The ancient Thracians who had lived in present day Bulgaria planted the first vine thousands of years on the northern and southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. They introduced wine making techniques, worshipped the God of Wine with eating, drinking, and merrymaking, and developed special tools both for the cultivation of the vines and the making of the wine.

Greek settlers arrived on the Black sea coast around 500 B.C. They brought their experience in the preparation of wine. As a result, the local wine acquired a considerably improved taste and became the object of bustling trade.