottle. Immerse yourself in this story so they can inspire you too.

A family business, an ancient craft

The history of Prisoe began in 1993 with the parents of Stefan Baltadzhiev – the current winegrower and winemaker. Inspired by the ancient traditions of viticulture and winemaking in Bulgaria, Stefan’s father convinced his wife to take up this craft. It quickly became clear that success required not only passion, but also their own cellar and vineyard. After several attempts, in 2001, they acquired the land that later became Prisoe and set to work. The cellar was completed in 2006 and the first vines were planted the following year. 

“I inherited this business from my parents. I took the craft from my father and continue to develop it. I am inspired by the fact that we are preserving thousands of years of history of the craft of viticulture and winemaking in our country,” says Stefan.

The family’s dedication to the craft extends to the careful care of the vines. On an area of nearly 4.7 hectares, the Chardonnay, Vrachanski Misket, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties are grown. Each vine is cared for by hand and each vintage is seen as a celebration of the magnificent terroir. All wines go through fermentation and ageing in oak barrels, preserving the tradition of winemaking.

“With us, every bottle has a story. It is the story of our land, shaped by the sea and the weather. The story of my parents who started this dream. The story of my journey to preserve their legacy. And of course, the story of our customers who make this possible,” shares Stefan.

Love that overcomes every difficulty

Like any self-owned business, setting up and running a winery requires not only passion but also perseverance and adaptability. The construction of the cellar and the planting of the vineyards were the first great successes for the Baltajiev family, but then came years of development marked by hardship and adversity. Growing the grapes and winemaking are only part of the tasks – on top of these come marketing, sales, administrative procedures and bureaucratic requirements. Every day brings new challenges that require quick decisions.

Despite the difficulties, what drives Stefan to continue and remain true to his principles of quality and authenticity is a strong love for the craft. For him, winemaking is not just a career, but a lifelong passion. His first encounter with the world of wine was as a child, when his father took him to the Euxinograd winery – the oldest functioning winery in Bulgaria.

“The big barrels, the aromas in the cellar, the machinery, the history, the heritage. It grabbed me and hasn’t let go since. Wine for me is like magic – mystical, intriguing, with many layers. That’s why I not only love making it, but drinking it.”

Traditional winemaking, modern business solutions

As digital technology evolves, consumer habits are changing, and for businesses to be successful, they must follow. This includes online sales, digital marketing and offering innovative payment solutions. “Everything is online now, so we have had to adapt,” Stefan explains.

In 2022, the winery integrated myPOS as part of its modernization strategy. Stefan chose myPOS as his payment partner because of the low commissions, online banking and integration with the Prisoe website, which made sales significantly simpler.

“myPOS has helped my business by reducing my costs and offering flexible solutions. We work with guests from all over the world and it’s a great convenience for everyone to be able to pay by card – securely and easily. We’ve been able to increase sales, and our customers are very happy.”

“From nothing, I create something that makes people happy” – This is how Stefan Baltadzhiev describes his work. And it is this meaning that he puts into every bottle of wine that drives him to keep the family dream and age-old tradition alive, despite the challenges. To young dreamers who want to start their own business, his advice is simple but strong: to have faith in themselves and what they do.

“All the difficulties of having a business are enough to put most people off. But believing in yourself and your skills is the only thing that gives you the strength to keep going.”