Taste of Southern Bulgaria (Wine, Food & History Tour)

Included in the price of the tour:

• All ground transportation mentioned in itinerary
• Group transfer from/to Sofia Airport on Day 1 & Day 8
• 4 nights in 3-star hotel in Plovdiv (standard shared double rooms)
• 3 nights in traditional guesthouse/3-star hotel in Melnik (standard shared double rooms)
• Meals as per itinerary
• Tours and tastings at 11 wineries
• Guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv
• Visits to the Rozhen Monastery & Traditional Merchant House in Melnik
• English-speaking Tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
• Tour operator insurance from Armeec Insurance in case of non-provision of services

Not included in the tour price:

• Flight tickets
• Private transfers
• Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
• Alcoholic beverages not mentioned in the tour description
• Travel and medical insurance (please, consult your insurance provider)
• Visa fees, if applicable
• Extras and incidentals
• Single room supplement
• Tips

Price of the tour: 

• €1080 per person (*)(**)
• Single Supplement: €65

* The BGN/EUR exchange rate is fixed at  1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN (http://www.bnb.bg/?toLang=_EN)

** Price per person is based on double occupancy e.g. two persons sharing a room. Solo traveler is obliged to pay a single supplement.

Payment:

• A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to be paid within 7 days of the invoice issue date unless otherwise agreed with the Company.
• The balance of the amount due to the Company must be paid no later than 45 days before departure unless otherwise agreed with the Company.
• In the event that the Client makes a booking within 45 days of departure of the tour, the full tour price must be paid up-front.

Payment method:

Payments are made in Euros or Bulgarian Leva.

• Bank Transfer Details:

Bulgaria Wine Tours Ltd.

Bank name: Raiffeisen Bank

Bank address: 1 Knyaginya Mariya Luiza Str., Plovdiv 4000

BIC: RZBBBGSF

IBAN: BG09RZBB91551005461558

• Online Payment Details:

After making a booking and received a booking order, it is possible to pay for your tour by credit or debit card. For online payment (credit/debit card), please go to http://payment.bulgariawinetours.com/ and follow the steps.

We will provide confirmation once payment is received.

During the Taste of Southern Bulgaria Group Tour, we will visit the following wineries:

Chateau Copsa

Chateau Copsa is situated in the foothills of the Balkan mountain (Stara Planina) nearby the town of Sopot. According to historians, just outside of today’s city of Sopot, there was once a Medieval town called Copsis, hence the name of the winery. The architecture of Chateau Copsa resembles a Medieval castle and is inspired by the preserved ruins of Copsis. The winery has also embraced the traditions of the area to use and experiment with the local variety Karlovski misket that only grows in this region. Tasting intriguing wines, dining at the modern gourmet restaurant and relaxing at the outdoor area make Chateau Copsa an ideal place for a peaceful time away from the city.

Manastira

Wine cellar “Manastira” is specialized in producing high-quality wines. It is located in southern Bulgaria, 25 km. away Pazardzhik city, in a deep valley surrounded by the slopes of Sredna Gora, near Topolnitsa River, in the village of Lesichovo. The region is known for its rich culture and historical heritage. The following red grape varieties –  Cabernet Sauvignon, Mavrud, Merlot, Syrah, Ancelotta and white grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscat..The winery and its vineyards are located in a region in Bulgaria, which is most suitable for grape growing – the Thracian Valley. It is famous for its millennial wine traditions. The climate conditions of the region provide a good opportunity for getting rich and deep wines of “Cabernet Sauvignon” and “Mavrud”. The unique combination of climate and soil characteristics favours for the excellent quality of the wines produced in this area. White and red grapes are cultivated in the district, but the red ones dominate in quantity.

Sopot Winery

Sopot Winery is located in the historic town of Sopot and is surrounded by the Balkan Mountains and the Sredna Gora Mountains. Not only are the mountains views beautiful, they create a special micro-climate that is favorable to vinegrowing. The area is called Tragata, which lends its name to the guesthouse located adjacent to the winery and to the wine brand. The winery was opened in 2013 and is owned by the Shikov family. The oenologist is Georgi Chorbadzhakov. At Sopot winery, you will find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. The restaurant at the winery serves exceptional local Bulgarian food and the hotel garden is a relaxing spot to enjoy a glass of wine and good food in beautiful natural surroundings.

Villa Yustina

Villa Yustina is located in the village of Ustina, about 25 km from Plovdiv. The name of the winery, as well as the village, originates from emperor Justinian I who was an emperor of the East Roman empire in the 1st century AD and who commissioned a fort to be built on the hills by the present village. Villa Yustina began its journey in the wine world in 2006 and soon after in 2011 its main oenologist received the price “Oenologist of the year”. Villa Yustina is a proud birthplace of one of the best cuvees of the local varieties Mavrud and Rubin. Villa Yustina will enchant you with warm hospitality, the beautiful vine park and other outdoor recreational possibilities and if you are lucky enough to meet the owner Milko Tsvetkov, you will also make a lifelong wine friend.

Chateau Kolarovo

Chateau Kolarovo was established in 2009 by Stoyan Stoyanov. Originally from Stara Zagora, his family heritage brought him to the area and urged him to produce wine. As the name suggests Chateau Kolarovo is located in the village of Kolarovo in the southern Sakar mountains. The village of Kolarovo has about nine permanent inhabitants; however, there are four wineries in the village. This fact hints towards the fact that the area is highly suitable for viticulture. Chateau Kolarovo does not dazzle with appearance – the building where the winery is at present used to be an old cheese-manufacturing facility. It is quite possible that you might pass by Chateau Kolarovo without realizing that this is the actual winery. However, once you try the wine that is being produced here, it will certainly leave an impression on you and you will be coming back for more.

Villa Bassarea

Villa Bassarea was established in 2014 in Harmanli by three friends (Todor Bratanov, Kiril Bratanov and winemaker Kamen Koev). They were driven by a common dream – to produce small batches of wines with distinctive character from local grapes combining modern technology with the traditions of our ancestors. For the making of each of the wines, grapes from the region (mainly near the village of Izvorovo), cultivated by prominent local winegrowers, are used. Some vineyards are more than forty years old, which provides the distinctive character of wines produced. Classis technologies are used with an estreme amount of hard manual labor. The capacity of the cellar is 70 tons and they produce three main series (brands): “Labis”, “Villa Bassarea” and “Image”. The name of the cellar comes from “Bassareus”, which is the Thracian nickname of Dionysus. One of their limited edition wines with only 400 bottles is called “Saratok”and honors the first Thracian ruler with his portrait image on a coin pictures alongside a vine and a grape. On a visit to Villa Bassarea, it is highly likely to meet the owners and winemakers. The newly opened Sakar Tasting Room is a joint project led by the team behind Villa Bassarea.

Bratanov Family Winery

Bratanov is a typical family winery. It was created through the hard work of a father and his sons. The recently deceased Mr. Stoycho Bratanov and his two sons, who co-manage the winery along with other family members, descend from a long line of winemakers. His great grandfather owned vineyards in the very same vineyards, where the current vineyards lie. Situated almost at the point where the Maritsa River divides the Rhodope Mountain from the Sakar Mountain, the winery has boldly entered the Bulgarian wine market. Some of their wines have been awarded medals from prestigious competitions such as Decanter and the Balkan International Wine Competition. Such recognition has not shifted the focus and ambition of Bratanov Family Winery – it still remains very much a family affair and everyone is deeply connected to the winery. Do not be surprised when the Bratanovi Family welcome you to their winery as if they are welcoming you to into their home.

Kiossev Boutique Wine Cellar

A family-run boutique wine cellar situated in the family home in a picturesque village. The wine cellar produces high-quality wines and has a high focus on local grapes such as Broadleaved Melnik, Melnik 55 and Melnik Ruen. The wine cellar is run by a father and his son continuing the family tradition of winemaking. The wines are limited series of only 300 – 3000 bottles per series. The serene village surrounded by mountains, the unique wines and the warm welcome of a wine making family makes this winery an unforgettable one.

Rupel

The small Rupel winery is located in the famous Melnik region that has been producing and trading wine for millennia. Wine making is more than a tradition in this region. It is a way of life. The family winery has vineyards that were re-established around the year 2006. The vineyards are characterized by rich soil characteristics and hot climatic conditions with influence from the Aegean sea giving the entire area a Mediterranean-like environment. They winery has French, Bulgarian and Italian varieties, and produce trendy, high-quality wines. The team behind the winery are passionate about what they do. The winery is also dedicated to welcoming visitors for tastings, and makes you feel very welcome.

Villa Melnik

The Melnik region has been and still is one of the most famous wine regions in Bulgaria. Each year Winston Churchill himself used to purchase 500 litres of the traditional Melnik variety – Shiroka Melnishka loza. With such a history, it is not surprising that one of the newest wineries in the region – Villa Melnik – has quickly gained recognition for its high-quality wine, beautiful winery and warm hospitality. Villa Melnik has even dared to produce wine with its own grown Mavrud variety – traditionally the undisputed master of another wine region in Bulgaria – the Thracian valley. Such boldness and distinct character are typical for Villa Melnik, which makes a visit to the winery indispensable for every wine explorer of the area.

Orbelus

Surrounded by seven mountains in the Melnik region in southwestern Bulgaria lies the organic winery Orbelus. Not only is the wine-making process organic but also the architecture of the winery reduces the input of resources such as lighting, heating and cooling. This provides for a wine experience in full unison with nature. These environmental considerations do not come at the expense of the wine quality; Orbelus has already gained international recognition, including a gold medal from the prestigious Millésime Bio Challenge. Staying true to its Melnik origins, Orbelus emphasizes the local varieties and presents them in a different way to its visitors – the organic way.

Arrival/Departure

• Group transfer on Day 1 is from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv at 14:00. If you arrive in the early morning, you have the option of going into Sofia Centre to explore. If you arrive a day or two before to visit Sofia, we can help with hotel and transfer arrangements.
• A representative from Bulgaria Wine Tours will meet you in the arrivals hall (terminal 1 & 2) carrying a Bulgaria Wine Tours sign.
• Group transfer on Day 8 is just after breakfast – 10:00. The arrival time in Sofia is 13:00-13:30. You may be dropped off at Sofia airport or Sofia centre. Please inform us of your preference when you book.
• For late arrivals on Day 1 or early departures on Day 8, it is necessary to pre-book a private transfer or plan your arrival at the relevant location. We can assist you with that if you wish so.
• Transport time between Sofia and Plovdiv is 1.5-2 hours.
• Transport time between Melnik and Sofia is about 3-3.5 hours.

Visa Requirements

• In general, EU citizens do not require visas to travel to Bulgaria. Citizens of some other countries also do not need visas to travel to Bulgaria. For visa requirements to enter Bulgaria, please consult the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/109/index.html or the respective institutions in your country of residence.

Insurance

• You are encouraged to purchase travel and medical insurance at your own judgement.

Notes

• The tour does not require any special medical condition or fitness level. The tour does not involve intensive walking, hiking, or other physical effort apart from the normal efforts for sightseeing.

Additional services or surcharges

• Please contact us for prices and information on private transfers from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv and/or private transfers from Melnik to Sofia.
• Extra Nights in Sofia (pre- or post tour) are available upon request:
  • €50 per person/night in a 3-star hotel incl. breakfast (shared standard double-room)
  • €10 per person for an airport meet & greet and transfer to hotel (minimum 2 people required per transfer)*
  • Airport transfer can only be booked in connection with a hotel booking

For any questions, please contact us at: +359 888 487 113 or email: info@bulgariawinetours.com or contact us through the Facebook page – Bulgaria Wine Tours.

Most importantly, we will do anything we can to make the tour a pleasant and memorable experience for you.

Enjoy Exploring! Enjoy Bulgaria!