National wine chamber gift recommendation: a bottle of Bulgarian wine

Ponder no longer. If following the logic of Bulgaria's National Vine and Wine Chamber, finding a Christmas gift has been made one step easier – buy a bottle of wine. The chamber launched, on December 1 2008, its first Vinena Koleda (“Wine Christmas”), which aims to present Bulgarian wine as the best option for a corporate, family or friendly gift for the holiday season.

Vinena Koleda is co-organised by InvestBulgaria Agency.

The event gathered Bulgarian wineries and wine industry representatives at Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan for an exhibition of what the local wine market offers and to confer its Christmas awards on deserving bodies.

Atanas Stefanov received recognition for being an outstanding student in the wine and beer technology master's programme at the University for Food Technology – Plovdiv; Yoanna Vassileva was recognised as the best young sommelier; and Natalia Kazakova of Vinprom Rousse won an award for being the most active member of the managing board of the National Vine and Wine Chamber (NVWC).

Receiving the business award was Rumelia Wine Cellar, and Vinprom Rousse received the media award.

According to an NVWC press release, Plamen Mollov, NVWC president, said at the opening event: “The mythology of our country has it that the first wine was not made, but became. ... It is part of the mystery of the renewal of the nature of human life, in our beliefs, hopes and dreams. A collection of high-class wines is not only a technological, but also an intellectual product. There is, thus, no competing with this for a Christmas gift.”