A newly founded Association of Bulgarian Wine Producers aims at protecting the interests of small businesses in grape growing and wine making in Bulgaria.

The news was reported Saturday by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, citing the Chair of the Bulgarian Association of Grape Growers and Wine Producers, Bozhidar Boev, who spoke at the celebrations dedicated to the Day of Grapes and Harvest in the Danube city of Silistra.

According to the report, the new organization had already received an invitation to become a full-pledged member of the European Association of Wine Makers, based in Brussels.

The Association was founded by ten owners of vineyards and wine cellars from across the country. Membership is voluntary. The goal is to provide support for smaller businesses in the sector since the National Vine and Wine Chamber (NVWC) only protects the interests of large-scale companies.

Membership requirements include ownership of vineyard, a licensed wine cellar, annual turnover of below BGN 19 M, and no more than 50 employees.

The Association lists among its top priorities countering the dumping import of grape from countries outside the EU, which harms the local small business. (The most such imports come from neighboring Macedonia.) It would also monitor and control the authenticity and quality of wine sold in stores across the country.