Via Vino Collection-South Bulgaria: On the trails of the Thracians

Welcome to two of the most extraordinary valleys in Bulgaria, the Thracian valley and the Struma river valley. They are still keeping evidences that wine has been produced in this area for more than 5000 years. You will have the chance to enjoy incredible wines next to beautiful sceneries and ancient Thracian sanctuaries. Enjoy a sip of fresh Sandanski Misket surrounded by the peculiar sand rocks in Melnik or taste a glass of handmade ruby in Bendida family winery are just two of the examples of the authentic wine experience you can have with us.

The terroir in these parts of the country is more suitable for red wines but you will definitely try excellent white sorts. For this journey we have selected wines with a powerful and memorable, yet elegant flavor, that go beyond simple pleasure and capture the character of the land. The “King” is MAVRUD, made of the oldest autochthonic red wine grape variety. It is characterized by intense ruby color, a lot of tannin, distinctive pleasant aroma with hints of blackberry and mulberry and a full-bodied flavor. It is a wine aging very well in oak barrels which makes it complex and well-balanced.

The wine & food tour On the trails of Orpheus and the Thracians will take you to nine outstanding wineries: Villa Yustina, Manastira, Bratanov, Kolarovo, Bassarea, Bendida, Rumelia, Villa Melnik, Orbelus. We will spoil you in gourmet restaurants and pairing fine wines with exquisite dishes – a tasty mix between modern and authentic Bulgarian cuisine. The wine tour includes wine tastings in traditional Bulgarian guest houses (Zlaten Rozhen, Dintschova Kaschta / Orbelia), a walk through the pristine vines of some of the wineries and the opportunity for Cooking Class in Dzhudzheva Kaschta.

Our wine & food experience will bring you to an enchanting Europe of the Old World where Eastern and Western cultures merge into one. The wine focus of our trip is the wine region Thracian Valley (with the largest number of wineries in the country – almost 70%), where predominantly red wines are being produced. This region has been ranked on second place among the “10 Best Wine Destinations of 2017” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine! But we will also spend a few days in the picturesque and exciting Melnik area (Struma Valley wine region) – the hottest one in Bulgaria, associated with many legends and wine myths…

During our Via Vino & Odysseia-In Wine Tour in Bulgaria, we would like to introduce you to carefully selected Bulgarian wines and enjoy them together, accompanied by delicious, authentic and healthy Slow Food Balkan cuisine. We will jump over the centuries – Panagyurishte (exhibition of the finest Thracian golden treasure), the Rila Monastery (UNESCO); the Roman ruins, the Ottoman heritage, the architectural style of communism in Sofia and Plovdiv (European Capital of Culture 2019) and much more. Not to forget, however, is the beautiful nature of Bulgaria – so called by some “Switzerland in the Balkans”!