Wine production has always held a special place in Bulgaria. The first wines were made there almost two thousand years ago and until the fall of communism, Bulgaria was the second largest wine-producing nation in the world. There are five major wine districts in the country, with the Black Sea being the leading region in terms of acreage. Most of the wines produced here are red, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon being the principal varieties; most bottles are inexpensive (in the $10 range) and meant to be consumed within two to three years of their vintage date.