Odessos Claret Cabernet Franc 2025

Bulgarian Cabernet Franc with a Fresh, Chilled Twist

Crafted from a single 15-year-old vineyard near Vetrino in Bulgaria's Varna region, Odessos Claret Cabernet Franc 2025 is a wonderfully fresh and contemporary expression of this characterful grape variety. Just 25 miles from the Black Sea coast, the alluvial and stony soils, coastal influences and 300m altitude create a wine bursting with purity, lift, and elegance. Bright strawberry-red in the glass, the nose is alive with vibrant red berry fruit, layered with Cabernet Franc's unmistakable subtle herbal lift.

Hand-harvested in small boxes and crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the wine undergoes a three-day cold soak before spontaneous fermentation, followed by gentle ageing in small Bulgarian oak barrels and stainless steel. The result is a beautifully poised light to medium-bodied claret, packed with fresh cherry and raspberry flavours, silky tannins, crisp acidity, and an energetic, fruit-driven finish. A discerning choice served lightly chilled alongside seafood, white meats, charcuterie, or soft cheeses.

Odessos is one of the new wave of Bulgarian wineries, located in the city of Varna on the Black Sea coast, with a groundbreaking and very modern concept and whose story began in 2016. After travelling around the world and gaining experience at some of the most prestigious wineries in Australia, New Zealand and Chile, the brothers Georgi and Vladislav Vankov came up with the idea of creating one of the first urban wineries in Bulgaria. Love for winemaking has been in their family for generations and the idea of creating Odessos was a natural continuation of this passion.