7-day wine tour Bulgaria – a nice first impression of this wine country after fall of communism
Characteristics
- 7 DAYS – 6 NIGHTS
- Visited countries: Bulgaria
Short introduction
Bulgaria has a long wine history and was in the top 5 of the world’s largest wine exporters in the 1980s. During this wine tour to Bulgaria you will discover the revival of the Bulgarian wine industry after the fall of communism, new wineries post-communist era and many more interesting tricks and facts. With this wine tour to Bulgaria you will visit the best wine regions of Bulgaria, taste different types of Bulgarian wines during various wine tastings and visit a wine museum to learn more about the wine tradition of this beautiful wine country.
Highlights
- A glass of wine as a welcome drink at a rooftop bar in Sofia
- 14 wine tastings
- You visit 12 wine farms which give you a good taste of winemaking in Bulgaria
- Explore the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia
- Visit the wine museum in Pleven and learn about the history of winemaking in Bulgaria
Program
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL OF CITY OF SOFIA – BULGARIA (20 km) (D)
Today you arrive at the largest city in Bulgaria, Sofia. After arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. After check-in at your hotel, and depending on the time of arrival, take a group walking tour of the central part of the city and see Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the ancient ruins of Serdica (the ancient name of the city), St. Nedela Church and more. Sofia is a city with a very long history, a city full of Orthodox churches, Ottoman mosques, Roman ruins, and old communist monuments, museums, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. In the evening you are expected in one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city overlooking the centre. After this you are expected for dinner in a wine restaurant.
Overnight.
DAY 2 – SOFIA – MELNIK – MARIKOSTINOVO (195 KM) (B, L)
This morning, after breakfast, you will depart from Sofia to the town of Melnik. Here you will visit the first winery of today and will be offered a wine tasting with explanation about their wines and more. The next stop is the village of Kolarovo to visit the second winery of the day, a family cellar located near Belasitsa. This winery preserves the local wine-making traditions and reflects the authentic charm of Bulgarian culture. After tasting five specially selected wines, including the unique Melnik 55 and Sandanski Misket, the day ends with some free time at the Mantar SPA Hotel’s famous Marikostinovo thermal center.
Overnight.
DAY 3 – MARIKOSTINOVO – PAZARDZHIK – PANAGYURISHTE – STAROSEL – PLOVDIV (350 KM) (B, L, D)
The first stop of the day is at a winery near Pazardzhik. They are also one of the producers of the famous brand Enira, whose red wines are an elixir for the souls and senses. Then you will travel on to the second winery today where wine is made using the old Orthodox traditions. After the wine tasting you will leave for Starosel. This third and last winery today pays tribute to the original masters of the wine. The tasting room imitates a Thracian tomb. After tasting the unique wines of this winery, you will depart for Plovdiv. Here you will visit a wine workshop and you will be offered a wine tasting. Then you will be offered a wine dinner at one of the great restaurants in the charming old town of Plovdiv.
Overnight.
DAY 4 – PLOVDIV – BRESTOVITSA – CHIRPAN – ELENOVO (180 KM) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, today you will explore Plovdiv, whose history combines the legacy of many great civilizations. After some sightseeing, you will take a short drive to a beautiful winery in Brestovitsa. Here you can taste the best wines of this wine region. After a wine tasting, you will travel to a boutique winery to sample their award-winning wines, including Mavrud, a vine that is especially prevalent in this part of Bulgaria and in the Greek Thracian region. In the afternoon you will leave for a winery in Mogilovo near Chirpan. Here you can enjoy an exclusive cellar tasting of old vintages and new vintage wines that are currently ready for the barrel. The last stop for the day is next to the village of Elenovo. Vineyards are scattered here on rolling hills by a beautiful lake and endless greenery surrounds this beautifully situated winery. In this beautiful setting, you will be offered the last wine tasting of today. Some of the varieties grown by this winery include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Mavrud, Rubin and Melnik 55.
Overnight in Elenovo.
DAY 5 – ELENOVO – KARNOBAT – SLIVES – VELIKO TARNOVO (270 KM) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, depart for the first winery of today near Karnobat, famous for its brands of red and white wines. Here you will be offered a wine tasting. From there you continue to the second winery of today. Named for the bluish hue of the Balkan Mountains that towers above it, this winery is a proud symbol of Bulgaria’s contemporary wine industry and is one of the most modern and technologically advanced wineries in all of Eastern and Central Europe. The last wine tasting of this valuable day concludes at another beautifully situated winery. After the wine tasting, cross the majestic Balkan Mountains on your way to Veliko Tarnovo, the historic capital of Bulgaria. Spread over several hills, with fantastic views, this city has a rich and long history. Stroll the cobbled streets and soak up the atmosphere of the city, explore the medieval forest, visit the numerous churches and monasteries in the area, dating back to the early centuries of Christianity.
Overnight.
DAY 6 – VELIKO TARNOVO – PLEIVES – SOFIA (299 KM) (B, L, D)
In the morning, after breakfast, you will start with a walk around the sights of Veliko Tarnovo and later after lunch we will leave for the wine museum in Pleven, a testament to the city as the first wine industry center in Bulgaria. Located in a cave, you can taste beautiful wines here, which represent all wine regions of Bulgaria and the numerous pure Bulgarian grapes Misket and Dimyat for the white wines and Gumza, Mavrud, Red Muscat, Rubin and Pamid for the reds. Arrive in Sofia in the early evening.
Overnight.
DAY 7 – SOFIA – SOFIA AIRPORT (20 KM) (B)
After breakfast, and depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home… or extend your trip to one of the other beautiful neighbouring countries of Bulgaria such as Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, or Greece. Ask us about the possibilities for a non-binding customized quote.
Included / Excluded
What’s included / not included in this wine tour ?
Included
- 14 wine tastings
- 6 wine cellar visits
- International flights
- Transfer airport – hotel – airport
- 6 nights in a standard double room in good quality hotels according to local standards
- Meals where indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Transport as described in the program
Excluded
- Specialized wine guide
- Single room surcharge
- Experienced English-speaking guide unless otherwise stated, other languages on request
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees to the listed sights
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks unless explicitly stated
- Meals other than mentioned in the program (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Tips
- Cancellation and travel insurance (we can arrange this for you if desired)
- Taxes that are payable locally, such as the tourist tax
- Everything that is not reported under the heading including
Request a quote for this wine tour and we can work with you to determine what will and will not be included. The choice is yours.
All flights (international and domestic), hotels and rental car are always subject to availability until the time of final booking with signing the sales file. The booking is made and recorded after receipt of the deposit on our bank account.
Prices are always subject to change and are signed up to the sales file without prior notice and / or evidence. The reasons, which are not exhaustive, can be seasonality and availability.
