History of the Institute of Vine and Wine - Pleven

The Institute of Vine and Wine was established on the initiative of the Ministry of Trade and Agriculture in 1902 as the State Experimental Station of Vine and Wine in connection with the phylloxer crisis and the mass loss of vineyards in Bulgaria. The region of Pleven was identified as suitable for the establishment of the station on the recommendation of the famous in Europe Professor Pierre Viala from the Paris Agricultural Institute. The station is the first research institution in Bulgaria in the field of viticulture and winemaking and fifth in the world after Russia (1828), Italy (1872), France (1874) and Hungary (1898). 

Conditionally, we can distinguish six stages in the development of research activity at the Institute during the years from 1902 to the present day, taking into account the changes in the socio-economic conditions in the country.

01.01.1902 Opening of the Vineyard

the winery test station.

The first stage from the activity of the station coincides with the restoration of viticulture after the phylloxer invasion. This period covers the time from the year of its founding (1902) to the mid-1920s. The main tasks performed during this period are to determine the appropriate rootstocks according to the soil conditions of the country and to establish their affinity for the local varieties distributed. In 1902 a special scientific laboratory for soil research was equipped, and in 1907 the planting of the experimental vineyards began.

The second stage since the development of the Vine and Wine Experimental Station, covers the years between 1925 and 1944. Scientific work has expanded, providing effective solutions to problems arising in practice. Almost no plantation is created without consulting scientists to perform soil analyses and determine the substrate. Research results are published in the first peer-reviewed journals, Pepinierist and Vineyard Review. Training courses and practical exercises with specialists are organized. In 1926 the breeding activity was started by Stefan Ikonomov. The first quantities of the Bolgar variety are exported. In May 1944, with a special law adopted by the XXV National Assembly and promulgated in the State Gazette (Decree No 395/ 26.05.1944), the station was reorganized into a Wine Testing Institute with 6 departments: agrotechnics of the vine, genetics and selection of the vine, winemaking, wine microbiology and non-alcoholic products, plant protection and chemistry.

Third stage (1945-1969) During this period, the administrative building with the laboratories was built (opened 1950), the area of the experimental plantations was expanded. 

Construction of administrative

the laboratory building (1946-1949).

In 1951, the 1058th Decree of the Council of Ministers for the Development of Bulgarian Viticulture was adopted, which affirmed the role of scientific activity in solving the problems related to the expansion of the areas with vines in the country, technologies for growing young and fruitful vineyards, implementation of scientific achievements in practice. During the period 1953-1966, experimental fields were created in Ruse, Pavlikeni, Troyan, Targovishte, Razgrad, Khan Krum, Pomorie, Sungurlare, Septemvri, Plovdiv and Yambol. 

System of test stations
the ILV - Pleven Centre

In 1960, the first and only so far for the country scientifically based zoning of viticulture on the basis of soil, climatic and social (labour) resources was carried out under the leadership of academician Kunyu Stoev.

It's Akkad. K. Stoev – emblematic figure for
Bulgarian Viticulture

Fourtht stage covers the years between 1970 and 1989. During this period, 70 000 ha of new vineyards were created in the country with the active participation of ILV-Pleven. The research work is based on the high-stem and broad-row cultivation of the vineyards, which is quickly introduced into practice. For this technology, the Institute's team received a government award in 1976. The Institute's relations with other scientific and educational organizations in Bulgaria and abroad are deepening. An annual congress of the World Organisation of Vine and Wine (O.I.V.) was held in Burgas in 1980 under the leadership of the ILV-Pleven. In the early 1980s, an ampelographic collection was created with over 1650 varieties of local and introduced vines, which is the genebank of the vine and is the largest collection on the Balkan Peninsula.

The fifth stage covers the period from 1990 to 2006. These are the years of transition from a planned economy to a market economy, marked by a severe economic crisis, which has had an extremely adverse effect on viticulture and winemaking in Bulgaria. The total area of the vineyards has been reduced by about three times. Despite the difficulties, the Institute continues to work on its research programme in line with global trends in wine production. During this period, with the active assistance of the institute and the FAMAD project of the German technical cooperation company GTZ, a system of certification of vine propagating material was introduced in the country. Legislation and methodologies have been synchronised with the European Union Directives on the production and marketing of vine propagating and planting material. The institute’s existing super-elite uterine base has been expanded with 2 ha of new uterine stock for the production of rootstock cuttings Berlandieri x RipariaSO4, category ‘basic’ material, and 1 ha of uterine vineyard with varieties of IVV for the production of cuttings for cuttings, category ‘basic’.

The Sixth Stage It started with Bulgaria's accession to the European Union in 2007 and continues to this day. The research activity is organized in two departments: ‘Selection, Winemaking and Chemistry’ and ‘Technology and Plant Protection’. International cooperation is expanding. In 2022, ILV-Pleven together with Chitalishte ‘Saglasie 1869’, Pleven, folklore ensemble ‘Mizia’, the local wine cellar ‘Grivitza’, wine house ‘Mizia’ submitted documents to the Ministry of Culture for the entry of ‘Winemaking – traditional production and use in the Pleven region’ in the National Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Bulgaria. This will contribute to the promotion of local winemaking and wineries in the country.

In recent years, the Institute has maintained its position as coordinator and main contractor of the research programme on viticulture and wine within the SAA.