History of the Bulgarian Wines

Bulgaria is a renowned exporter to more than 70 countries of wine in the main, and grows 3000 vine varieties. Bulgaria is the only country in celebrating a Vine Growers Day, the Day of Trifon Zarezan, when a procession of people in their Sunday clothes go to the vineyards to prune the vines, an ancient ritual, in viticulture regions.
Wine-making in Bulgarian lands is a millennial tradition. It was associated with the Thracian cult of Dionysus. Since ancient times Bulgaria offers a great variety of excellent wines. Some of the labels are well known: Cabernet, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon. The GUMZA / from Souhindol, Pavlikeni and Novo Selo/ is similar to Burgundy. The MAVRUD tastes like Bordeaux. It is made from grapes separated from the stems for they absorb part of the spirit of the fermentation substance. The MELNIK wine tastes like Malaga. It is wine one drinks with one's best friends, it is also the wine drunk by men who want to have a baby boy. It is made in Melnik which is perhaps the smallest town in Europe with its 300 inhabitants. A rose called PAMID resembles some of the Beaujolais Nouveau varieties. As to the white wines, drink TAMYANKA or DIMYAT which is liked even better. The MUSCADELS /from Soungoulare or Karlovo/ are similar to the Moselle wines. The wormwood wines are very delicate, with a specific flavour. The OSMARSKO is the best wormwood wine.
Salads usually go with brandy made of grapes or plums. The best brands are EUXINOGRADSKA, SLIVENSKA PERLA, ROUSENSKA BISSERNA, POMORIISKA, TETEVENSKA, TROYANSKA. Good brandy is at least three years old.
The Cognacs served with coffee are excellent. PLISKA is the most preferred one. Ironically the best known Bulgarian cognac was named after the city in which the Bulgarian Khan Kroum passed his cruel laws against wine-making and ordered to uproot vines to prevent drunkenness eleven hundred years ago. PRESLAV and POMORIE are even better, and EUXINOGRAD is unsurpassed.
Herewith we have the pleasure to offer you two variants of Wine Tours one starting from Sofia the other one from Varna, and would take you around the most popular wineries in Bulgaria.
 

Bourgas

Plovdiv - "Todoroff" Wine Cellar

Rila Monastery

Oslekovata House

Veliko Turnovo

 

 

 

 

Plovdiv - "Todoroff" Wine Cellar

 

Wine tasting at "Lyaskovts" Winery

 

 

Boyana Church

WINE TOURS

Day - 1:
Arrival at Varna airport. Transfer to the hotel "Bulgaria", Bourgas. Dinner and overnight. /In case time of arrival is early or mid-afternoon, on the way to Bourgas we'll make a stop-over for a sightseeing tour of Nessebar, featuring the Archeological museum and "St.Stefan" church.

Day - 2:
After breakfast a Panorama tour of Bourgas. Then departure for Kazanluk. On the way a stopover in Sliven for lunch Arrival in Kazanluk and accommodation at "Palace" hotel there. Then a visit to the Museum of the Roses, the only one of the kind in the world, and observing the ritual of rose-brewing. Dinner. Overnight.

Day - 3:
After breakfast departure for the town of Plovdiv. Arrival and a sightseeing tour of the Old Plovdiv. Lunch at a tavern there. Then wine-tasting at the"Todoroff" winery in the village of Brestovitza. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

Day - 4:
After breakfast departure for the Rila Monastery via the resort of Borovets. Lunch at a restaurant in the vicinity of the Rila Monastery. A sightseeing tour of the monastery after lunch. Then arrival in Sofia, dinner, and overnight.

Day - 5:
After breakfast a sightseeing tour of Sofia featuring the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the House of the Parliament, the Monument of the King Liberator, the basilica "St.Sofia",and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, the Russian church, the National Theatre, the 4thC rotunda "St.George", the Presidency, etc. After lunch a visit to the Boyana church and the National History Museum.
In the evening dinner at a folk style restaurant in the residential area of Sofia trying traditional Bulgarian cuisine and enjoying the floor show there.

Day - 6:
After breakfast departure for Koprivshtitsa. Visit to the Oslekovata House, a museum of the National Revival period.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Then departure for the Troyan Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Sevlievo.

Day - 7:
After breakfast departure for Veliko Turnovo. A sightseeing tour of the old town, visiting Tzarevets, "St.Peter & Pavel" church, "St.St.Konstantin & Elena" church and the Old Market, called Samovodskata Charshiya. Lunch at a local restaurant in the nearby village of Arbanassie. After lunch wine tasting at one of the oldest winery in the area, Lyaskovets. Then departure for Shumen. Dinner and overnight there.

Day - 8:
After breakfast departure for Varna Airport.


WINE TASTING TOUR

Day - 1:
Arrival at Sofia Airport:
Arrival at Sofia Airport. Transfer to the hotel. A sightseeing tour of the central part of the city. A dinner at a folk style restaurant. Overnight.

Day - 2:
Sofia - Rila Monastery - "Damyanitsa Winery" - Sandanskie:
After breakfast departure for the Rila Monastery. A tour around followed by lunch at the local restaurant, then on to "Damyanitsa Winery" for the wine tasting. Dinner and overnight in Sandanskie.

Day - 3:
Sandanskie - Brestovitsa Winery - Plovdiv:
After breakfast departure for Brestovitsa village and a visit of the "Todorov" winery. Wine tasting and lunch. Then departure for the town of Plovdiv. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day - 4:
Plovdiv - "Sinite Skali" Winery - Sliven:
A sightseeing tour of the Old Town, followed by lunch at a local tavern. Arrival at the "Sinite Skali" , meaning the 'Blue Ridges', Winery. A tour around the winery followed by a wine tasting. Dinner and overnight in Sliven.

DAY - 5:
Sliven - Lyskovets Winery - Veliko Turnovo:
After breakfast departure for Veliko Turnovo. Lunch followed by a sightseeing tour of the town. Then a visit to "Lyaskovts" Winery and wine tasting. Back to Veliko Turnovo for dinner at a local tavern and overnight.

Day - 6:
Veliko Turnovo - Troyan Monastery - Koprivshtitsa - Sofia:
After breakfast departure for the Troyan Monastery followed by a tour around the monastery. Lunch then you depart for Sofia. On the
way you stop over at the Museum in the Open, the town of Koprivshtitsa for a sightseeing tour. Arrival in Sofia. Dinner and overnight stay there.

Day - 7:
Sofia - National History Museum - Boyana Church:
A visit to the National History Museum housed at the Boyana Residential House, followed by a visit to the unique Boyana Church. Later in the afternoon, there is a visit planned to the Art Gallery of a famous Bulgarian artist, Mr. Stavri Kalinov. Dinner at the "UNO" restaurant.
Overnight in Sofia.

Day - 8:
Sofia - Transfer to the Airport:
After breakfast time at leisure and departure for the airport for your flight home.

"DM TRAVEL" Ltd.

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