Vineyard Agribusiness in Plovdiv Region – Current Status, Spatial Organization and Opportunities for Development

Viticulture and wine production have occupied an important place in the livelihood of the Bulgarian population since ancient times. The main direction of viticulture in Bulgaria is the production of wine grapes, which provides the raw material for table, quality and other wines, for the production of wine distillate, grape juice, must for the production of grape concentrate and a number of other directions. This largely predetermines the strong integration links between viticulture and winemaking, which allows the literature to speak of a viticulture and wine sector of the national economy. The main focus of this study is aimed at studying the leading conditions and resources for the development of viticulture and winemaking and their importance in the economy of the Plovdiv region. The study also examines its role in the labor market. The study concludes with identifying the main challenges facing the development of viticulture and winemaking and the possibilities for overcoming them. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the spatial organization and development potential of viticulture agribusiness in regional contexts.