The red grape variety originates from Bulgaria. Synonyms grouped alphabetically by country are Kachivela, Kacivela, Kativela, Marvud, Mawrud, Svinarska Loza, Svinjarska Loza, Tsiganka (Bulgaria); Karvouniaris, Mavro, Mavroude, Mavroudi, Mavroudi Boulgarias, Mavroudion, Mavroudi Voulgarias (Greece), Mavroud (France).

According to an unverifiable hypothesis, an ancestor is said to have been cultivated by the Thracians in ancient times.
The parentage is unknown. The variety should not be confused with Karvouniaris, Mavro, Mavroudi Arachovis or Mavrud Varnenski due to the same synonyms or morphological similarities. There are the varieties Mavrud s Edri Zarna, Mavrud s Drebni Zarna, Mavrud sas Splekani Zarna, Mavrud Siv and Mavrud Izresliv, which differ in berry size and colour. The variety is the parent of the new varieties Buket and Evmolpia.
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Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg