Thirty-one countries are expected to be taking part in the 16th Vinaria, Bulgaria's annual international exhibition and festival of vine growing and wine production and national wine and spirits tasting.

Held in Plovdiv at the international fair grounds from March 26 to 29, Vinaria is something of the event of the year in the country's wine industry.

In the opening events on the morning of the 26th are to participate Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov, executive director the International Fair - Plovdiv Georgi Gergov, Deputy Agriculture Minister Dimitar Peichev, and chairman of the board of directors of the National Wine and Chamber Plamen Mollov, with Dimitrov officially giving a start to the fair.

At 4.30pm on the same day, a Dionysian fest will be held at Stefan Stambolov Square (in front of City Hall), thus bringing the public into the celebration. That evening, the traditional Wine and Love, Love and Wine ball will be held, at which will also be conferred awards resulting from the national dégustations competition.

As part of the four days of Vinaria, there will take place the fifth national conference on matters concerning wine. Seminar topics include Measures for Encouraging Branch Development and Widening of the Wine Market; Bulgarian Agriculture and the Creation of Organisations for Project Realisation and the Assimilation of Eurofunds; and a two-part themed seminar including wine tasting, the first entitled Structure and Roundedness in Wine and the second called the Use of Oak - Wood and the Wine Market, Influence on Grape Must and Wine.

On March 27 at 5.30pm will be held a literary evening with the participation of Alexander Tomov, author of Orakoulut na Dionis (Оракулът на Дионис/The Oracle of Dionysos) and Rachko Popov, author of Svettsi i Demoni na Balkanite (Светци и демони на Балканите/Saints and Demons of the Balkans).

Overall, 526 exhibitors are signed up to participate, with 342 of these coming from countries other than Bulgaria. Italy and France have the greatest presence, with 145 and 71 companies being represented, respectively. For the first time, Armenia will participate, according to the business portal expert.bg.

Vinaria is open to the public from 9am to 6pm on March 26 to 28, and until 4pm on the 29th. At the event, guests can taste and purchase wines and spirits from numerous Bulgarian and foreign wineries and cellars, see agricultural material and equipment, and find print material related to wine and spirits.