The Bulgarian Wine Sector: Policy Issues and Implications after 15 Years of Transition

Abstract

This paper analyses the development of the Bulgarian wine sector in the last 15 years with special attention given to the restructuring at farm level, grape and wine output evolution and the changes in wine trade flows. It shows how reforms have negatively affected the sectoral performance and how they have caused changes in the vineyards ownership structure, wine output and policies, product differentiation and wine trade.

Notes

1. The administrative division of the country changed twice, which burdened the statistical data collection and limited the options for regional comparisons. Since 2001 the agricultural data have been provided by MAF, while before it was collected by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) (e.g. 2004). MAF collects data at NUTS2 level, which also differs from the previous methodologies.

2. All currently existing co-operatives in Bulgaria are established under the new Co-operative Law.

3. On average, yields in the southern regions are higher than those in the northern part of the country due to climate differences.