KOTTA 299 Gamza

Discover Gamza – a grape well worth getting to know

Dark fruit, spice and a fuller expression of Gamza

KOTTA 299 Gamza is a dry red wine from Suhindol in northern Bulgaria, made from 100% Gamza. Ripe black cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants are complemented by spice, vanilla and subtle toasted notes. The palate is full and expressive, with ripe tannins and enough freshness to keep the wine lively and balanced.

This is Gamza in a richer style. Often associated with fresh, fruit-driven reds with a supple texture, the grape takes on greater concentration and structure here. Eight months in new 225-litre French and American oak barriques add depth, spice and texture, while the dark fruit remains at the heart of the wine.

A richer, oak-aged interpretation of Gamza

Gamza has a long tradition in northern Bulgaria. Its classic expression is often ruby-coloured and fruit-led, with bright acidity and a light to medium body.

KOTTA 299 explores a different side of the grape. The fruit is riper and darker, the palate has more weight, and oak ageing adds layers of spice, vanilla and light toast. Yet the wine remains supple and elegant, with ripe tannins providing structure and Gamza’s natural freshness keeping everything in balance.

KOTTA 299 – from the vineyards above Suhindol

The name KOTTA 299 refers to the vineyards around Suhindol, situated approximately 299 metres above sea level. The slopes surrounding this historic wine town lie in one of Bulgaria’s best-known areas for Gamza.

Ancient volcanic material contributes to the distinctive soils of the site. Together with the vineyard’s position and continental climate, these growing conditions allow Gamza to develop ripe flavours while retaining its natural freshness.

Following fermentation, the wine spends eight months in new 225-litre French and American oak barriques. The oak adds structure, spice and complexity without overwhelming the fruit or the grape’s distinctive character.

Tasting profile

Full-bodied, spicy and expressive, with ripe black cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants. Spice, vanilla and subtle toasted notes add depth. The tannins are supple and ripe, the oak is evident but well integrated, and the finish is long, with lingering fruit and spice.

Perfect for

Wine lovers who enjoy reds with generous dark fruit, spice and a well-defined structure. KOTTA 299 is also an intriguing choice for anyone who knows Gamza as a lighter, fresher red and would like to explore a richer, oak-aged expression of this traditional Bulgarian variety.

Tasting notes

Colour: Vibrant ruby to deep red, with garnet hints at the rim;
Aroma: Ripe black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant, layered with spice, vanilla and subtle toasted notes;
Taste: Full and juicy, with ripe dark fruit, spice and supple, ripe tannins. French and American oak ageing adds structure and complexity while preserving the wine’s fruit and freshness. The finish is balanced and persistent, with lingering spicy notes.

Food pairing

Dishes: grilled beef, lamb, duck, game, barbecued meats, hearty burgers, goulash, beef Stroganoff, slow-cooked meat dishes and pasta with a rich tomato sauce;
Cheeses: mature Cheddar, Manchego, aged Gouda and other firm, mature cheeses;
Serving temperature: 16–17°C

Our serving advice

Open the bottle 30–60 minutes before serving, or decant it. A little air allows KOTTA 299 Gamza to open up, bringing its fruit, spice and oak notes together.

For the current vintage, alcohol content and further details, please see the Specification tab.

Professional reviews

Over the years, KOTTA 299 Gamza has been reviewed by professional tasting panels in the Netherlands. The assessments below relate to earlier vintages and offer an insight into the wine’s style over time, rather than a review of the vintage currently available.

Perswijn – ★★★★ Very good

“Blackberries, blackcurrants, currants, cinnamon, liquorice, dark fruit, coffee and appealing power.”

Perswijn – ★★★★ Good to very good

“Aroma: Developed, with balsamic notes and clove.
Palate: Sweet-and-tart fruit, raisins; dry, with a slightly earthy character.”

KOTTA 299

At approximately 480 metres, Suhindol Hill is the highest point in the Danubian Plain. It is a long-extinct volcano, with a crater approximately eight to nine metres wide at its summit. Mineral-rich volcanic ash helped shape the soils that support winegrowing here. On the slopes below the summit, at around 299 metres above sea level, lie the vineyards from which the KOTTA 299 range takes its name.

This volcanic heritage influences the vines’ growing conditions through soil structure, water availability and the way the ground stores and releases heat. These factors help shape grape development and ripening, contributing to the wine’s freshness and complexity. Subtle mineral or lightly smoky impressions may form part of its sensory character.

The Gamza grape

Gamza is a traditional red grape variety with deep roots in northern Bulgaria, particularly around Suhindol, Pleven and Vidin. It ripens relatively late and typically produces ruby-coloured wines with fresh acidity, gentle tannins and red-fruit aromas, especially raspberry and cherry. Outside Bulgaria, the same grape is better known as Kadarka.

Although Gamza and Kadarka are the same variety, the wines differ differ considerably. Climate, soils, vine selection, yields, harvest decisions and winemaking all influence the result. In northern Bulgaria, local growing conditions and a long winemaking tradition give Gamza a distinctive regional expression. Knowing Kadarka from elsewhere therefore tells only part of the story.

KOTTA 299 demonstrates how well Gamza can work in a fuller, more concentrated style. French and American oak barriques bring additional depth and complexity while preserving the fruit and the grape’s identity.

To explore more of Gamza’s range, discover these different expressions:

Gamza Suhindol AOC Golden Label – another expression of 100% Gamza from Suhindol;
Lovico Gamza – an easy drinking introduction to the variety;
Craftsman’s Selection Cabernet Sauvignon & Gamza – a blend exploring Gamza alongside Cabernet Sauvignon.

LOVICO WINERY

Lovico Suhindol is one of Bulgaria’s oldest wineries. Its origins date back to 1909, when forty local winegrowers and winemakers, led by Marko Vachkov, founded the Gamza wine cooperative. The first cooperative of its kind in the Balkans, it placed Gamza at the heart of Suhindol’s winegrowing tradition.

More than a century later, Lovico combines that heritage with modern winemaking. The winery works with both Bulgarian and international grape varieties and has continually modernised its cellars, winemaking facilities and bottling operations. Gamza remains central to the identity of both Lovico and Suhindol.

KOTTA 299 is one of the winery’s ranges focused on vineyard origin. This wine brings together Suhindol’s growing conditions, experienced winemaking and carefully judged oak ageing to reveal a fuller, more concentrated side of Gamza.

Danubian Plain 

Danubian Plain – northern Bulgaria’s wine region

The Danubian Plain extends across northern Bulgaria, between the River Danube and the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Its temperate continental climate brings cold winters and warm, often dry summers. Vineyards occupy plains, rolling hills and plateaux, with some sites rising towards the Balkan foothills.

Across much of the region, soils developed on loess include fertile black earth, known as chernozem, and grey forest soils. The region has a long winegrowing tradition and produces both white and red wines. Suhindol, alongside Pleven, Svishtov and Vidin, is one of northern Bulgaria’s historic wine towns, and Gamza is among the area’s characteristic local red grape varieties.