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Menada Winery is located in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria's sixth largest city and home to one of the most important Neolithic sites in Europe. Lying in the center of southern Bulgaria in the area once known as the Thracian lowlands, Stara Zagora developed at the crossroads of two ancient trade routes and commands a fertile area noted for its wheat and fruit orchards. The southern region is the largest grape growing region in Bulgaria and covers 33% of all cultivated land in the country. Menada's vineyards are within the following limits: to the north - the southern side of the Balkan mountains; to the south - the northern side of the Sakar mountains; to the west - the Chirpan hills and to the east - Nova Zagora plains. The total area of Menada's vineyards is 7,000 hectares, 4,500 of which are of the "Merlot" and "Cabernet Sauvignon" varieties. The climate is continental with a strong Mediterranean influence, favorable for the accumulation of a sufficient amount of sugar and acids giving wine the balance needed. The soils are mainly cinnamonic - forest with some chernozem - clay type. The annual frost-free temperatures range from 3500-4000 C with a yearly rainfall from 580 l/ sq.m, and at harvest - 45 l/ sq.m. The terrain is semi-plain to hilly with an altitude ranging from 540 to 690 meters. The main grape varieties cultivated are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; in the most southerly parts Mavrud, Pinot Noir, Muscat Ottonel, Rikat and Dimiat are also grown.
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