Distillery
Distillery for the production of high-end spirits with a main focus on Rakia, made from Muscat Ottonel grapes grown in its own vineyards in the region.
Location
It is located within the boundaries of Sredna Gora and the Upper Thracian lowland, in the land of the village of Lesichovo, Pazardzhik region, near the Trakia highway, connecting Sofia and Plovdiv and almost the same distance between these two cities. The region is well known for its suitable terroir for growing white grapes, especially those intended for the production of spirits, due to its specific microclimate. The relief is flat with low hills with an average altitude of 290 m. The climate is transitional-continental. The vineyards are located on the low, hilly slopes of the mountain, between 250-350 m above sea level, whose exposure determines the uniform sunlight. The Topolnitsa River crosses the village in its lower course and is a leading factor for the mild microclimate, contributing to the full and timely ripening of the bunches.
Information
Seewines Spirit Distillery received its license in January 2021, and the capacity of its own production is about 50,000 bottles of Muscat Rakia per year. The company owns 15 ha of vineyards, of which 13 ha are located in the village of Lesichovo, and the rest - in the land of the village of Siva Reka, Svilengrad region. The grape varieties grown in the vineyards in Lesichovo are dominated by Muscat Ottonel, intended for the production of rakia under own brand Arkana, but there are few specific, mostly Bulgarian old grape varieties for the production of small batches of wine for connoisseurs. Among these varieties are - Trakijska Slava (cross between Pamid and Mavrud), Mavrud, Rubin, Merlot, as well as the white variety Black Sea Elixir (cross between Misket and Dimyat). The vineyards in Svilengrad are planted with Syrah and Malbec - for the production of quality red wine. All vineyards are grown organically, without the use of pesticides and herbicides, and fertilisation is done through manure and grassing between rows. The majority of the 13 ha of vineyards is 3-4 years old and is at its start of grape production, but the company also invests in restoration of some old vineyards planted with Muscat Ottonel variety (over 50 years old), and owns about 2 ha with good developed 10-11-year-old vines. The 4 different locations of the vineyards around the village of Lesichovo clearly shows the influence of terroir even at such a micro level. This contributes to the successful selection of grapes in the fields and harvesting according to the degree of ripening and the desired organoleptic characteristics, which in turn helps to increase the quality of the material during the vinification process.Equipment
The distillery is modernly equipped and has the capacity to process not only grapes but also other fruits. At the moment it is equipped with two distillation apparatuses with periodic action, each with a capacity of 700 l, through which a single fractional distillation is carried out. The devices have a reinforcing column and a water reflux condenser, as well as the ability to regulate the process. The premises for barrel ageing, both of alcoholic beverages and wine, have the possibility for thermal and moisture regulation of the environment. The distillery also has an extensive storage room for bottled ageing and storage of finished products.
