Discover the unknown treasures of Bulgaria including unforgettable unique wine varieties that you have probably never tasted before. Although Bulgaria has been producing wine for 5000 years it is still relatively unknown to the rest of the world. Now a rising new generation of Bulgarian boutique winemakers who are devoted to the craft and bringing new attention to the country. First, arrive at a small boutique wine shop in the heart of Sofia. During your personal tasting experience, be guided through the distinctive world of Bulgarian wines. Taste 5 local wines from regions across Bulgaria. The wines will be paired with Bulgarian craft cheeses and artisanal bread.

Begin your tour in front of the 5-star Grand Hotel Sofia, where you’ll meet your guide. Visit the beautiful National Theater, the former Royal Palace, and the Presidency. On this 3-hour afternoon walk your guide will take you next to the Art Club café, a favorite spot of many locals. Try the world famous shopska salad, prepared from fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and spices, and taste traditional Bulgarian cold soup, called tarator, prepared from yogurt and cucumbers. See the Rotunda St. George, St. Nedelya Church, St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral, the Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue, all around a square known as Small Jerusalem. Visit the historic Central Hali Market that dates from the beginning of the 20th century. Taste typical sweets such as baklava and tolumbichki, or buy fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, or sausages. Head to Europe’s newest underground and travel 1 stop to Lions' Bridge. Near the stop is a typical Bulgarian restaurant, created from 4 houses with a common garden. The restaurant features the architecture and furnishings of the 19th century, representing the 4 corners of Bulgaria. Taste fantastic Bulgarian wines together with different meze of meats, including lukanka, babek, fillet Elena, and pastarma. The tour ends at this point, but you may want to continue sampling different hot or cold appetizers, traditional dishes, and Bulgarian desserts.

Melnik overview Melnik is a declared architectural reserve and one of the most famous wine region in Bulgaria. The first to settle in the area were the Thracian tribe Medi (the famous rebel Spartacus belonged to this tribe). The Slavs who came later in these parts, named the settlement Melnik after the sand formations surrounding it on all sides. Melnik became a part of the First Bulgarian Empire under the rule of Khan Presian I (836-852) and prospered greatly in the period. Melnik became the capital of an independent feudal principality ruled by Despot Alexius Slav in 1209 and had an economic and cultural prosperity. The town continued to flourish under Tsar Ivan Assen ІІ because of the duty-free trade with Dubrovnik (ruled by Venetians). In the late 18th century, the town had 1300 houses, seventy churches and a population of some 20, 000 people. Your wine day in Melnik region Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Sofia at 8:30 AM and after a 2 hours and 30 minutes drive through various landscape (highway, mountains, river canyon and valleys). The first stop will be town of Melnik. You will visit one famous house, owned by a very rich family in middle 18th century, who was dealing with wine trade, including export to Venice. You will enjoy some time in the private cellar of the house. Then you will have a little walking in the smallest town in Bulgaria, option to visit the Wine museum. After that you will head to a nearby village - Rojen, where you could have nice lunch and a glass of excellent local wine. Next to the village is a old monastery, which you can visit. The final stop will be one of the good wine cellars of Bulgaria - Villa Melnik. You will have a guided tour in side, by member of the family, that owns the cellar. After wine tasting of their products you will head back to Sofia. 

This tour starts with visit of Plovdiv, considered to be one of the oldest settlements of Europe, with more than 7000 years of history. Plovdiv is situated on the crossroads between the West and the East, amid the fertile plain of Thrace, where history and modernity go hand in hand, whereas since the ancient times until today culture and art thrive within a vivid medley of shapes, styles and colors. The city is home of the fabulous remains of the Ancient Roman Empire – the Roman Stadium, Roman Forum and the Amphitheatre. The tour also explores the town Perushtitsa, a symbol of heroism and sacrifice in the name of Freedom because of its inhabitants – who preferred death to slavery. It is situated in the outskirts of the Rhodope Mountain, at a distance of 21 km from Plovdiv. In Perushtitsa we will visit the Church St Archangel Michael – the last stronghold and refuge of insurgents in April 1876 against the Ottoman domination, as well as Danov School from the National Revival Period and we will take a look around the Historical Museum. An important site that you will visit is The Red Church, some 2 km from Perushtitsa. It is among the most remarkable monuments of Early Christian architecture. The next stop will be the winery Villa Yustina, situated in the vicinity of Perushtitsa. There you will have the chance to taste typical for the region Bulgarian wine.

Medi Valley Winery is a classic winery complex located at the crossroads of a multi-directional touristic compass. The winery will be an unforgettable experience that will provoke the senses and stimulate the mind, learning about local history and traditions. The Rila Monastery private tour includes a wine tasting of five different local wines, produced in the vicinity of Rila Monastery. The full-day tour of this UNESCO site in Rila includes an exclusive 60-minute wine tasting tour. You'll be impressed by the knowledge and energy of your guides as you learn about Bulgaria.  Rila monastery is the holiest place for the Bulgarian orthodoxy, where past, present and future are interlaced. To make your day tour of this magnificent monastery unforgettable, after spending two hours at this holy place, you will be taken for a unique wine tasting to a wine cell in the feet of Rila mountain. Before the Bulgarians, The Thracians were the rulers of these territories. Their remarkable culture and warrior dignity are woven in the wine of the region, called after one of their greatest tribes, The Medi. The great Spartacus itself originated from here. Your tour will start with pick-up from your accommodation in Sofia. After a 2-hour drive you will reach the Monastery in the Rila Mountain, at an altitude of 1147 meters (3763 feet) above sea level. The introduction of the UNESCO site will begin with brief history of the founder and the construction of the monastery. After that you will visit the church and medieval 14th century defense tower. After you finish exploring the monastery complex you will have lunch at a cozy restaurant and sample some local food (grilled trout specialty). Then you will make your way to Medi Valley winery where you will have the possibility of trying five different types of wines. A short story about the history of the region, the winery and the current products will be followed by a question-and-answer session. 

The tour starts with pick-up from your accommodation in Sofia. From there, you will go around all the important sightseeing places in the city center and you will be able to stop for pictures as you visit some of them. A professional guide will be by your side and will tell you about the history, the culture and the nature of Bulgaria. After the tour, you will go to a great winery where you will try the Bulgarian wine, which has over a thousand years tradition. The Bulgarian lands are rooted in ancient civilizations and have left an indelible imprint on modern Bulgaria. The ancient Thracians, who populated the land worshipped the gods Zagreus and Dionysius and used the wine during religious rituals. Nowadays Bulgaria is a proud producer of high-quality red wines, which are famous all around the world. 

The tour starts from your hotel. From that point, a professional guide with an air-conditioned car will take you on the individual tour. Heading on the motorway, your first stop will be Melnik. The smallest town in Bulgaria, Melnik, is nested in the south slopes of Pirin, among sand pyramids with queer forms. It is situated in the Sandanski Municipality, Blagoevgrad county, 175 kilometers north of Sofia and only 30 kilometers from the borderline with Greece. Antiquities found from archaeological excavations testify to a centuries old history. Melnik was declared a natural and architectural reservation, and it attracts thousands of tourists annually. The wine produced by the unique Bulgarian brand Wide Melnik Vine has a wonderful quality, scents of ripe cherry, herbs and in the presence of an oak, it develops nuances of tobacco and leather. It is one of the attractions of the town and the region, and it attracts many admirers from the whole world. You can sample it in some of the wineries and cellars in the town and the surrounding area. After a stop for lunch in a typical Bulgarian style, you will start the hiking tour to Rozhen Monastery. Rozhen Monastery situated 5 kilometers east from Melnik was recognized as a center of ecclesiastic life in the region. It is also the largest Orthodox monastery in the Pirin region. The monastery is comparatively well preserved to the present day and every year it is visited by many tourists from various countries. The monastery holiday is on 8 September, when people from the whole region gather in order to participate in the celebrations.

Once the wealthiest and most important city of the Thrace Valley, today Plovdiv still offers visitors many incredible places and memories. Standing proudly on the banks of Maritsa River, the town will amaze you with its beauty. With every step you make, ancient Phillipopolis and new Plovdiv reveal different pages from its wonderful history.  The location of the city is not accidental. Chosen by the founders of Plovdiv, the Thracians, the region is proud of the fantastic wine that has been produced here for centuries. Feel the spirit of Plovdiv and taste its unique wine. The city of Plovdiv, with its museums, historical sites, ancient houses and paved streets, will proudly be the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Your tour begins with pick-up from your accommodation in Sofia at 08:30. After visiting the old town you will continue to a small typical Bulgarian restaurant, where you can stop for an optional lunch on your way to the wine cellar. At around 14:00 you will arrive at the chateau. You will learn the amazing history of the winery before tasting 5 different kinds of fantastic wine. At around 16:30 you will start your journey back to Sofia with wonderful memories of the day.

Departing at 9:00 AM from your hotel, set off for the charming town of Koprivshtitsa, known for its fascinating history and authentic 19th-century architecture. Step inside the house museums from the National Revival Period and discover works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes, typical Bulgarian jewelry and authentic furniture from 150 years ago. Learn about the dramatic Bulgarian history from your professional guide and get the chance to visit the original houses of the heroes of the April Uprising. After that, visit the small village of Starosel, famous for its rich Thracian heritage and great red wines. Finally, take the chance to try some of the great Bulgarian red wines in a traditional local winery.