EC-style quality controls were established in Bulgaria which have helped the wines achieve their success on the international market. The main categories are Quality, for the lowest-quality export wines, DGO, Controliran, Reserve and Special Reserve.
The climate in Bulgaria is good for wine production. The eastern side of the country has a temperate climate where white wines tend to perform well. In the south, which is warmer, red wines can be quite rich and full bodied.
The main varieties that are planted include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all of which are able to produce good quality wines when the conditions are right. Pinot Noir is planted but only in small quantities along with some local grapes that are still used to produce small quantities of wine such as the Melnik (an abbreviation of Shiroka Melnishka Losa) for reds and Gamza (known as Kadarka in Bulgaria) for whites.